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William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

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Equi Knocks of Karma by Jada Ryker – My Review!!

September 6, 2016 by Bill Stuart 1 Comment

Equi Knocks of Karma – My Review!

Equi Knocks of Karma by Jada Ryker Cover

I read the first Carr-Maah Consulting Agency Mystery (Dog Days of Karma) and gave it 5 stars in my review. Now the second book of the series Equi Knocks of Karma makes its way to the top of my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

In the second standalone adventure in the Carr–Maah Consulting Agency Mystery series, Celeste Carr and Ericka Maah, business partners and friends, face a powerful and ruthless adversary.

Celeste and Ericka are shocked when Toni Rae Yelton, a self-centered party girl, storms the office and holds them hostage. Desperate, Toni Rae orders the mysterious Ericka to use her alleged supernatural powers to call off the police and the reporters, who are all convinced she’s the sinister force behind her little girl’s disappearance.

Adding to Celeste’s angst, Hobart has vanished. The mysterious man was forced off the streets some months ago. Ericka used a combination of her unusual talents and blackmail to coerce Hobart into working for her firm. He reluctantly agreed. More enthusiastically, at least until his disappearance, he was also Celeste’s boyfriend. Now, Celeste believes something terrible has happened to him.

Celeste is forced to not only investigate, but also navigate the landmines in her life. Celeste’s friend Ericka duels with her arch enemy and business rival, handsome and charismatic Christoph Metre. An odd little dog, curiously attuned to Celeste and using his teeth, claws, and smell for protection, attaches himself to her. When she’s in danger, a devilishly handsome stranger materializes to save her…and makes her less eager to find her missing boyfriend.

As the sinister cords of the mystery tighten around Celeste’s throat, she must find the person behind the mask in time to save not only herself, but others. With the fine Machiavellian hand leaving few clues but many deadly traps, Celeste will have to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

What I liked  about Equi Knocks of Karma:

Jada Ryker’s quirky characters are back! Ericka Maah is as mysterious and enigmatic as ever. Celeste Carr still works on her anger issues – especially with Bennett. Hobart’s disappearance adds mystery, and Christophe Metre returns as Ericka’s nemesis and rival. Combine the things above with missing homeless people, a weird dog (who may or may not morph into a handsome stranger that protects Celeste), and the stage is set for an entertaining book!

What I didn’t like about Equi Knocks of Karma:

Without giving too much away, Toni Rae’s missing daughter wasn’t critical to the plot and seemed unnecessary. Besides that, no complaints.

Overall impression of Equi Knocks of Karma:

Equi Knocks of Karma is an entertaining read. Fast-paced, full of quirky interesting characters, the book had enough mystery and intrigue to keep me reading. I recommend Equi Knocks of Karma to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of the supernatural!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Have you read Equi Knocks of Karma? If you have, or if you have read any of Jada Ryker’s books, please consider leaving a review. Reviews help authors know what readers think of their books. I know Jada Ryker would appreciate it! Find out more about Jada and her books on her Amazon Author Page or on her website! And look for Jada’s Kindle Scout book Take the Body and Run!

Connect with me:

Like or dislike my review? Leave a comment and let me know. Want to connect on social media? Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. Say hi! Lastly, you can email me at bill@williamlstuart.com. I enjoy reading the comments and making new connections!

Filed Under: Amazon, author, Book Posts, KDP, Kindle, Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: Amazon, amazon book, author, book, books, Carr-Maah, Dog Days of Karma, ebooks, Equi Knocks of Karma, fiction, Jada Ryker, KDP, Kindle, Kindle Scout, mystery, supernatural, Take the Body and Run, The Gemstone Chronicles, william l stuart

The Eyes of the Accused by Mark Tilbury – My Review!!

August 1, 2016 by Bill Stuart 1 Comment

The Eyes of the Accused – My Review!!

The Eyes of the Accused Cover

I read Mark Tilbury’s debut novel, The Revelation Room. Because the book was so entertaining, I gave it 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars). When he released the second book of the Ben Whittle series, The Eyes of the Accused, it immediately went on my TBR list. Read on for my review!

Synopsis (from the author):

Fresh from the horrors of the Revelation Room, private investigators Ben and Maddie are plunged into a disturbing world of terror as they search for missing pregnant girl, Hannah Heath. Drawn to Frank Crowley, an original suspect in Hannah’s disappearance, Maddie is about to learn the true meaning of evil. But all is not what it seems. Crowley is just a small part of something unimaginable. Something so terrible and deranged it defies reason. After Maddie disappears, Ben is left in a desperate race against time to find her and uncover the truth.

What I liked:

Mark Tilbury creates another evil and twisted antagonist for Ben Whittle. Hannah’s character is believable as the kidnap victim. Geoff (Ben’s father), still recovering from his encounter with Edward Ebb (from Book 1) is he irascible self, and Maddie is as courageous and cute as ever. With flashes of Mr. Tilbury’s dark humor, interesting plot twists, and the blossoming romance between Ben and Maddie, The Eyes of the Accused is a worthy successor to The Revelation Room!

What I didn’t like:

In spite of how well written the book is, it drags in places, especially during Ben’s disagreements with Maddie and his father on Maddie’s involvement as an undercover operative.

Overall impression:

The Eyes of the Accused, like its predecessor, is a dark mystery thriller. Ben Whittle grows into his role, and Maddie is cute, spunky, and a delightful character. Hannah definitely engenders sympathy, and the villain is perfectly dark and twisted. If dark humor, and everyday evil is your thing, The Eyes of the Accused is a book for you!

My rating:

5 Stars   

Connect with the author:

Want to know more about Mark Tilbury and his books? Visit his site at marktilbury.com!

Connect with me:

If you liked (or disliked) my review, leave me a comment and let me know! We can also connect on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. You can also just email me at bill@williamlstuart.com.

Filed Under: Amazon, author, Book Posts, KDP, Kindle, Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: adventure, Amazon, amazon book, author, Ben Whittle Investigations, books, dark humor, ebook, ebooks, Good Reads author, KDP, Kindle, Mark Tilbury, mystery, novel, review, reviews, The Eyes of the Accused, The Gemstone Chronicles, The Revelation Room, thriller, william l stuart, william stuart

Point Of No Return by Diana J. Febry – My Review!!

July 4, 2016 by Bill Stuart 2 Comments

Point Of No Return – My review!!

Point-Of-No-Return-Cover-PS

My last review dealt with Sasquatches, and this time I visit an English cozy mystery, Point Of No Return by Diana J. Febry. Mysteries are not normally my genre of choice, but I do like to branch out occasionally. Read on to find out my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

The significance of the noose left hanging outside James Palmer’s barn is obvious to everyone in the village. When threats turn to violence DCI Peter Hatherall has to unmask a master of disguise determined to have their revenge.

What I liked:

Diana Febry’s characters are colleagues, friends, and something more. Since this isn’t the first book with Peter Hatherall and Fiona, I didn’t have the backstory of those two, but it made no difference. I could easily relate to them. The story, involving a suicide victim, a gentleman farmer (Palmer) and his wife, and the mysterious Emma, moves along nicely most of the time. The tale flows from the death of Digby (the suicide) to escalating and more frequent attacks on the farm from persons unknown. Peter Hatherall and Fiona follow the clues along twisty paths. But, can they solve the mystery before the stalker kills Palmer?

What I didn’t like:

Despite the pace of the story overall, there were a couple of slow spots. Additionally, I thought Daoma and Gordon’s parts were overplayed.

Overall impression:

Point of No Return by Diana J. Febry was a nice cozy mystery. Nicely written, with good pace, interesting characters, and plenty of twists to keep the reader interested, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5)

Connect with the author:

Find out more about Diana J. Febry at her Amazon Author page or at her website. If you read Point Of No Return or any of Diana J. Febry’s other books, please consider leaving a review. I know Diana would be most appreciative!!

Connect with me:

Like the review? Dislike the review? Please feel free to leave comments, email me at bill@williamlstuart.com, or find me on social media. I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I look forward to hearing from you!

Filed Under: Amazon, author, Book Posts, Goodreads, Goodreads author, KDP, Kindle, Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: Amazon, author, book, book review, books, cozy mystery, detective, Diana J Febry, ebook, ebooks, English, fiction, Fiona, Good Reads author, KDP. Kindle, murder, mystery, Peter Hatherall, Point Of No Return, review, william l stuart

Dog Days of Karma by Jada Ryker – My Review!!

June 1, 2016 by Bill Stuart 1 Comment

Dog Days of Karma by Jada Ryker!

Dog Days of Karma Cover

I read Jada Ryker’s Pink Zombie with a Twist, a while ago and found myself with an open spot on my TBR. I looked for a more recent book by Jada and decided to try The Dog Days of Karma. Read on to find out my thoughts.

Synopsis (from the author):

Desperate to locate a missing person, Constance Twist decides to call a detective agency. Waiting for directory assistance and muttering to herself about karma, Constance jots down the address for the Carr—Maah Consulting Agency. On the way to the agency, Constance is shoved into traffic and nearly killed.

Celeste Carr is shocked when Constance storms into the office, demanding help. She tries to explain that Carr—Maah is a human resources consulting company, not a detective agency. Celeste grits her teeth when her mysterious business partner Ericka Maah overrules Celeste and forces her to take Constance’s case.

The killer rectifies the earlier error. Constance is brutally murdered as she leaves the agency.

Several hundred miles away, Jose is a restaurant manager and former agency employee. He helped Sonora escape her abusive husband by giving her a job and an apartment. After Sonora unexpectedly flees, Jose finds a hefty online reward for a lost dog. The posting shows Sonora’s image photoshopped with the picture of a dog. Jose follows Sonora’s trail back to his hometown and the Carr—Maah Consulting Agency.

Celeste, Ericka, and Jose, assisted by Hobart, the mysterious homeless man forced by Ericka to become the agency’s office manager, investigate. The clues lead them to a surfeit of viable suspects. His voice heated by the South African sun, Christoph Metre is the charismatic head of the rival consulting agency. Obsessed with the exotic Ericka, Christoph appears with his entourage in unexpected places, including the murder scene. Lovesick Mrs. Grant, in a one-sided relationship with Mr. Crispie, hated it when Constance Twist offered the spry widower lemonade with a Twist. Dr. Britta Spartan, head of the domestic violence shelter, writhes around Hobart like a predatory boa constrictor around a juicy mouse.

If Celeste and her friends can’t solve the mystery in time, they’ll be the next victims.

What I liked:

Jada Ryker writes in a conversational and easy to read way. Her characters are quirky, interesting, and have their own mysteries. For instance, who is Hobart Smith really? What late night activities go on while Hobart is upstairs? What childhood trauma did Celeste experience? These are but a few of the things to solve in this book. And, that doesn’t even include the actual murder the HR consulting firm reluctantly investigates. The Dog Days of Karma had enough action to keep me interested and the twists were fun.

What I didn’t like:

The only issue I had with the book was the ending. I thought it was rushed and tried too hard to tie the loose ends together.

Overall impression:

Dog Days of Karma was an interesting and enjoyable read. I liked the quirky characters, the various mysteries, and the action of the story. I would recommend this one to anyone who likes cozy mysteries!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5)

Connect with the author:

You can connect with Jada Ryker on her Amazon Author page or at her website. If you read Dog Days of Karma or any of Jada Ryker’s other books, please consider leaving a review. It helps authors know what people think of their work!

Connect with me:

Want to give me feedback on my review, please leave me a comment. I like to hear what you think. If you would rather connect with me on social media, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. You can also drop me an email at bill@williamlstuart.com.

Filed Under: Amazon, author, Book Posts, Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: Amazon Author, author, books, cozy mystery, Dog Days of Karma, ebook, ebooks, fiction, Jada Ryker, karma, KDP, Kindle, mystery, recommendation, review, reviewing, reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, william l stuart

The Man With The Green Suitcase by Dee Doanes!!

November 8, 2012 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

Dee Doanes and The Man With The Green Suitcase

Now this sounds like an intriguing paranormal mystery! Read on to discover more about Dee Doanes’ The Man With The Green Suitcase!! You can read more about Dee and her work below. I included many different links for you to connect with the author and purchase her book! Read and enjoy.

The Man with the Green Suitcase Cover Dee Doanes

What does…

A prostitute

A corrupt businessman and

A disfigured young woman

Have in common with a mysterious, old homeless man who carries a green suitcase?

The old man comes into people’s lives because it is important for them to experience the visions that he is somehow able to show them—visions that even he doesn’t understand. But whoever he connects with will go through a transformation that will change the course of their life, for better or worse. The old man has no memory of who he is or even what the suitcase holds. But one day he will find out all about his own secret and dark past…

This story is magical realism, realistic with paranormal elements, a mystery that needs to be solved, and a man and woman who will finally realize that they were meant to come into each other’s lives and remain forever.

Author Bio:

Dee Doanes is the author of The Man With the Green Suitcase, her first fiction novel.

She has previously published short stories and poetry. She has a deep passion for writing and has been writing since the age of five.

Dee Doanes has a background in copywriting, communications, and social media.

She’s active in several charities and conducts a youth poetry workshop for the Atlanta Writers Club Youth Writing Camp, and is the former co-chair of the Writing in the Schools Program for Georgia Writers.

Dee Doanes lives in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys spending time with her daughter and parents. Doanes’ mother encouraged her to read and to be creative while growing up. In her spare time, she enjoys attending writing events and workshops, fitness training, collecting art, world travel, and gourmet cooking.

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/deedoanes

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/DeeDoanesAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deedoanes

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/deedoanes

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/deedoanes/

Author website: www.themanwiththegreensuitcase.com

Blog: www.deedoanes.com

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/author/deedoanes

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/dee-doanes

When you read the book, please consider leaving a review!

Filed Under: Book Posts, Recommendations and Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: contemporary, Dee Doanes, Doanes, fantasy, green, Kindle, literary fiction, literature, magical, magical realism, mystery, paranormal, paranormal mystery, suitcase, supernatural, visions

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