Althea's Reading Corner

Title: Bending the Paw Author: Diane Kelly Series: A Paw Enforcement Novel Genre: Mystery & Thrillers Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 320 Date of Publication: October 27, 2020 Description:  Make way for the long paw of the law as police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit investigate a baffling new mystery in  Bending the Paw , by Diane Kelly . A MURDER WITHOUT A BODY IS LIKE A DOG WITHOUT A BONE A bloodbath is a shocking new challenge for Megan and Brigit when Detective Audrey Jackson calls them to the scene of what could only be a brutal murder. But the one thing the nightmarish scene is missing is a victim. The frantic homeowner’s husband is gone, seemingly without a trace—and so is the money he was holding. Has a vicious killer committed what might just be the perfect crime? Meanwhile, it’s hailing cats and dogs all over Fort Worth, and roofing contractors have descended on the city in droves. With plenty of damage and continuing storms, work delays are buildi...

Title:  The Impatient Dinosaur Author:  Sarah Read Genre:  Children's fiction Format:  Kindle ARC No. of Pages:  22 pages Date of Publication:  June 17, 2020 Description:  Why is waiting so hard for dinosaurs? The Little Dino has no patience. He wants what he wants when he wants it. If his parents say, "in a minute," he reacts as if they have said "in a year".  This cute and funny story help kids discover that some things are worth the wait.  *It is OK to be frustrated when you have to wait  *Learn how to recognize the needs of others *Helping your child learn self-control and practice waiting *Making choices and understand consequences *Waiting can also be a lot of fun This story is geared to kids ages 3-5. Perfect for boys, girls, preschool, pre-K, and Kindergarten. Excellent resource for counselors, parents, and teachers. My Thoughts:  I picked up this book for my son, who is a little too young for the book at this time as he is ...

Title: Blood Victory Author: Christopher Rice Series: The Burning Girl series Genre: Suspense and Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 329 Date of Publication: August 18, 2020 Description:  On a cross-country journey to hell, fear is the engine and vengeance is the destination as Christopher Rice’s Amazon Charts bestselling series continues. As the test subject of an experimental drug, Charlotte Rowe was infused with extraordinary powers. As the secret weapon of a mysterious consortium, she baits evil predators and stops them in their tracks. But it takes more than fear to trigger what’s coursing through Charlotte’s blood. She needs to be terrorized. Serial killer Cyrus Mattingly is up to the task. Cyrus is a long-haul truck driver, and his cargo bay is a gallery of horrors on wheels. To stop his bloodshed, Charlotte will become his next victim, reining in her powers so she can face each of his evils in turn. As much as they know about Cyrus—his method of selecting victims, hi...

October Reviews Dino Thanksgiving by Lisa Wheeler Review preview:  I picked up this book for my son who is 11 months old. He loves to read and carry around books and it looked like it might be a fun illustration book for him to look at and I was right. The illustrations done by Barry Gott are well done. They are fun, colorful, and eye catching. I really enjoyed the illustrations myself. Lisa Wheeler wrote a splendid story on Thanksgiving. It is fun and super easy to read. Each page has about two sentences, so a short quick read. She made it so that each dinosaur characters name was done in a bright color while the rest of the text is in black. Rating is 5 out of 5 as it was a super easy, short, and fun read. I loved the attention to detail and the illustrations. It is such a colorful book. Check out the full review here . One by One by Ruth Ware Review preview:  This is my second Ruth Ware book and I found this book to be way better than the first one I have read. I am gl...

Title: Dino-Thanksgiving Author: Lisa Wheeler Genre: Children's Fiction   Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 32 Date of Publication: September 1, 2020 Description:  Follow along as dinos travel over the river and through the woods to join together with family. They enjoy favorite activities, including a corn maze, a televised parade with giant balloon creations, and of course a football game between the Redscales and the Snackers! The dinos share in not one but two feasts--one for the carnivores and another for the veggie-saurs. Join in the fun as the dinos find much to be thankful for on this special holiday!   My Thoughts: I picked up this book for my son who is 11 months old. He loves to read and carry around books and it looked like it might be a fun illustration book for him to look at and I was right. The illustrations done by Barry Gott are well done. They are fun, colorful, and eye catching. I really enjoyed the illustrations myself. Lisa Wheeler wrote a splendid st...

Title: Cold as Ice Author: Allison Brennan  Series: Lucy Kincaid Genre: Mystery, Suspense Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 480 Date of Publication: October 27, 2020 Description:   Two years ago, FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid put psychopath Elise Hansen Hunt in juvenile detention for her role in an organized crime syndicate. Now eighteen, Elise has been released with a clean slate, and plans to take her revenge by making Lucy’s life hell. The plot begins with Lucy’s husband Sean Rogan, who has been arrested for a murder he most certainly did not commit. Lucy is determined to prove Sean’s innocence, but is warned off the case by her boss. As she calls in reinforcements, she learns that Sean’s brother Kane is missing in Mexico, her partner Nate Dunning has been arrested for possession of cocaine, and her friend Brad Donnelly has been kidnapped outside DEA headquarters. Lucy realizes that Elise doesn’t have the resources or patience to execute such a devious plan. Did Elise’s fathe...

September Reviews The Adventures of Rembrandt the Tuxedo Cat Helps Callie, the Calico Cat, Find Her Meow by Marsha Walk Carroll (Release date: Oct. 6, 2020) Review preview:   This is my first children's book that I have picked up from Netgalley for a review. I thought it would be a nice way to get some books that my 10 month old son might like as well as a way to share my thoughts on the book with other parents (hopefully). I chose this book for a few reasons, first its about a tuxedo cat. My family has 4 cats, none of which are a Tuxedo cat but I had one as I was growing up. Secondly, its about cats and we love cats. Thirdly, it had pictures which I thought would be nice for my son... Rating is 3 out of 5. Check out the full review here . Publication date is October 6, 2020.  I Will Make You Pay by Teresa Driscoll  Review preview: Alice is a journalist for a small local country paper in England. When she answers the phone at work on a Wednesday she is shocked by the cal...

Title: The Wicked Hour Author: Alice  Blanchard Series: Natalie Lockhart Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 304   Date of Publication: December 1, 2020 Description:  The day after Burning Lake’s notorious, debauched Halloween celebration, Detective Natalie Lockhart uncovers a heartbreaking scene―a young woman, dead and lying in a dumpster. There’s no clue to who she is, save for a mystifying tattoo on her arm, and a callus underneath her chin. She’s not from around here. No one knows who she is. As Natalie retraces the young woman’s steps leading up to her death, she uncovers a deeper, darker horror―a string of murders and disappearances, seemingly unconnected, that may have ties to each other―and explain the abrupt disappearance of her best friend years ago. As she digs deeper within the mind of the hunter, Natalie finds a darkness she could never have imagined. And as she draws closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a ...

Title: Die Next Author: Jonathan Stone Genre:  Suspense, Thriller Format:  Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 353 Date of Publication: April 14, 2020 Description:  In a crowded coffee shop, Zack Yellin swaps identical-looking cell phones with the businessman next to him. It's an honest mistake - and a deadly one. Because the "businessman" is actually a professional - and highly volatile - hit man named Joey Richter, and his phone is filled with bombshell evidence. If Zack takes Joey's phone to the police, will they believe his swapped cell phone story? Would they even be able to protect him? Because the hit man now has Zack's phone with the phone numbers and addresses of Zack's new girlfriend Emily, his best friend Steve, and all the texts and information from Zack's life.  Whether he keeps the phone or ditches it, Joey will kill him for what he now knows. In cat-and-mouse twists, turns, and continually mounting terror, one thing is clear: Zack is next on the hit ma...

Title: Chaos Author: Iris Johansen Genre: Mystery & Suspense Format: Kindle Arc No. of Pages: 416 Date of Publication: September 1, 2020 Description:  When CIA agent Alisa Flynn flaunts the rules by breaking into a mansion in the middle of the night, she skillfully circumvents alarms and outwits guards only to find herself standing in billionaire Gabe Korgan's study . . . busted by Korgan himself. This could cost her her job unless, in a split second, she can turn the tables and try to convince him to join her on the most important mission of her life. In a ripped-from-the-headlines plot, schoolgirls in Africa have been kidnapped, and Alisa knows that Korgan has the courage, financial means, and high-tech weaponry to help rescue them. With so many innocent lives hanging in the balance, what she doesn't reveal is that one of those schoolgirls is like a little sister to her. But when the truth gets out, the stakes grow even higher. Calling in additional assistance from renown...