REVIEW OF MURDER IS A FAMILY BUSINESS BY H. HAVEN

Join Heather Haven, author of the humorous mystery, Murder is a Family Business (MuseItUp Publishing, January 2011) as she virtually tours the blogosphere in May on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

Just because a man cheats on his wife and makes Danny DeVito look tall, dark and handsome, is that any reason to kill him? The reluctant and quirky PI, Lee Alvarez doesn’t think so. But the 34-year old ½ Latina, ½ WASP and 100% detective has her work cut out for her when the man is murdered on her watch.  Of all the nerve. Set in the present, Murder is a Family Business is the first in a series of humorous mysteries revolving around Lee Alvarez, a combination of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone and Janet Evanovitch’ Stephanie Plum, and rest of the Alvarez Family, detectives all. Seemingly light and frothy on the surface, the novel nevertheless explores familial love, the good, the bad and the annoying.

Completing the family is Lee’s Never-Had-A-Bad-Hair-Day aristocratic mother, Lila; computer genius brother, Richard; beloved uncle “Tio;” and her energetic orange and white cat, Tugger. When this group is not solving murders, they run Discretionary Inquiries, a successful Silicon Valley agency that normally deals with the theft of computer software. The love, humor and camaraderie shared within this family are what set this series apart from others.

My Thoughts-

When I first saw the cover with the cute orange kitten, I did not know what to expect. As I started reading the book, I was drawn into the plot and I had to keep reading.  The author combined mystery, suspense and family into a great detective novel.  There were twists and turns throughout the book that made the plot  interesting and fresh. The members of the family complemented the storyline and I really liked Lee and her little kitten Tugger. I look forward to following the Alvarez family in the next book of the series, A Wedding to Die For available now.

Author's Site-

View the Trailer- 

Read an Excerpt-

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF MPIRE: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST BY T.L. JAMES (INT)

I would like to welcome T.L. James to Books R Us. She is virtually touring the blogosphere with NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™

The trilogy of The MPire starts with, In Search of the Lost which is the story about Mallory Towneson Haulm, a sexy financial powerhouse, who lives in a quasi paradise in Austin, Texas. His opulent world is decorated with expensive toys and women more exquisite than an exotic candy shop.

After fourteen years of separation from his family, Mallory is summoned to return back home to join The Family Business. Poised for success, Mallory is focused on turning around the ailing business, not realizing that taking his assigned reigns will put him in a position of unrelenting power which he is unaware he even has. His world crashes as he reunites with his brothers and becomes Death, the forth horseman of the Apocalypse.

With every complication popping up in his life, the biggest one by far is in the form of an old love from the past coming back to reclaim the spot in Mallory’s heart.

About the Author-

TL James graduated with an MBA from LeTourneau University. At LETU, James cultivated an interest in biblical studies and research. Little did James know, but her love for research would become an integral thread in her writing style.

After many sleepless nights, James began writing her first speculative fictional book, with her newly born son tucked comfortably at her side.  She developed the family drama storyline that showcases her love of research, biblical studies and literary classics (i.e., Chaucer, Shakespeare and Mythology). The MPire Trilogy was born.

In 2008, TL James revived PHE Ink, a Writing Solutions Firm, after discovering a number of gaps in the publishing industry.  James works with aspiring writers, one-on-one, to develop their literary voice. PHE Ink, also, assists entrepreneurs with transforming their business dreams into defined objectives and business plans. 

Author's Website. 
Tour Stops.

My thoughts-

I have never read a book like this one before. All of the characters in the Haulm family were unique and each had a hidden agenda that is revealed throughout the book. I have not read the precursor of the book, The Chronicles of the Haulm Boys and I wish I had. I had some difficulty figuring out who the brothers unique qualities were until the middle of the book. Then it all fell into place and the book came alive. The relationship between Mallory and Matthew was sweet as well as troubled. Mallory was a sexy, wealthy and intriguing individual who has to make a choice between life and death. He has to live up to his destiny of being the Forth Horseman (Death) and continue the family legacy. Throughout the book, there were supernatural beings and images surrounding Michael that kept me thinking. Who were these spirits and why are they after Michael? I guess you have to read the book to find out the answers. The author's descriptions of the supernatural was fantastic and the ending was unpredictable. I did not want the book to end and I wanted more. I look forward to reading the all of the books in the series.  I have to warn you that this book is only suitable for the adult reader due to the erotic and sometimes violent scenes in the novel.

Contest- International

Thanks to the author, I am able to give away ONE copy of the book.
EBook copy only- Worldwide
Print- USA only (You may Choose the Ebook version if you prefer)

Main Entry- LEAVE ALL ENTRIES IN ONE COMMENT.

Leave your name, email and where you live.

Extra Entries-

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Contest ends May 1st at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be picked by Random.org. The winner will be sent an email and has 48hrs to respond or another winner will be announced.

GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review.

GUEST POST BY PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG AUTHOR OF MURDER ON THE DOWN LOW.

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I want to welcome  Pamela Samuels Young, author of the legal thriller, Murder on the Down Low (Goldman House Publishing), as she virtually tours the blogosphere on her eleventh virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! Thanks for stopping by.

Story Ideas are Everywhere

You hear it all the time: Write what you know. But where do you find a story idea that might become the next best seller? Everywhere.

Great plots are all around us. The plots for my legal thrillers are usually spurred by something I’ve heard or read.

The Oprah show gets credit for Murder on the Down Low. I can still remember the day I watched in stunned silence as Oprah interviewed JL King, the author of On the Down Low. He boldly professed to sleeping with men, but at the same time, claimed that he was heterosexual. His shocking revelations about the secret world of men on the “down low” really shook me up. The very next day while I was driving to work, the plot for Murder on the Down Low came to me: What if a number of attractive, successful family men who all shared a shocking secret were being gunned down on the streets of L.A. and no one knew why?

The plot for Buying Time came to me while chatting with a guy at a party. I knew he was in the insurance business, but when he explained that he was a viatical broker, I started asking lots of questions because I’d never heard of the viatical industry. When he finished explaining that a viatical broker helps terminally ill people sell beneficiary rights to their insurance policies in exchange for quick cash, I knew immediately that the industry was the perfect backdrop for a thriller.

On the drive home from the party, the following idea came me: What if a disbarred lawyer becomes a viatical broker? And what if his terminally ill clients start dying sooner than they should and he is suspected of killing them? I was so excited about the idea, I started outlining it the very next day.

The more difficult task for me is coming up with plot twists that will surprise my readers. It’s so disappointing to read a book that ends exactly the way I expected it to. So I work really hard to come up with twists and turns that keep my readers guessing.

My best plot twists usually hit me while I’m stuck in traffic. I’ll rack my brain for days trying to come up with a red herring for a particular scene. Nine times out of ten, my light bulb moment will happen while I’m in my car stuck in rush-hour traffic.

So as a writer, I’m constantly looking and listening for interesting story ideas. Once I have an intriguing “what if,” the fun part is developing characters and creating conflicts to bring that question to life.

About the Author-

 Pamela Samuels-Young is a working attorney who squeezes in time to write whenever and wherever she can find it. Her desire to see engaging African-American characters in today's mainstream legal fiction prompted her to pen her first novel, Every Reasonable Doubt. The former television news writer earned her law degree from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law. She has a master's degree in broadcasting from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. Pamela served as legal consultant to the Showtime television series, Soul Food, and speaks frequently on writing and 'Pursuing Your Passion'. 


Authors Website.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF FATAL JUSTICE BY IRENE HANNON

In Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice, Book 1), U.S Marshal Jake Taylor was on a special mission in Iraq and when he returns home he is assigned to a new mission to protect  Liz Michaels who is a Federal Judge. She has kept her life secret and was married to Jake's best friend. Liz's sister was murdered in Liz's house and the killer might be after Liz. Jake was very upset after the death of his best friend who was married to Liz and he has not spoken to her in many years. While the Marshals are searching for the killers, there is an attraction forming between Liz and Jake. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in mortal danger.

About the Author-

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.


Author's Website-




My Thoughts-

 Fatal Judgment is full of suspense, faith, a little romance and is very realistic. I have never read any of the author's books before but I will definitely be reading the second book in the series. I was hooked from page one and the book was a page turner.  All of the characters were realistic and when the villain was introduced in the story, I wanted to find out more. There were times that I was at the edge of my seat and I was always rooting for Jake and Liz. So if you like suspense with a little romance this is the book for you.


Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY BY S. GIORELLO (CONTEST)

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In The Clouds Roll Away, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns home for Christmas but discovers Richmond, Virginia running low on goodness and light.

Although her exemplary service in Seattle lifted her disciplinary transfer, Raleigh lands a hometown civil rights case riddled with problems that could get her sent away again. When she helps out a fellow cop, her life goes on the line, forcing her undercover in a sting operation. As Raleigh realizes the lines are crossing and double-crossing, her domestic life starts to unravel. Her mother's mental health cracks like ice, her closest friend grows cold, and her old boyfriend DeMott comes a-calling, hoping for more than chestnuts by an open fire.

While the city glows with Christmas lights and carols, Raleigh is forced to rely on her sharpest skills to stay alive, hoping for that one clear moment when everything makes sense and the clouds roll away.

Meet Sibella:

Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website. www.sibellagiorello.com

Click here to see the other stops on this virtual book tour!

You can purchase your copy here.

My Thoughts- 

The book was written well and I was hooked from the first page. This is the third book in the series and I had no difficulty reading it. As I was reading it, I noticed that Sibella included information from the other two books to keep you up to date. I really liked Raleigh because she was believable and had a good relationship with her mother, Nadine. The storyline included mystery, a little romance, and plenty of twists and turns to keep it exciting. All of the characters were developed well and there was a lot of emotion throughout the book. So go and get yourself a copy of the book. You will not be disappointed.

Win a KINDLE from Sibella Giorello!

 Sibella’s celebrating the release of The Clouds Roll Away by giving away a KINDLE prize pack worth over $150.00!

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To enter simply click on one of the icons below! Then tell your friends! Winner will be announced January 3, 2011 on Sibella's blog: http://sibellagiorello.blogspot.com/. 

About The Clouds Roll Away – “Beautifully written with exquisite descriptions, Giorello’s mystery also features well-developed characters…”
—Booklist, starred review

Find out more here!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the Lifuse Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF THE 19TH ELEMENT BY J.L. BETCHER

In The 19th Element: A James Becker Nuclear Thriller, Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota’s Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant as a means to return the down-trodden terrorist organization to international prominence.

In addition to their own devoted forces, the terrorists enlist some homegrown anarchists, and a Three Mile Island survivor with a pathological vendetta against the nuclear establishment, to assist in the assault.

James “Beck” Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota – just six miles down the Mississippi from the Prairie River nuclear facility.

Possessing wisdom born of experience, Beck suspects the terrorists’ intentions as soon as the body of a university professor turns up on the Mississippi shore – the clear victim of foul play.

He recognizes connections between seemingly unrelated incidents – the murdered agronomy professor, a missing lab assistant, an international cell call, a stolen fertilizer truck – but can’t piece it together in enough detail to convince government authorities that a larger threat exists.  Only his American Indian friend, “Bull,” will help Beck defuse the threat.

So it’s Beck and Bull versus international terror.

My Thoughts-

The book started out slowly and then picked up speed rather quickly. There were some chapters that provided me too much technical information and I felt that I was reading a chemistry textbook. This is a great psychological thriller and I was able to finish the book in one afternoon. It was scary and I felt like I was right there with Beck stopping the terrorists. The characters were well developed and believable. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and his newest book A Higher Court, One Man's Search for the Truth of God's Existence.


About the Author-

The author holds a Bachelor's Degree, cum laude, in English from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. He has practiced law for more than twenty-five years in the Mississippi River community of Red Wing, Minnesota. He has also been a long-time supporter and coach of youth volleyball there. Mr. Betcher has published three feature articles in COACHING VOLLEYBALL, the Journal of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. His most recent article was the cover story for the April/May, 2009 Issue. 

Author's Website

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest review and I was not compensated for this review.

REVIEW OF HELL'S CORNER BY DAVID BALDACCI

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In Hell's Corner, John Carr, aka Oliver Stone is requested by the President to participate in a secret and high risk mission. He has tried to forget his past but he has no choice but to say yes.

As Stone watches the motorcade of The British Prime Minister leave the White House a bomb goes off in Lafayatte Park. It is an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders. He is knocked out and when he wakes up, he is determined to find out who is responsible for the bombing.

He partners with British Agent Mary Chapman to search  for the attackers. They discover that the attackers are mysterious, skilled and very dangerous. The bombing may be the first event in the attacker's plan and Stone decides to turn to The Camel Club for assistance. What happens to Stone and who is responsible? I guess you have to read the book to find out.


Author's Website-

My Thoughts-

I have never read any of The Camel Club novels before so I cannot compare this novel to the others. I had no difficulty following the plot and it was a page turner. The book had many twists and turns that made it exciting. I do not like novels that are predictable and Hell's Corner kept me guessing throughout the entire book. All of the characters interacted well together and I did not figure out who the villain was until the end. I highly recommend this book.I am a Baldacci fan!








Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the Hachette Book Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF THE REMAINS BY V. ZANDRI

Join Vincent Zandri, author of the thriller suspense novel, The Remains (Stone House Ink), as he virtually tours the blogosphere on his fourth virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About The Book-

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.

Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.

Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.

But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

Read an Excerpt-

October 2, 2008

Albany, New York

In the deep night, a woman sits down at her writing table. Fingering a newly sharpened pencil, she focuses her eyes upon the blank paper, brings the black pencil tip to it.
She begins to write.
Dear Mol,
I’ve been dreaming about you again. I don’t think a night has gone by in the past few weeks when I haven’t seen your face. Our face, I should say. The face is always in my head; implanted in my memories. The dream is nothing new. It’s thirty years ago again. It’s October. I’m walking close behind you through the tall grass towards the woods. Your hair is loose and long. You’re wearing cut-offs, white Keds with the laces untied and a red T-shirt that says ‘Paul McCartney and Wings’ on the front. You’re walking ahead of me while I try to keep up; but afraid to keep up. Soon we come to the tree line, and while my heart beats in my throat, we walk into the trees. But then comes a noise—a snapping of twigs and branches. The gaunt face of a man appears. A man who lives in a house in the woods.
Then, just like that, the dream shifts and I see you kneeling beside me inside the dark empty basement. I hear the sound of your sniffles, smell the wormy raw earth, feel the cold touch of a man’s hand. You turn and you look at me with your solid steel eyes. And then I wake up.
We survived the house in the woods together, Mol, and we never told a soul. We just couldn’t risk it. Whelan would have come back for us. He would have found us. He would have found mom and dad. Even today, I know he surely would have. He would have killed them, Mol. He would have killed us. In just five days, thirty years will have passed. Three entire decades and I’m still convinced we did the right thing by keeping that afternoon in the woods our secret.
When I see you in my dreams it’s like looking in a mirror. The blue eyes, the thick lips, the dirty blond hair forever just touching the shoulders. My hair is finally showing signs of grey, Mol.
I wonder, do you get gray hair in heaven? I wonder if Whelan’s hair burned off in hell? I wonder if he suffers?
All my love,
Your twin sister,
Rebecca Rose Underhill
Exhaling, the woman folds the letter neatly into thirds, slips it into a blank stationary envelope, her initials RRU embossed on the label. Running the bitter sticky glue interior over her tongue, she seals the envelope, sets it back down onto the writing table. Once more she picks up the pencil, brings the now dulled tip to the envelope’s face. Addressing it she writes only a name:
Molly Rose Underhill
The job done, the woman smiles sadly. Opening the table drawer, she sets the letter inside, on top of a stack of nine identical letters-never-sent. One for every year her sister has been gone.
Closing the drawer she hears her cell phone begin to vibrate, then softly chime. Picking it up off the desktop, she opens the phone, sees that a new text has been forwarded to her electronic mailbox. Fingering the in-box, she retrieves the message.
Rebecca is all it says.
Punching the command that reveals the name and number of the sender she finds “Caller Unknown.” The sender’s number has been blocked. Closing the phone back up, she sets it down on the desk. That’s when the wind picks up, blows and whistles through the open window.
“Mol,” she says, staring out into the darkness. “Mol, is that you?”

My Thoughts-

Mr. Zandri has done it again, he has written another fantastic thriller.  I became a fan of the author after reading Moonlight Falls. I was not able to put the book down and I kept saying to myself "just one more chapter." I read the book till two am  and boy did I regret it in the morning when I had to get up for school. The author's writing style was brilliant and the way that he alternated between Rebecca's past and present life was unique. I was able to follow the plot completely and I felt that I was right there with the two girls and the villain. I am a twin and I have a connection with my brother just as Molly and Rebecca did in the book. I definitely see this novel on the big screen as a psychological thriller. So go on out and get your self copies of The remains and Moonlight Falls. You will not be disappointed.

Visit the Author's site.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author and I was not compensated for my review.

GUEST POST BY V. ZANDRI AUTHOR OF THE THRILLER- THE REMAINS

I want to welcome Vincent Zandri to Books R Us. Vincent is the Author of The Remains and  he is virtually touring the blogosphere in November and  December ‘10 on his fourth virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! Thanks for stopping by.

The ‘What Now’ Syndrome

By Vincent Zandri

Do any of you writers feel a cold droplet of sweat run down the spine of your back when you complete a big a draft of a new novel? I know I do. I'll be a sad son of bitch but I just can't I explain it, other than I must be a little bit warped in the head. Or so my ex-wife, the dreadful “M” lets call her, reminds me on a daily basis.

Shouldn't the completion of a new book send me seeking out my cell phone to call my travel agent? Come to think of it, I just did that. But what I mean is, shouldn't I be looking forward to relaxing a little? You know, sleeping in a little, having a couple drinks? Take in some fishing? A movie or two? A couple of nice dinners out with my friends? A trip to somewhere exotic?

I guess it all has to do with the "What Now" syndrome. Like Hemingway once said, in this writing business chuck full of highly critical academic jerks, you're never judged on what you have done, but always what you are doing.

Therefore, while I have a long rewrite to look forward to on my new project, tentatively titled, The Dead Souls, I am now scrambling to work on something else first. The lucky winner will probably be the second in the, Dick Moonlight, Moonlight Falls, series, or Moonlight Rises.

Hey, I shouldn't be complaining. My new books, like The Remains, are bestsellers. I've just signed two new contracts for two more books with my new publisher. Plus I now have a movie scout. I remember when, not too long ago, I used to complete a novel and wait for the onslaught of the "big quiet." There was no money coming in and Dreadful M use to hang me in effigy out on the front lawn (Course now that I'm just a tad more successful she's been on-again/off-again hinting about a reconciliation. I wonder how her boyfriend feels about that! In any case Dreadful M, I’m still running….!!!!).

Times have changed. I make my living as a full-time writer. But one thing hasn't changed. I want to always be working on something. Writing is who I am and what I'm all about as a human being. Some people might think this wrong. That I should be a father, a husband, a citizen, or what have you first. But I choose to be a writer first. I can't imagine myself living any other way.

Vincent Zandri is an award-winning novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist. His novel As Catch Can (Delacorte) was touted in two pre-publication articles by Publishers Weekly and was called “Brilliant” upon its publication by The New York Post. The Boston Herald attributed it as “The most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season.” Other novels include the bestselling, Moonlight Falls,Godchild (Bantam/Dell) and Permanence (NPI). Translated into several languages including Japanese and the Dutch, Zandri’s novels have also been sought out by numerous major movie producers, including Heyday Productions and DreamWorks. Presently he is the author of the blogs, Dangerous Dispatches and Embedded in Africa for Russia Today TV (RT). He also writes for other global publications, including Culture 11, Globalia and Globalspec. Zandri’s nonfiction has appeared in New York Newsday, Hudson Valley Magazine, Game and Fish Magazine and others, while his essays and short fiction have been featured in many journals including Fugue, Maryland Review and Orange Coast Magazine. He holds an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College and is a 2010 International Thriller Writer’s Awards panel judge. Zandri currently divides his time between New York and Europe. He is the drummer for the Albany-based punk band to Blisterz.

His latest book is the bestselling thriller novel, The Remains.

You can visit his website at www.vincentzandri.com or his blog at www.vincentzandri.blogspot.com.

Check Back tomorrow 11/16 when I review this fantastic book.

BLOG TOUR OF CLOSURE BY R. MCGAHA (GIVEAWAY)

I want to welcome Rie McGaha to Books R Us. Rie is the author of Closure (Champagne Books: 8/2/2010)  Thanks for stopping by.

Going Through the Going Through

Recently a seven-year-old little girl named Maybl passed away as a result of Rhett's Syndrome. This little known disease is sneaky, deadly and steals a child's life. Maybl was born a healthy, happy baby girl who developed like any other baby. She sat up, crawled, cut teeth and laughed at her older sister, Audreay. When she was about a year old she began to digress physically and emotionally until she could only lie on her back as she did right after birth. The life expectancy of a Rhett's Syndrome child is late teens to early twenties but Maybl, bless her sweet little heart, lived seven and a half years. Unable to even eat, she was fed through a tube in her stomach. She couldn't sit up, crawl or talk but when she smiled she lit up the room. On the evening of September 20, 2010 Maybl's mother went to get her up for a bath and found she had passed away.

I have known Maybl's mom Kori since she was fifteen years old. She and my daughter Lisa were best friends from the moment they met and Kori spent as much time in my home as she did her own. I consider her one of my daughters and she calls me mom. Well, usually she calls me "Lisa's mom" because Lisa introduced me as her mom and Kori said, "Hi, Lisa's mom." And I said, "Hi, Lisa's friend." It's been a running joke ever since.

Over the course of my life I have lost five children and two grandchildren. Loss is something that we all experience. We know our grandparents are going to die, followed by our parents and various aunts, uncles and other relatives. The loss of a child throws our entire view of life off kilter. Our children and grandchildren are supposed to follow us in death, not precede us. When someone experiences the death of their child or grandchild everything changes. Life, God, breathing, getting through each day…everything is now a huge question mark and answers aren't easy to come by.

When my daughter Cassandra died at age sixteen I thought my world had ended. Taking a breath was difficult and just getting up in the morning was a chore, which was strange because I never thought I would sleep again. But I had other children to take care of, to try and explain the loss to, and a husband to take care of. While I was vocal with my feelings and cried often over our loss, Cassandra's father was the opposite. He didn't cry, he didn't talk about her, and in fact, he didn't want to talk about anything. I know he felt guilty because as a man, he felt as if he should have been able to protect her. I understood his feelings logically, but not emotionally.

In Maybl's case, I understand Kori's distress as a mother losing her baby girl. But for Maybl, I am happy. She is no longer confined to a body that refuses to obey, that refuses to move, and has been her prison for the past six years. I know her spirit is now free from the earthly confines she has known, and I know that as sad as Kori is, she also knows her baby is now in the arms of Grace. While the loss of a child is devastating and it's something you never really "get over," it does become easier to accept as time goes by. And when you know that a pure soul like Maybl's has been released, there is something very mystical and satisfying that settles inside of you.

Going through the going through is the hardest part of life but when you arrive on the other side, you find you are a better, more caring and loving person for having made it through the going through.

About the Author-

Rie McGaha is a wife, mother, grandmother who lives in SE Oklahoma. She is the author of several books in various genres. Her recent book, CLOSURE, is a spicy romantic/thriller from Champagne Books.  COMES AN OUTLAW, a historical romantic/western is now available at Silver Publishing. Excerpts are available on Rie's website www.riemcgaha.com.

About the Book-

High in the hills above Albuquerque, New Mexico Detective Zachariah Ellison arrives at the scene of a murder, and not just any murder, but one that definitely falls into the “gruesome” category even for a seasoned cop like Zach. When another body is found murdered in much the same fashion, Zach knows he’s got a serial killer on his hands, and to top it off he’s got an assistant district attorney hounding him about the case. As Zach tries to investigate the crimes while sidestepping nosey Amy Logan, a third body is found and Zach hasn’t a clue as to whom the perpetrator might be.

Amy Logan has worked hard to put herself through school and pay for law school on her own and now that she’s secured a position as assistant district attorney in Albuquerque, she’s determined to do everything she can to be the best prosecutor this office has ever seen. And as if luck was following her, she’s been assigned to the biggest homicide case the city has ever seen. The only problem she’s having is the homicide detective who’s leading the investigation—Zach Ellison.

My Thoughts-

What a great thriller. It was a page-turner and well written. This novel is definitely for the 18 + crowd due to the erotic content and descriptive scenes in the book. I Thought I knew who the killer was but I never expected it to be... All the characters were well developed and interacted well. There were twists and turns throughout the book. I have always loved thrillers and this was one of the best ones that I had read recently. I Look forward to reading the author's other novels.

CONTEST-

Click here to purchase your copy of Closure today or visit Rie at her website to learn more.

By commenting to this post, you will be entered to win a Rie McGaha Writing Tablet. By commenting at every stop on Rie's virtual book tour, your chances of winning increase so be sure to stop by Goddess Fish Promotions for a complete tour schedule.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.