The Return of Ellie Black A Novel by Emiko Jean

 Book Excerpt:

"It's been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun's sister vanished when they were teenagers, and ever since, she's been searching for signs, for closure, for other missing girls. But happy endings are rare in Chelsey's line of work.

Then a glimmer: local teenager Ellie Black, who disappeared without a trace two years earlier, has been found alive in the woods of Washington State.

But something is not right with Ellie. She won't say where she's been or who she's protecting, and it's up to Chelsey to find the answers. She needs to get to the bottom of what happened to Ellie: for herself and the memory of her sister, but mainly for the next girl who could be taken—and who, unlike Ellie, might never return.

The debut thriller from New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean, The Return of Ellie Black is both a feminist tour de force about the embers of hope that burn in the aftermath of tragedy and a twisty page-turner that will shock and surprise you right up until the final page."

Title:  The Return of Ellie Black

Author:  Emiko Jean

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five

Review:

"The Return of Ellie Black" by Emiko Jean

My Perception:  

'The Return of Ellie Black' was quite a long mystery thriller, but if you go to the end, you are given a good story. Detective Chelsey Calhoun was kept busy investigating what had happened to seventeen-year-old Ellie Black. Some twenty years earlier, Chelsey's sister, Lydia, had vanished and, up until this time, was thought to have died with her boyfriend.

Along with what had gone on with Ellie being gone for two years, Chelsey was determined to find out what had happened to her. However, a lot will come out of this search for Ellie, especially when she returns after all this time. What was up with that, especially with her not wanting to talk about what had happened to her?

Well, when this story starts coming out, get ready for it. It will reveal much of what has happened in Washington State to Ellie and a few other interesting characters.

What did Chelsey's father and her boss have to do with anything that happened in this situation? Because Chelsey did not want to give up on Ellie, things began to open up. Chelsey was determined to discover the truth, going the extra mile as an officer. Would she be able to save other lives? I don't want to tell you too much different than pick 'The Return of Ellie Black' and see how it all comes out.

Be ready for a long but not easy read that will bring you a lot of twists and turns, abuse, heartache, and sadness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the much-appreciated arc in exchange for an honest review.

ANGRY SINS: A Doc Hunter Murder Mystery (Doc Hunter Murder Mystery Series Book 1) Kindle Edition by C.E. Nelson

Book Excerpt:

"Three dead. Shot point-blank. A hot summer day just got hotter.

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Agent Doc Hunter had a golf game scheduled. Doc was a good golfer. Very good. Thinking about going pro. But now all of that had been put on hold because three people on a farm got themselves shot, and Hunter's boss had decided he needed to be the one to investigate.

Doc wasn't happy about the assignment and was even less happy when he found a cover-up and a suspect list that only seemed to keep growing. On top of that, he has a killer with much more killing to do.

As the body count increases, the media, the sheriff, and Doc's boss all increase the pressure on Doc to stop an angry killer with a growing appetite for more blood.

Readers of John Sanford, Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Lee Child, and similar authors will enjoy this fast-paced mystery.

What readers are saying about C.E. Nelson novels:

"Fast and exciting"

"Never a Dull minute."

"Keeps you guessing"

"Once I started reading, I couldn't stop."

 Title: Angry Sins

Author: C. E. Nelson
Publisher: ‏ Gull Lake Press
Series: Doc Hunter Murder Mystery Series Book 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
'Angry Sins' by C. E. Nelson

My Thoughts:

'Angry Sin' is an intriguing plot that keeps one turning the pages to see what is coming next in this story. Doc Hunter was an interesting character who loved to play golf but had to put it aside because he was a BCA Agent and was needed. Doc kept going until the killer was finally caught, no matter all of the pressure the sheriff, Doc's boss, and the media placed on him as the body count kept on growing. Will you be surprised who the killer was? Not if you keep up with the storyline.

Mister Librarian (The Mister Series Book 1) Kindle Edition by B. Love

 Book Excerpt:

"Honey Williams doesn't trust men. Between her father and last lover, a part of her struggles with resenting the entire species. She's spent the past six months hidden in the safety of her parent's home, hoping her kind heart will never be the cause of pain and misfortune again. That seems possible until a cranky client causes chaos… which leads to her meeting Mr. Librarian.

A natural protector, Kahlil Roberts feels less of a man if he can't serve those in need. When he finds the honey-complexioned beauty sobbing in his library, there's no question whether he should help her. Kahlil doesn't expect her presence to help him as well. For years, Kahlil has felt guilt over being unable to save the person who needed him most. Finally, he believes he has a chance to make things right.

While Honey and Kahlil have voids the other can fill, there are also reservations and past fears keeping them apart. As easy as their connection was, keeping their secrets and skeletons from ripping them apart proved a bit more complicated. Throughout their journey for one another's hearts, an enemy from Kahlil's past threatens their lives. Will Mr. Librarian be able to save Honey again, or will she become another person he fails when they need him most?"

Title:  Mister Librarian 

Author:  B. Love

Publisher:  B. L. 

Series:  The Mister Series Book 1

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Mister Librarian" by B. Love

My Thoughts:

"Mr. Librarian" was a fascinating story featuring Honey and Khalil. Honey has problems of her own, having to come back home due to a crisis that had happened to her. Now, she lives with her parents; she and her father did not get along. Then we find Khalil, who had lost his father due to death in a car exposition, and he blames himself for the accident. Now, why was that?

What will happen when these two meet? Will they fall in love? The story will keep one's interest as you turn the pages for more. This is where the story picks up as we learn more about what Khalil has been involved in quite a bit with his grandfather and father before his move to Memphis. You must pick up this good read to see what this story is about as we learn more about Honey and Mister Librarian.

Secret Enemy Protector: Enemies to lovers, Secret Identity, Revenge & Redemption, Single Mom Romance Kindle Edition by Olivia Lively

 Book Excerpt:

"Love is always a risk, especially when the man you're falling for is your secret enemy.

I'm Rebecca Lawson, a CEO driven by ambition.

While divorcing my abusive husband, my daughter's safety is my top priority.

I hire Jordan to be her bodyguard and protector.

His presence annoys me; we don't quite see eye to eye.

But he's fantastic with my daughter, and that's all that matters.

There's something magnetic about him.

He has a confidence that doesn't seem typical of someone of his status.

Wavy dark hair, piercing eyes, and a body that exudes power.

Jordan is the ultimate temptation, blurring the boundaries of our professional arrangement.

This romance is off-limits, but I can't seem to resist him.

Fate has twists, and it seems Jordan is hiding a dark secret for vengeance."

Title: Secret Enemy Protector
Author: Olivia Lively
Publisher: O. L
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Secret Enemy Protector: Enemies to Love, Secret Idewntyity, Revenge & Redemption, Single Mom" by Olivia Llivey

My Thought:

'Secret Enemy Protector' was an exciting story about Rebecca and Jordon. We find Rebecca, who
was a CEO who had divorced her abusive husband, Thomas. However, we find that Rebecca hires a bodyguard to help take care of her daughter. However, there is more to this story as the reader discovers that this bodyguard is out to get Thomas. Why was this? This is where you must pick up this good read to see all that was about. Will something be going on between Rebecca and Jordon? Again, you must pick up 'Secret Enemy Protector' to see how well this author brings it out to the readers.

Be ready for an ending that leaves one smiling in how everything ends.

Hold Me While You Wait Kindle Edition by Kimberly Brown

 Book Excerpt:

"Somya Hilton has known nothing but a life of ultimatums. From a young age, she and her sister Eliza were against the world. When both of them find love and start their own families, Somya finally feels like she has the life she deserves. Then tragedy strikes, leaving both her sister and brother-in-law dead and Somya to care for her niece Jazlynn, who is ten at the time. For Somya, there is no question that Jazzlyn should be with her. Her husband, however, has a different opinion.

Xander Tripp has always taken care of business. The product of a drug-addicted mother and a felon for a father, all he knows is hustling to survive. After the birth of his daughter left him a single father, Xander pulls himself together to be the parent she deserves. Twelve years later, they have a beautiful life, but Xander is lonely… until he meets the beautiful Somya, the recently divorced mother of his daughter's new best friend.

A friendly exchange quickly turns into a beautiful, unexpected love. Trauma bonded them, but is their bond strong enough to withstand the tests of a jealous ex and the return of Xander's baby mama? Will Somya and Xander thrive under pressure or fold under the world's weight on their shoulders?"

Title:  Hold Me While You Wait

Author:  Kimberly Brown

Publisher:   B. Love Publications 

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: 5

Review:

"Hold Me While You Wait" by Kimberly Brown

My Thoughts:

'Hold Me While You Wait' was one good read where you see how a couple who once loved each other struggled due to the death of family members. The wife promising to be there for her niece and the husband not wanting to do this caused a mess that ended their marriage. Something about all of this was that I believed the husband loved his wife, but by acting stupid, a good marriage ended. And then what happened...someone else came along...and I will stop here and say you must pick up this excellent read to see how well this author brings it out to the reader. There will be a lot going on that you will have to keep up with, but when it's all said and done, Somya and Xander were ... I will stop and say ... it was an excellent read. The story had some well-developed characters that were off the chart, leaving one saying this was a well-done story that had lots of depth and reasoning in the story.  

Tangled In Christmas & Love: A Holiday Novella Kindle Edition by Pamela Campbell

Book Excerpt:

"Princess Greene is a single mother whose heart was shattered by betrayal. She finds herself drifting away from the joy of Christmas. She has a chance to encounter Nigel, a charming, handsome man filled with Christmas spirit. He tries his best to rekindle the holiday spirit within her. Princess's bitterness toward the holiday season begins to thaw, and she reluctantly steps back into it.

But just as a new romance begins to bloom, Princess faces the lingering pain of her past with the unexpected return of her son's father, Damion. With support from her best friend Shayla, she begins a journey of self-discovery, learning to forgive, embrace love again, and find the strength to make the best choices for herself and her son.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Princess faces a decision to shape her future and determine whether she can finally let go of the past and embrace the happiness that awaits her. This heartwarming holiday novella is about love, friendship, and the power of the Christmas spirit, bringing people together and causing them to fall in love.

Title: Tangled in Christmas & Love
Author: Pamela Campbell
Publisher: P. C.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Tangled In Christmas & Love
Holiday Novella:

'Tangled In Christmas and Love' was a good Christmas novella. It was so good to see Princess facing up to what she needed to do now that she had a baby to take care of. No, life had not treated her well, as the ex-finance did to her, but something good came out of it. Princess meets a wonderful person named Neil, who has been through some rough times but handles it well, especially after meeting Princess and her son Prince. Princess had to decide how she would handle Prince's father, Damion. I will stop here and say pick up this good novella and see how well that part of the story came out for Princess, Prince, Neil, and even Damion.

Praising Past My Flaws: A Christian Romance Novel (Faith.Flaws & All Book 3) Kindle Edition by Taretha Jones

 Book Excerpt:

"Trudy is a fashion model living her best life in sunny Los Angeles. She shops on Rodeo Drive and can afford it, owns an expensive home, and has a circle of family and friends who love her. However, Trudy needs more than just an ordinary model. Nope, she wants to be a SUPERMODEL…one on par with Naomi Campbell or Tyra Banks. With faith, prayer, and humbleness, Trudy has kept her Godliness intact in Tinseltown, even when many other aspiring models haven't. But when one of the biggest movers and shakers in the fashion industry offers her the world on a pretty platinum platter, will Trudy exchange her holiness for success? And when an unforeseen situation changes everything for her, will she be able to keep praising despite her flaws?"

Title: Praising Past My Flaws
Author: Taretha Jones
Publisher: Firstman Publications
Series: Faith, Flaws, and All Book 3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Praising Past My Flaws" by Taretha Jones
Beautiful Read:

'Praising Past My Flaws' book 3 was indeed an excellent read of how this will turn out when you let God be the one that leads you as he did for Trudy. Yes, she truly wanted to be a Supermodel, but God had something even better for her. Will she receive it through her 'faith, prayer, and humbleness? I will stop here and say you must pick up this novel because this author did an excellent job bringing it all out of how God is sending up what we need at the right time.