#BookReview “Spider Games” by K.J. McGillick

April 7, 2020April 3, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ Leave a comment

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5/5 Stars!

When family-law attorney Kate O’Brien gets bum-rushed into handling a bail hearing by her business partner, her life spirals out of control.

She’s pulled deeper into a criminal case with a disoriented defendant charged with murder as her partner, Bill Brown, appears to be distancing himself and avoiding her.

When the ugly truth is revealed, Kate finds out she’s not only been Bill’s unwitting pawn and the “name on the dotted line” for his illegal activities but now she must allow herself to be used again to stay out of jail… and alive.

Spider Games is great slow-build suspense. This author knows how to pull readers in and keep them on the edge of their seats. Each chapter delivered a nugget of clarity… and a bucket of questions. Every time I thought my eyebrows couldn’t possibly go any higher, I swiped the page and find out I was wrong!

Kate O’Brien is tenacious and committed to her profession. She’s slowly building a name for herself in the legal community and is grateful to Bill Brown for taking her into the business after a disastrous end to a relationship caused Kate to flee for safety, peace of mind and a fresh start. It’s her gratitude to Bill and inability to trust anyone else that leads Kate to put blinders on and make her an easy mark for Bill, because even as his list of offenses grows, she still considers that he could have been “caught up” in something and defends him to authorities. It’s more than apparent to everyone Bill Brown is not a nice guy and a major player in illegal activities that span the globe… and implicate Kate, but she’s more concerned that Bill has adequate legal representation.

(Insert dramatic eye-roll and Kindle-flinging moment.)

I didn’t like Kate O’Brien. There. I said it.

I admired her focus and passion for her clients. She’s a sharp attorney. She just isn’t very smart. As I passed the story’s midpoint, the only thing higher than my eyebrows was the number of bad decisions Kate made. With attempts on her life, federal agents who aren’t convinced of her innocence and the threat of prison hanging over her, for me, it took Kate too long to appreciate the gravity of her situation.

But every flawed protagonist must have a savior, and thank goodness for Norma Wilkie, legal assistant/paralegal, extraordinaire! The sixty-year-old is savvy, sharp, AND smart… and just the person Kate needs at her side as she tries to navigate the hell her life has become.

Everyone has secrets in Spider Games, Norma included, and as Kate tries to figure out what to believe and who to trust, the plot twists go deeper to reveal a conspiracy even the feds didn’t see coming.

While I’m still not on Team Kate, she won my respect near the story’s end with a new attitude and some fancy footwork of her own.

Excellent pacing made this well-written book a page-turner and one-sitting read. I’m more than ready for book two to see where the conspiracy leads, and hopefully, Jaxson Brant and Agent Owens will show up for the party!

Enjoy!

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A Web of Deception. cover

Kate O’Brien is pure dedication. This feisty, no nonsense attorney works herself to the bone every day, tirelessly building her reputation and career. She is a legal star. That is until her law partner, Bill Brown, a criminal defense attorney, achieves a degree of notoriety which attracts the interest of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

When the unimaginable happens, Bill is arrested and charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking and money laundering. As a new client’s case demands attention, Kate must step up to defend a woman accused of murder. Who is this high-priced escort the police believe killed her wealthy benefactor in an alcohol-fueled rage? Nothing is what it seems.

What Kate uncovers is her client and Bill are criminal conspirators playing a game where there are no rules. As she digs deeper, Kate is blind sighted by what she discovers. Bill has implicated her in his crimes and sets a plan in motion making her a target of retribution. All she can do is wait. Tick Tock.

A fast-paced legal thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. Suspenseful crime fiction with twists and turns throughout this masterfully plotted novel keeps you on the edge of your seat. It may be read as a standalone and serves as the first book in the series, A Conspiracy of Betrayal.

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#BookTour “Please Return To: Toby Solano” by Frank Morelli

April 7, 2020April 2, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ 2 Comments

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PLEASE RETURN TO: Book #2

Middle Grade Fiction; Humor; Action; Adventure; Epistolary; Middle Grade

Publisher: INtense Publications LLC

Published Date: March 27, 2020

Toby Solano is the new kid in town. No one in Mapleton knows he exists, which is tough to swallow for a boy who descends from Lucha Libre wrestling royalty. Back in El Paso, Toby could snap his fingers and the seas would part as he walked the hallways at his old school.

But when his dad gets body slammed into submission and his career goes into a tailspin, Toby decides to take his anger out on his classmates, which gets him kicked out of school and shipped off to Mapleton with his mom.

Toby hates his new town, he hates his classmates and, most of all, he hates Mr. Finkelstein. But when he finds his teacher’s missing journal under the tires of a moving truck, the drama of the famed Mapleton Wrestling Federation opens wide for him. Armed with a journal’s-worth of wrestling lore, will Toby be able to build friendships and help the Mort-tician regain his title? Or, will he fall back on his old ways and bully himself right out of Mapleton Middle School? Find out on the slightly-wrinkled pages of Please Return To: Toby Solano.

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About the Author

Frank Morelli is the author of No Sad Songs, a 2019 YALSA Quick Picks nominee and winner of an American Fiction Award for best coming of age story. The first book in his debut middle grade series, Please Return To: Norbert M. Finkelstein, was released in September 2019. His fiction and essays have appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, Cobalt Review, Philadelphia Stories, and Jersey Devil Press.

A Philadelphia native, Morelli now lives in High Point, NC where he has been a classroom teacher for almost twenty years. He holds an MFA in Fiction from National University and thinks dogs are the most respectable beings on the planet. Connect with him on Twitter @frankmoewriter or on his website frankmorelliwrites.com.

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#BookTour “A New Vineyard” by Audrey Lero

April 7, 2020March 20, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ Leave a comment

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Christian, Fiction

Date Published: October 21, 2019

Publisher: Clay Bridges Press

A New Vineyard is an invitation for you to taste and see that the land of Israel is good. Whether or not you have trekked to the Promised Land, this tall tale on a high place will put you in the middle of the action. Follow characters Aaron and Ruth Lipkin through the vineyards of Israel as they break new ground and establish a city under the most impossible of circumstances. Merging ancient biblical mysteries with modern-day political pressures, this story bridges the gap between religious differences and allows you to immerse yourself in the heart of the Middle East. Whether you drink wine or simply appreciate viticulture for its cultural roots, there is a place for you to find yourself in this narrative. Will you kick off your shoes and take a stroll through the vineyard in the cool of the day?

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EXCERPT

Prologue

Aaron Lipkin smiled eagerly as he gazed through a tiny, dusty window of a dark green Israeli Defense Force (IDF) helicopter. It approached the mountaintop and struggled to find a place to land as the mountain was littered with more boulders and dirt than the aerial map had indicated. Israel’s mountains were known for their steep and barren peaks, apt to repel human visitors. The propellers kicked up so much dirt in the line of sight that what was anticipated to be a simple landing intensified quickly into a no-landing situation. The IDF pilot yelled through his mouthpiece to the passengers that the landing would not be possible, and they would need to try again on a day after a heavy rain to help lessen the dirt and debris.

Aaron Lipkin’s chest rose with indignation. He had waited much too long for this moment and replied to the pilot in a roar, “We have direct orders from the president to land this helicopter on this mountain this day and build a city. We will be landing, and we will begin. You were born for this, Lieutenant, and were trained to fly by the best air force in all the world. I have faith in you and order you to land now!”

The pilot responded, “With all due respect, sir, I cannot afford to put our lives in danger by landing under such conditions.”

“With all due respect, Lieutenant, you cannot afford to not land this aircraft!” Aaron replied. “Our forefathers risked their lives to restore this land. Now it’s our turn. We must land.”

The helicopter made a sharp hairpin turn and landed with a jolting thud into enemy territory, shaking the bodies and minds of the four passengers. Aaron and Ruth Lipkin disembarked slowly, shielding their eyes and ears from the dust storm with light blue-and-white, linen-blended scarves, and surveyed their new home. The couple assisted the co-pilot with unloading the disheveled cargo of camping supplies, clean water, and government food rations.

After all contents were on the ground, the co-pilot saluted Aaron and rejoined the pilot in the cockpit. They lifted the helicopter in the same manner with which they had dropped it—quickly. As the helicopter departed, a faint woosh, woosh, woosh was the only sound that could be heard through the mountainous terrain of the hills of Samaria. Without the cooling breeze from the swift propellers, Aaron and Ruth coughed uncontrollably. They found their canteens and gulped water to relieve pressure from their dust-filled lungs. They looked at one another and, for the first time in years, laughed jovially. They embraced and stood contentedly, knowing that they had made it. They had made it to the mountain.

Aaron gathered his wife in his arms. Now physically still, though hearts pounding, they smelled the fresh land. There were no fruit trees to produce the familiar smells from their childhoods or sounds of car horns, sirens, and shuffling people as in the bustling city they had just left. Ruth held her memories and braced her delicate weight against Aaron’s strong and gentle stature.

As Aaron stood atop the mountain, he pointed to the east and said, “My darling, over there will be the hospital.”

Turning slightly, he pointed a little to the left of that space and said, “And over there will be the university.”

Pointing a little further left of that space, he said, “And over there will be the industrial park. This is my vision. Everything that the people of Tel Aviv have, the people of Gibeah will have, too. We will make a place for them to raise their families, be educated, and invent and manufacture the finest creations earth has yet to know. Together, we will bring the Jews home.”

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About the Author

Audrey Lero is a world traveler who enjoys exploring cultures and meeting the people who create them. Israel, and its vineyards, is one of her favorite destinations. Using her gift of connecting people to the resources they need, she bridges cultural divides, inviting people to look past their differences to serve a common goal. Audrey is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she studied accounting and finance. She works professionally in the wine and real estate industries as an entrepreneur with friends and family. Audrey enjoys writing from her Dallas, Texas home. She also writes and performs sketch comedy while spending as much time as possible outdoors.

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#Excerpt “Spider Games” by K.J. McGillick

April 7, 2020April 3, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ Leave a comment

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A Web of Deception.

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EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE

Divorce is an ugly business. People come to me with their hearts blown to bits and dreams crushed by their unworthy spouse. I am a fixer.

I have had my share of crazies over the years and accepted that people can turn vicious as their demands for a pound of their spouse’s flesh escalates. Some I could reason with when things cooled down, others, however, went rogue in the quest for personal and oftentimes vigilante justice. That is why in the thick black and red book of statutes titled Domestic Relations, there are hundreds of codified laws that lawyers and the public alike are expected to follow. These statutes are not mere suggestions, they are rules, and I like rules.

I respect the law and make it my mission to work within its framework. That is not to imply I won’t work every angle possible to win. Because isn’t that what the essence of litigation is about? And I love the feel of winning.

People say I am tenacious. They have even called me scrappy and snarky. That’s okay, because when the name Kate O’Brien is spoken, no one doubts the fight will be fair because I play by the designated rules. So, what am I doing sitting in the county jail, talking to a woman accused of murder and clearly inebriated? A belligerent, incoherent woman who already has expressed her unfavorable opinion of me several times.

William Brown, my law partner, that’s why I’m here, caught in this chaos and drama, as a favor to him. He loves the Wild West attitude of the criminal defense bar and plays fast and loose inside and outside of the courtroom. Flashy cars, a small plane, and two lavish houses have come to define him. All this chasing after power and money is something that has been a problem bubbling to the surface over the course of this last year.

Winning acquittal after acquittal has made him a rock star amongst the criminal community. Now they chase after him and not the other way around. He’s clever and charismatic. I have to admit I am not entirely immune from the second quality. Thus, tonight I was far too easily smooth-talked into agreeing to meet with this unlikeable woman, the wife of an old friend. However, I stood my ground and made it clear I was only a pinch hitter who would take a few minutes to talk to her, gather some information, assure her Bill had this in hand and then I was out.

I took a few minutes to take in the woman who sat across from me in the orange jumpsuit. She could easily pass for a high-fashion model, a pampered high-maintenance woman. I had no doubt she routinely and painstakingly exfoliated her flawless skin, and even after passing out drunk for God knows how long, her hair was still perfectly coifed. Although her makeup had smudged under her eyes, it just gave it a more smoky, smoldering look somewhat sexy, as opposed to your rabid raccoon look that I was known to sport after an hour at the gym.

Right now, no one knew her side of the story. It had taken the last twenty-four hours for her to become even slightly coherent, and the police realized that taking a statement from someone so blitzed would not hold up in court. After a trip to the hospital to assess her medical condition, her body was infused intravenously with a liter of fluid. The emergency room physician declared it was unnecessary, but her husband, an obnoxious and verbally abusive surgeon, insisted on it. When she was finally cleared as medically stable, the police arrested and transported her to the county jail, where she remained asleep until roused and marched to the attorney-client area. Now she was mine.

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KJ McGillick About K. J. McGillick

K. J. McGillick was born in New York and once she started to walk she never stopped running. But that’s what New Yorker’s do. Right?

As she evolved so did her career choices. After completing her graduate degree in nursing she spent many years in the university setting sharing the dreams of the enthusiastic nursing students she taught. After twenty rewarding years in the medical field she attended law school and has spent the last twenty-four years as an attorney helping people navigate the turbulent waters of the legal system. Not an easy feat. And now? Now she is sharing the characters she loves with readers hoping they are intrigued by her twisting and turning plots and entertained by her writing.

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#Excerpt “Trust in You” by Julia Firlotte

April 7, 2020March 20, 2020 ~ Felicia Denise ~ Leave a comment

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From the moment she met him, Ella Peterson had questions. As always, though, she’s too shy to ask.

Older and sexy as hell, mysterious Adam Brook soon sweeps sheltered Ella off her feet; but is he as perfect as he appears to be, or is there more to him than he’s telling her?

Ella’s world has already turned upside down after moving from England to rural Kansas. She and her sisters were hoping for a more secure future, but instead find that life can be tough when jobs are scarce and the stakes often higher than anticipated.

When events spiral out of Ella’s control, she learns the person she needs to rely on most is herself and her instincts on who to trust in the future.

It’s just that her instincts are screaming at her to trust Adam; it’s what he tells her that makes that a problem.

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EXCERPT

‘Don’t be nervous, Ella, it’s only me, right?’ He reassures me and brings his lips up close to my ear. ‘Everyone has a first time once, baby,’ he murmurs. ‘Mine was in a car park when I was fifteen.’

Oh dear God. I swallow. Now is not the moment for me to be reminded how much older and more experienced he is if his aim is for me to relax. He ducks his head so he can see under my fringe hanging like a curtain to shade my eyes and he smiles warmly at me. It coaxes me into a shy smile back and his face lights up at my response.

‘That’s better, beautiful, your eyes are so pretty when you smile.’ He’s not giving me fake flattery; he’s genuine. His words make me blush but I don’t look away and he gives my knickers a light tug to ease them under my bottom until they stop halfway down my thighs as he’s kneeling between my legs. It’s so damn sexy; I try not to stare at him quite so awestruck. He strokes my hair back from my face and tucks it behind my ear.

‘You need to relax, baby, or I’ll bruise you,’ he says gently. I gulp and nod, keeping my eyes glued to his as my breathing shallows. As his eyes wander down to my chest I notice that his own breathing is far from controlled, I’ve been so caught up with how I’m feeling, I hadn’t noticed.

‘I told you I’d take care of you, you trust me, right?’

‘Yes.’ I breathe immediately. I do trust him.

‘Then relax, it hurts a bit the first time but I’ll be gentle with you, we’ll do this together,’ he whispers against my mouth and I almost convulse on the bed. His breath is sweet and warm and he dazzles me. A large part of my brain is wondering if this gorgeous man is really here, with me.

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Author Bio

Julia is an avid reader of all things romance, and she has read hundreds of books across a variety of sub-genres and began writing her own novels in 2018. Four books are currently in various stages of editing and completion, the first of which is finished and will be on sale in spring 2020.

Julia has always been passionate about languages and fiction and has a degree in Languages and Trade and an A-Level in English Literature. When Julia is not writing or editing her own novels, she usually has her nose in books by other authors and is otherwise kept busy caring for her family, going to the gym and carrying out her day job. Julia lives on the South Coast of England with her two children, husband and cats.