Reading and Reviews (Cockrell and Imbalzano)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

The Downtrodden (The Brown Rain Series, book 2) by Connie Cockrell 

After their near-miss with the Children of God, Alyssa and Kyra are hesitant to trust strangers again. The world after the mysterious brown rain isn’t what they had been expecting, but they cannot go back. Hunger and thirst drive them onward, and duty takes them into the embrace of another survivor community.

Will they find a more open welcome this time around? Or is the depravity of man more universal than Alyssa and Kyra can comprehend?

My Review:

I read the second book in this series by Ms. Cockrell as a bookclub choice. Although I don't normally read Sci-Fi, I'm glad I got to be entertained by this story. On one hand, it's bleak and sad, but on the other it kept me glued to the pages...there was hope. The characters are vivid, which is always a plus for me. This future world is totally believable. There is definitely a moral to be learned. There is definitely an underlying lesson. I am going to have to read book one. You don't have to read book one to enjoy book two.

https://www.amazon.com/Snapshot-Murder-Izzy-Munro-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CFKB7V5Y/ 

 

Island Detour (Sunrise Island Series book 1) by Maria Imbalzano

Falsely accused of wrongdoing at a Princeton Prep school, Sophie Kearns accepts a temporary teaching position at an environmental school in the Florida Keys to wait out her suspension. The time away is meant to be an anxiety-free escape, but her clashes with the hot but arrogant marine biology teacher, Max Heaton, are anything but tranquil.

Max is determined to start an environmental research institute at the school, but he suspects the gorgeous new Lit teacher, who lacks even the most basic outdoor skills, is there to hinder that dream. Yet something about her tames the demons from his past, and he can no longer ignore the fire she’s lit inside him.

 My Review:

Sophie Kearns is falsely accused of wrongdoing at the prep school where she teaches, just as she’s about to rise to an elevated position and reach her dream. She escapes to an environmental school in Florida owned by an old friend who offers her a temporary position while she awaits the verdict. She’s totally out of her element, and one of the biology teachers, Max, finds every excuse to clash with her over her ineptness at the outdoor activities. He mistakenly concludes she’s there to hinder his goals at the school, and he’d like to drive her away. 

Physically, Max and Sophie are attracted to each other from day one. But Max is arrogant and a hot head focused only on his aspirations. Sophie is uptight and not suited for the layback atmosphere and outdoorsy routine at the school. Plus, Max has a huge trust problem. 

As Sophie falls in love with a style of life she didn’t know she even liked, she also falls for Max. Max of course falls for her too, but he can’t get over his fear that there is something she isn’t disclosing. They come together, and they fall apart. Several times. When Sophie finally comes to the realization she can never be a prep school teacher again, she has to make a decision what path to follow. Max wants her to stay and work with him on his dreams, but he’s afraid of holding her back and won’t tell her. 

The biggest problem for both of them is their reluctance to communicate openly, to make assumptions without full disclosures, and to run from what will make them really happy. Will they finally admit their true feelings? Will the pathways open for Max to complete his dreams? Will Sophie turn her back on a way of life for which she yearns? 

If you’re up for a lot of angst and some well done love scenes, this book is for you.

https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Laylah-Abrams-ebook/dp/B0CK8T9ZWR/

Wicked Inspiration Ripped from the Pages by Connie Cockrell

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Authors are always on the lookout for story ideas. Our books might be fiction, but they are usually pulled from the pages of real life. And we all know how wicked real life can be. Connie has great insight for you on just such a story. Take it away, Connie:

I sometimes write cozy mysteries so I’m always alert for strange events in the paper, the tv news, and so on, that I can use in my stories. A few years back, our local paper ran a news article that the police had found a car, overturned in a ditch just inside the town boundary. There was no driver around. The underside of the car had an unexploded IED attached to it. That certainly piqued my interest. There were so many questions! Who was the driver and where did he or she go? Who put an IED on the car and why? How did the car crash? Why didn’t the IED go off? None of my questions were answered in the article.

I tucked the idea in the back of my mind and went on about my business. Then months later, I was writing my second book in the JeanHays cozy mystery series, Mystery in the Woods, and the IED came back to mind when I needed to put my poor character into some danger. So I had Jean drive her car into a drainage ditch, (she was under attack at the time) and the police found an IED under her car.

Here’s a snippet.

"It's a bomb, Chief." The Explosive Ordinance Officer, dressed in full gear, held his helmet under his arm.

"Details?" Nick was pissed. In all the history of Greyson, no one had ever bombed anything. Now there was one attached to the bottom of a friend's car.

The EOO pulled off his bulky gloves. "It’s an IED. I saw plenty of them in Afghanistan. An explosive type as opposed to chemical or biological or some other type. This one had a cell phone trigger—safer for the bomber, as they can be anywhere when they call from the trigger device."

Nick took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. "Damn. Why didn't it go off?"

The EOO shrugged. "The wire leading from the detonator to the charge was disconnected. Not sure if that was an error on the bomber's part or it came undone when the car flipped."

"Oh, for the love of God." Nick put his hat back on. "Anyway to figure out who did this?"

"Not really. I can make an IED pretty quick and from random parts. If we get lucky and the bomber was stupid, he left prints. I can try and track the explosive. It’s C4, so there's a taggant, generally chemical, that will let us know the origin of the stuff. But I can't guarantee that will be helpful. A lot of C4 is stolen every year. Just because we know where it was made won't really tell us where it's been since manufacture."

"That sucks."

"Yep." The EOO began to unbutton the protective suit jacket. Even with the cooler temperatures of October, his hair was plastered to his head. "I'll run the IED though the database. We may get lucky and have a serial bomber whose stuff has been documented. A pattern would be helpful to track him down."

"You keep saying he. Why is that?"

"Bombers tend to be men. There are a handful of women bombers but it's mostly men."

Nick nodded. "Thanks. Let me know, will ya?"

The EOO nodded and trudged back to his van.

Wicked, right? Have you ever read something in your local paper about something weird? I’ll bet you have. Feel free to share in the comments. 

Bio

A 20-year Air Force career, time as a manager at a computer operations company, wife, mother, sister and volunteer, provides a rich background for Connie Cockrell’s storytelling.

Cockrell grew up in upstate NY, just outside of Gloversville, NY before she joined the military at age 18. Having lived in Europe, Great Britain, and several places around the United States, she now lives in Payson, AZ with her husband: hiking, gardening, and playing bunko. She writes about whatever comes into her head so her books could be in any genre. She's published twenty books so far, has been included in five different anthologies and been published on EveryDayStories.com and FrontierTales.com. Connie's always on the lookout for a good story idea. Beware, you may be the next one. 

Mystery in the Woods Blurb

Welcome to Greyson AZ. Population: dropping fast. 

Once again uncovering secrets both old and new, Jean soon finds herself in a race against time—they planted what in her car?—to figure out who the mastermind is behind some dark and grimy things going on in the town. It’s a race she can’t afford to lose, but will she be able to figure out the answer before she goes one step too far? 

Links

https://conniesrandomthoughts.com/my-books-and-other-published-work/

https://www.facebook.com/ConniesRandomThoughts

https://amazon.com/author/conniecockrell

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/connie-cockrell

 

Reading and #Reviews (Cockrell, Thomas, Ludlum)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not too distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author! 

Creature in the Night by Connie Cockrell

Fantasy

 

This is a short that’s full of entertainment. I was taken back to scary childhood fantasy. The tale was whimsical and entertaining. Ms. Cockrell painted vivid word pictures that kept me reading. Well done.

 

AMAZON BUY LINK

 

 

What We Deserve by HM Thomas

Romance

When her nightmares come back to haunt her, she must face her past for the future she doesn’t think she deserves. 

This is a brand-new release. And if you love romance, you’ll enjoy What We Deserve. Miranda Lawson is a victim therapist. After losing a patient, her marriage to Detective Logan Pearson crumbled. Two years later, she’s determined to get her job and her life back. Working alongside her ex proves to be difficult but also tempting. While she helps a victim, her past comes back to haunt her, throwing more obstacles in the path to happiness.

AMAZON BUY LINK

The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne, Book 1 of the Jason Bourne Series by Robert Ludlum

Suspense 

His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microfilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. 

I read this book years ago. Might be time to read it again. I actually saw the movie first, and for once I found the book and the movie equally entertaining. A great read. 

AMAZON BUY LINK