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Showing posts with label Kate Brady. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kate Brady. Show all posts

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Where Angels Rest by Kate Brady

This is another great romantic suspense from Kate Brady. 
Where Angels Rest
by Kate Brady

  • Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Forever (November 20, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1455502049
  • ISBN-13: 978-1455502042
Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 20, 2012
A RACE FOR SALVATION
For the past decade, psychologist Erin Sims has been helping victims of violent crimes move on with life . . . but the one person she can't save is the one who matters most. In only seven days, her brother will be executed for a murder he didn't commit. Convinced she knows the identity of the real killer, Erin is determined to find the man and bring him to justice.

A COUNTDOWN TO DESTRUCTION
Sheriff Nick Mann moved to rural Ohio hoping to forget the tragedies of his past. When Erin shows up in town, bringing scandal and unwanted media attention with her, Nick knows she's trouble. No one believes sleepy Hopewell could harbor a serial killer . . . until residents begin to disappear. Now as Nick untangles the dark secrets plaguing his town, he can't help falling for the beautiful woman with the warm heart and iron will. And, as the days tick by, the truth becomes clear: Erin is hunting a vicious murderer-one whose only escape is to silence her forever.


Review:
Erin has spent the last twelve years trying to prove her brother is an innocent man who was wrongly convicted. She doesn’t care that her own reputation has been tarnished in the process and that the police records passed from one agency to another label her as a zealot and ‘looney’. She believes that the true killer is hiding from justice and she isn’t afraid to get in his face to challenge him...even when that means she is violating a restraining order.

Erin’s efforts at locating the alleged true killer gives her brother a midnight hour reprieve on his execution. She now has one week to get the local authorities to verify the identification of the alleged suspect and provide any additional information that supports her claims that John Huggins is hiding as Jack Calloway, who may have been near the scene of a similar murder.

Nick Mann is a sheriff who left the high intensity of detective work in Los Angeles to return to his home town in rural Ohio. He thought he could hide from the tragedy, and scandal, of his past by serving in a small community. Now Erin Sims is bringing notoriety to his small town and he doesn’t like it.  Yet, as he begins to check out Erin’s allegations, he discovers that there are dark lies already hiding in his town. As more missing persons are uncovered, the pressure increases   and soon local residents are missing and dead bodies begin to fall into the investigation.

Erin suffers several direct attacks as well as a ransacking of her hotel room. Nick’s protective instincts kick in and he determines that not all is as it appears in the reports he has received. It is a race to get enough details to stay the execution for Erin’s brother while also keeping her alive and trying to uncover a serial killer.

I really enjoyed the intensity of this story. There is lots of action and suspense from the outset. Ms. Brady weaves in scenes from the view of “the Anglemaker” as he/she handles the victims and plots to get the next one in line. The clues provided could lead to one of several suspects so the reader is kept guessing as the danger builds. Erin and Nick are both characters with personal baggage and high intensity. Although they butt heads, they also manage to bring a certain awareness of hope to each other.

There is some rough language in the book - not a surprise in a story of a serial killer and cops. I was able to skip over it as the plot kept the momentum going until the end. The romance is mostly sensual tension which is well done and doesn’t detract from the suspense. This is a fast paced read filled with tension.  If you like romantic suspense I highly recommend Kate Brady as an author you should read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nick has a reputation in his town:
“...Nick whipped Hopewell into shape and when the election came up, no one ran against him. You know his campaign motto was?”
    Erin shook her head.
    “Not on Nick’s watch. It wasn’t something he came up with; it was just what everyone said about him.”  Page 153.
Erin is surprised to learn Nick knew of the false negative medical history in her files:
...Her breath went shallow. One heartbeat at a time, she realized she didn’t have to convince him of anything. “Why did you believe me?”
    Those pale eyes met hers. “I didn’t wanna have the hots for a loon.” Page 212.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Forever div of Hachette.
This story is starts in Starke, Florida but takes place primarily in Hopewell, Ohio for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy.


For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 7, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 8, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Winners of Last to Die

CONGRATULATIONS
to Winners of 
Last to Die by Kate Brady
Last to Die

Cool text generator

Cool text generator
Thank you everyone who entered.
I will send the form to Jolene, Lu:), MarthaL, nfmgirl and Karen.
Please complete the form within 72 hours and let me know that you have or a new winner will be selected.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Giveaway - Five Copies of Last to Die by Kate Brady

If you like twisted villains and flawed but strong heroines with a great romantic element you need to read Last to Die by Kate Brady.
Last to Die

Cover Image

Author Image & Bio

Five Fun Facts

"Like" Kate on Facebook

Visit KateBrady.net
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:

1. For your main entry Check out the Author's Five Fun Facts OR check out the Author's website and tell me something you found interesting there.
Make sure you leave your e-mail address!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

4. For TWO extra entries comment on the review post.

5. For another TWO extra entries comment on the guest post

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

(Seven total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL! Five winners!
* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 6, 2010. The winners will be randomly selected from all entries. 

Book Review - Last to Die by Kate Brady

This is an edge of the seat romantic suspense!

Last to Die by Kate Brady
    Last to Die
  • Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (September 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446541532
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446541534
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Product Description
A ruthless killer hides in plain sight, someone no one believes is capable of murder. Within a week, six women will be murdered, all punished for their dark pasts. Detective Dani Cole is determined to track down this serial killer whose victims include a young woman she pulled out of a life of crime. Her investigation leads her to a photography foundation and the renowned photographer Mitch Sheridan, a man she she fell in love with years ago but has tried to forget. Dani and Mitch are instantly attracted to each other again, though their troubled pasts keep them from getting too close. Together, through the course of the investigation, they unearth a dark chain of deception that leads to a killer who is closer than they think.

Review: This is one of those thrillers that moved along at a quick tense clip!
Great characters, great plot, some good twists and a really sick villain!

Detective Dani Cole is a great flawed character.  She struggles to prove herself in a “man’s” position and faces more obstacles because her father was a crooked cop. Her partner is a great guy but her boss is convinced she will follow the path of her “old man.”  Dani has learned from a young age that she can’t rely on anyone else.  When she was about 17 and her father was being arrested someone offered to stand by her and help her she pushed him away... that person was Mitch.

As the story opens Mitch is hiding out as he tries to recover from a traumatic bombing in a foreign country where he had been taking photographs of the poor and helpless.  One little boy was killed in front of him and he feels that he failed to save the child. The only thing that gets him to rush home to Maryland is a call from his mentor that hints at danger and is cut off mid sentence.

Mitch is very surprised to discover his friend and work associate is suspected of involvement in the horrendous murder of a reformed hooker.  When he sees Dani, his first love from 18 years before, he begins to understand why no other woman quite made it in his life. As they strife to unravel the clues, even from different perspectives, he has a second chance to decide if he will let her push him away again or if he is going to push her till she accepts help ... and love.

The chemistry between the two characters was lovely even as it was woven under the fast paced investigation into the mounting murders.  There are some twists in the mystery making you at first suspect the wrong person and the details keep you thinking. Throughout the story there is page turner suspense including thoughts and scenes from the perspective of the villain.

This is the second Kate Brady book I have read and I have added her to my list of sure read romantic suspense authors. If you like suspense and a good solid romance you will like this book and author.
xxx
Be sure to check the Author's great GUEST POST on characters and 
enter the Giveaway for this book!

CymLowell

Characters: Guest Post by Kate Brady, Author of Last to Die


GETTING INTO THE HEAD OF THE CHARACTER - HERO OR VILLAIN

 
            To me, creating character is the most important part of writing stories.  Even in suspense—which is generally considered to be plot-driven—the ability to get into each character’s head is critical.  Sure, the plot itself could exist without deep characterizations, but who would want to read about it? 
Last to Die                For me, knowing my characters—inside-out, from their childhood traumas to their adult dreams to their political views to their favorite color—is the silver bullet for getting into their heads.  To get to know them, I take a three-pronged approach:  (a) a little up-front character “study,” (b) a long flight into the mist, and (c) a longer flight through edits.
                I am not a plotter, so there isn’t much I like to do up-front.  However, I usually do jot down some background work on the three main characters—hero, heroine, and villain.  Often, I use a brief structure for identifying the basic character wants, needs, wounds, backgrounds.  Several different tools can come in handy for this:  Deb Dixon’s goal-motivation-conflict (GMC) statements, Michael Hauge’s identity-essence studies, Stanley Williams’s virtue and vice framework.  Answering the questions asked by all these approaches provides me with the basic knowledge of what’s making a character tick.
                Then I like to quit, though, and dive into writing.  When I do too much pre-planning, I find myself stuck writing only from that, and the characters aren’t free to think or behave outside their box.  I know that sounds crazy, but the way I really get to know the characters is by putting them in situations in the story and watching how they respond.  When I give them freedom, often they surprise me by saying or doing something I didn’t expect.  Those are really fun moments in writing, when I lean back in my chair, eyes wide, saying, “Oh, that’s what happened to her when she was little!” or “Oh, that’s the reason he’s such a jerk!”
One Scream Away                That all leads to my third stage of character-development:  editing.  Once I’ve written the book and discovered what it’s all about, I go back and re-write to make it work.  This part is a lot harder, by the way, than writing the first draft.  Because by this point, the personalities are fully-developed and I have to make sure their actions and reactions are fully in character.  Sometimes I find their backstory isn’t consistent with actions I need them to take, so it’s back to Square One to get into their heads.  This is when I might have to pull out the big guns and sit a character down at my computer and “interview” him.  Or I might have to write a scene I know isn’t going to show up in the book but that will tell me what led a character to behave the way she did.    
If you’re an aspiring writer, by the way, for heaven’s sake don’t take my method as a how-to manual.  I’m sure there are better and more efficient ways to get to know a character.  But that’s essentially how I’ve settled into the process at this stage.  Ask me a year from now, and I might be doing it differently!
 For a list of all the blog posts on tour check here.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Blog Tour : Last to Die by Kate Brady - Starts 9/6

Check here at MBS for review, giveaway and Author Guest Blog on September 15, 2010.
See all the blog tour schedule below.


Cover Image

Author Image & Bio

Five Fun Facts

"Like" Kate on Facebook

Visit KateBrady.net


Blog Tour Schedule

9/6/2010              www.froggaritasbookcase.net  Feature, Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              www.maryinhb.blogspot.com   Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              http://www.rundinne.com         Review
9/6/2010              http://www.extremepersonalmeasures.com/  Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com             Feature, Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com          Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              justjenniferreading.blogspot.com            Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              http://thethriftythings.blogspot.com     Review, Giveaway
9/6/2010              http://www.couponscribbles.com           Feature, Review, Giveaway
9/7/2010              http://paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com        Feature, Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
9/8/2010              www.booksoulmates.blogspot.com       Review, Giveaway
9/8/2010              www.booksoulmates.blogspot.com       Review, Giveaway
9/8/2010              http://thebooktree.blogspot.com           Feature, Review, Giveaway
9/9/2010              http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com             Feature, Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
9/9/2010              http://www.rexrobotreviews.com          Review, Giveaway
9/10/2010            http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com      Review, Giveaway
9/11/2010            http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com                Review, Giveaway
9/11/2010            http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com             Feature, Review, Giveaway
9/13/2010            http://bridget3420.blogspot.com             Review, Giveaway
9/14/2010            http://frugalplus.com/  Review, Giveaway
9/15/2010            http://onebookshy.blogspot.com            Review, Giveaway
9/15/2010            http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/              Feature, Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
9/15/2010            http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com    Review, Giveaway
9/16/2010            http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/      Review, Giveaway
9/16/2010            http://diana-book-of-secrets.blogspot.com        Review, Giveaway
9/16/2010            http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com       Review
9/17/2010            http://detweilermom.blogspot.com       Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://momblogshowcase.com Feature, Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            http:/www.libslibrary.blogspot.com       Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            www.renees-reads.blogspot.com           Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://confessionsofabookaholic1.blogspot.com              Feature, Giveaway
9/17/2010            Starting Fresh    Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com/           Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            my-book-views.blogspot.com   Feature, Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
9/17/2010            kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com   Review
9/17/2010            www.tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com         Review, Q&A, Guest Post
9/17/2010            http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com            Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://simplystacie.net Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://momblogshowcase.com Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com               Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com  Review, Giveaway
9/17/2010            http://chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com/       Review, Giveaway

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Giveaway for One Scream Away

Here is another Hachette Book Giveaway for One Scream Away! There will be FIVE (5) Winners!!


by Kate Brady
Mass Market Paperback
Pages 464
Published by Forever in 2009
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-10: 0-446-54152-4
Blurb:
Killer Chevy Bankes is a master of disguise, and just paroled, he's coming after the woman who sent him to jail, the beautiful antiques expert Beth Denison. A set of antique dolls brings Beth into his sight, and inspire Chevy's disturbing crimes as he draws closer to Beth and her young daughter. Chevy sends the dolls to Beth one-by-one and she soon realizes that these antiques carry the same marks as his victims, signaling that the final piece in his collection will be for her.

Neil Sheridan gave up his FBI shield five years ago, but his best friend Rick, a cop, pulls him in as a consultant on a case involving a serial killer who is eerily similar to a murderer Neil encountered in the past. The investigation leads Neil to Beth's doorstep, and he is certain she isn't telling him the truth. Neil is the only one who can get through Beth's defenses and, as they grow closer, discover the secrets that Beth is hiding about her fateful night with Chevy.

I haven't done my review yet but it will be coming up!

TO ENTER:

1. Comment here telling me what you look for or like about romantic suspense. Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.
2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
3. For another entry, blog or tweet about this giveaway and tell me where you did.
4. Leave a separate comment for each entry or you'll only be entered once. (This method is used to make it easier to put the entries into the random generator!)
(Three total entries possible.)


  • This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
  • No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
  • This contest will close Midnight (Central) on October 16, 2009. The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

A Big Thank You to Anna and Hachette Book Group who have graciously offered the 5 copies for this Giveaway!

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