HUSH #Excerpt by KimberlyShursen @KimberlyShursen #AmReading #Suspense #Thriller

Dinkytown - 12:45 a.m.

Ann kicked off her sandals and closed the door to the third-floor apartment. Ben had been polite, hailed a cab, and not pushed to take her home. She liked him. There hadn’t been a lull in their two-hour conversation.

Many of the tenants in the older, all-brick building in Dinkytown were a part of the struggling arts group—most of them a few years younger than she and Jess. The location, however, was perfect. It was cheaper to ride a bus that dropped her off in front of Abbott Northwestern Hospital than own a car. Groceries, boutiques, and restaurants, as well as Lake Calhoun and Harriett, were all within walking distance.

She walked to the kitchen, her feet killing her. With two newborns in incubators and another baby boy on life support, she was exhausted. Keeping a scrupulous eye over every newborn in the nursery was taxing.

When they’d moved in together, combining Jess’s modern taste with Ann’s more conservative look made for an eclectic ambiance. Jess’s poster of Warhol’s “Marilyn” hung next to Ann’s framed picture of a tranquil cottage surrounded by English gardens. Books, memorabilia, and trinkets filled the bookcase they’d put together using two-by-fours and paver bricks. A bright red, curved sectional took up most of the cozy living room and a cream-colored shag rug sat underneath an oval-shaped glass coffee table.

In her bedroom, she wiggled out of her jeans and tossed them on top on the silent radiator. She pulled on drawstring, cotton “bum-around” pants, and a T-shirt.

After she nabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, she plopped down on the couch. Adjusting two pillows underneath her head, she found the remote and pulled the colorful afghan her mother had crocheted over her. Flipping through the channels, she stopped when she found Pretty Woman.

The rattle of pans woke her. Ann slid an arm out from underneath the blanket. “What time is it?” she asked, yawning.

“I was trying to be quiet and not wake you,” Jess said from the kitchen. “Almost eight.”

“You going in early?” Ann rubbed her eyes.

“Have to. Everything’s on sale and not even close to being marked down.”

Ann heard an egg crack and then the sizzle when it hit the frying pan. As manager of the Gap, Jess worked most weekends.

“What time you get in?” Ann put her feet on the floor, waited a couple of seconds, and stood. She shielded her eyes as she stumbled to the window and pulled down the shade to block the rising sun.

“I don’t know—around three maybe,” Jess said. “Want some eggs?”

Ann plopped back down on the couch. “Too early.”

Jess sat down on the opposite end of the couch and put the plate of scrambled eggs and toast on her lap. “You have fun?”

“I did.”

“The guy you met is dreamy.” Jess stabbed a fork into the eggs.

“Seems like a nice guy.”

“And you didn’t want to go to a bar last night,” Jess teased. “Look what you would have missed.”

“He’s a lawyer.”

Jess’s oval-shaped, green eyes grew wide. “A lawyer? Wow. You hit the jackpot.” She stuffed the last of the toast in her mouth, stood, and carried the plate into the kitchen.

“We have so much in common—kind of freaky.” Ann pushed her arms up over her head and stretched. “Family law. Does custody cases. Says he represents kids more than parents.” She wrapped the soft, cotton afghan around her and sank down into the sofa.

“So…you bring the babies into the world, and he protects them.”

Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t hear what Jess said. “I keep thinking I’ve met him before.”

“Maybe you have. Maybe he had a sister who had a baby, and he came to into the hospital or something.” Her footsteps went down the hall. “Gonna see him again?”

“He’s picking me up this afternoon,” Ann said. “Says he’s thinking of buying a house and wants to take me by it.”

“Still against meeting guys in bars?” Jess asked as she walked down the hall to the door.

“Totally.”

Soon after Ann Ferguson and Ben Grable marry, and Ben unseals his adoption papers, their perfect life together is torn apart, sending the couple to opposite sides of the courtroom.

Representing Ann, lawyer Michael J. McConaughey (Mac) feels this is the case that could have far-reaching, judicial effects -- the one he's been waiting for.

Opposing counsel knows this high profile case happens just once in a lifetime.

And when the silent protest known as HUSH sweeps the nation, making international news, the CEO of one of the top ten pharmaceutical companies in the world plots to derail the trial that could cost his company billions.

Critically acclaimed literary thriller HUSH not only questions one of the most controversial laws that has divided the nation for over four decades, but captures a story of the far-reaching ties of family that surpasses time and distance.

*** Hush does not have political or religious content. The story is built around the emotions and thoughts of two people who differ in their beliefs.

 EDITORIAL REVIEW: "Suspenseful and well-researched, this action-packed legal thriller will take readers on a journey through the trials and tribulations of one of the most controversial subjects in society today." - Katie French, author of "The Breeders," "The Believer's," and "Eyes Ever To The Sky."

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Kimberly Shursen through Facebook and Twitter

Website http://www.kimberlyshursen.com/

#Excerpt from "Saga of the Nine : Area 38" by Mikey D. B. @mikeydbii #Dystopian #Thriller #AmReading

“Good morning everybody, I am Professor Lisa Rodgers and this is Governmental Theory 3410.”

“Have you ever had her before?”  Mica quietly asks Marian.

“Nope, but I heard she is really good.  She’s not very popular among the faculty, being more conservative than most.  It’s why I signed up for this class actually.  I like having a different perspective on stuff like this.  Plus she’s my aunt.”

“I’m assuming every one of you in here belong here.  If not, please leave quietly.”

No one budges.

“Good.  Let’s get started then.  Does anyone know when the law stating that a President of the United States could only serve two terms was discontinued?”  As she expects, nobody raises their hand.  “It was in 2020.  Okay.  Let’s see if you know this piece of historical information: Who here has heard of the electoral college?”

Very few know the answer but no one raises their hand.

“That was not a rhetorical question.”

Marian shoots her hand into the air.

“Yes.”  Still no expression, despite Marian’s enthusiasm.

“Wasn’t it how we elected the president in the late 20^th century?”

“Yes it was and it even lasted a few years in this century.  Do you know how it worked by any chance?”

Marian, impressed with herself, nudges Mica and nods her head like a boss.

“Miss?”

“Marian.”  Mica nudges her back and points to Professor Rodgers.

“Sorry,” Marian begins to blush.  “Can you repeat the question?”

Despite the scattered chuckles, Rodgers masks her embarrassment for her niece.  “How did the electoral college work?”

Stumped, Marian shrugs her shoulders.  “I don’t know, Professor.”

Mica is the only one who reluctantly raises his hand.

“One person.  That’s more than I expected.  Yes, go ahead Mister…”

“Rouge.  Mica Rouge.”

“Go on,” Professor Rodgers says.

“Well it’s kind of complicated,” he begins, “but I guess in a nutshell, every state had a certain number of votes that went towards electing a president.”

“How many votes did each state get?”  Professor Rodgers asks.

“It depended.”

“On what?  What determined the number of votes a state got?”  She asks again, trying to get to the root of it all.

“The number of Senators and members of The House of Representatives.”  He really wishes that somebody else knew this stuff.  He looks to Marian for some support but she just shrugs her shoulders again.  As soon as Mica turns back to Professor Rodgers, Marian smiles, charmed by the man sitting beside her.

“And how did a presidential nominee win the votes of a state?”  Just a few more questions and the Professor will get her point across.

Mica picks his brain for this rarely used information.  “Wasn’t it by a popular vote of the people in that state?  All the registered voters voted and whichever candidate got the most votes won all of the state votes?  It was a winner take all system.”
 

“Yes, that is exactly how it worked.  Well kind of.  It was a winner take all system in forty-eight of the fifty states.  Maine and Nebraska were the sole exceptions.  Why did we have a system like this and not the system we currently have?”  She asks Mica, but the question is opened to the class.  

“Doesn’t our system of Congress being the ones who elect a president work better?”

Mica doesn’t wait for someone to take the answer; he knows it and he knows exactly where the professor is going with this.  “It’s more efficient yes, but less democratic.”

Professor Rodgers is slightly impressed with this young man.  Maybe Carter was right about him.  

“How so?” she asks.  “We elect our Senators and Representatives.  The idea of a Republic is to elect officials who we think will put our ideas forward and into action.”

“Yes, but it comes down to checks and balances,” Mica argues, finally getting to the point Professor Rodgers was aiming for.  “If Congress is the one to elect the president, they can skew the results, creating a lot more room for corruption in the system.  They are held less accountable by us, the people.”  Mumbles and silent gasps fill the room.

“He has a point.”  The Professor patiently waits for the class to calm down.  There are more and finer details to this law, she thinks, but he’s brought the discussion to where she was directing it.  “Senators are now in office until they die, which wasn’t always the case.  The amendment that changed the way we elect a president also changed the way we elect Congress.  Before we turned to the election system that we have, there were people trying to create a constitutional amendment where when we the people voted, the person with the most votes won, period, in what is called a ‘popular election.’  They wanted the voice of the people to be heard from the people themselves, not Congress and not from electoral votes.

“In 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000 all those who lost the election won the popular vote and had the most citizens voting for them.  Seems pretty unjust, huh?  The Electoral College was like a popular vote mixed with a congressional vote, but instead of being a democratic process it became more of a game, some might say, to win the states and not the people.  But that’s politics for you.

“Back to what Mr. Rouge was saying about checks and balances and how a lack of that can create corruption.  There are some that argue that the idea behind checks and balances is inefficient.  It slows down progression.  Too many people’s opinions in the political ring,” Rodgers folds her hands, “can cause the system to lock up.”

“And that’s a problem because?” a student asks.

“Because the government can shutdown like it has, time and time again.  So,” Professor Rodgers continues, “people tried to simplify the election process in hopes of simplifying the checks and balances, but they went about it in the opposite way than most were hoping.  Instead of having a popular vote from the people, the voting changed to Congress, giving more power to the Government and less to the people.”

“Why?”  Marian asks herself.

“Exactly.”  Professor Rodgers says, overhearing Marian’s whispered question.  “So why do I bring this all up?”

Change affects everyone and it is no different for Jackson. Living in Area 38 for as long as he can remember, he knows of no better way to exist than under the tyrannical rule of Christopher Stone, son of Stewart Stone from The Nine of The United Governmental Areas, aka The UGA. This all takes a dramatic turn when Jackson finds a red, metal box buried in his yard, filled with illegal artifacts—journals, a Bible, CDs, etc.—that are from a man of whom he has no recollection of: Mica Rouge.

 The year is 2036 and Mica, unlike Jackson, does know of a better way of life but is torn apart as he sees his country, The United States of America, crumbling from within by group known as The Political Mafia. The Mafia has infiltrated levels upon levels of governmental resources and it is up to Mica and a vigilante group known as The USA Division to stop them and their dark Utopian vision. To their demise, and at the country's expense, The Division fails and has no choice but to watch The Constitution dissolve and transform into The UGA.

In a final stand, having not given up hope, Mica and what is left of The Division, give one final fight in Colorado, or better known as Area 38. However, all is lost as The Division is betrayed by one of their own, Stewart Stone. Mica is left with no choice but to hide in exile, leaving what little history he can of himself and the great United States of America, with his wife, long time friends, and newly born son in hopes that they will one day finish what he could not.

Jackson, having found this legacy twenty-seven years later, decides to start the war that will end The Nine, and he with an outcast group known as The Raiders, begins his fight with Christopher Stone in Area 38. Filled with betrayal, unity, despair, hope, hate and love Area 38 follows both Mica and Jackson in their attempts to restore what they believe to be true freedom, and where one fails, the other rises to the seemingly impossible challenge.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Dystopian Thriller

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with Mikey D. B. on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.mikeydb.com

The Footsteps I Follow: Authors I Admire by Pendelton Wallace #AmReading #Thriller #MustRead

The Footsteps I Follow: Authors I Admire 

I don’t know where to start with this question. I tried to pattern my writing, in a way, after Edgar Rice Burroughs. He used short scenes, lots of action, parallel plot lines and cliff hangers at the end of each scene.

More modern writers that I would like to emulate include Elizabeth George, Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy.

I love the way that Elizabeth George’s mysteries are character driven. I get so interested in the personal lives of the characters that I don’t care who dunnit. I would like to write thrillers like that. I want the readers to care about Ted and Chris so that the adventure is secondary.

Robert Ludlum basically invented the modern thriller with his Bourne Identity series. He uses locations like characters in his novels. His action is thrilling and you can feel each blow as Jason Bourne struggles to find his past.

Of course, Tom Clancy is the master. He goes into great depth developing his stories and characters. He has earned the right to write novels of great length. He has proven himself. The publishers know that readers will buy this very expensive books because they are that good.

Can I emulate any of these people? I don’t know. I only know that I learn lessons from them and try to put them into effect in my own writing.

If Clive Cussler had written Ugly Betty, it would be Hacker for Hire. 

Hacker for Hire, a suspense novel about corporate greed and industrial espionage, is the second book in a series about Latino computer security analyst Ted Higuera and his best friend, para-legal Chris Hardwick. 

The goofy, off-beat Ted Higuera, son of Mexican immigrants, grew up in East LA. An unlikely football scholarship brought him to Seattle. 

Chris, Ted’s college roommate, grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father is the head of one of Seattle’s most prestigious law firms. 

Ted’s first job out of college leads him into the world of organized crime where he faces a brutal beating. After being rescued by beautiful private investigator Catrina Flaherty, Ted decides to go to work for her. 

Catrina is hired by a large computer corporation to find a leak in their corporate boardroom when the previous consultant is found floating in Elliot Bay. 

Ted discovers that Chris’s firm has been retained by their prime suspect. Now he and Chris are working opposite sides of the same case. 

Ted and Catrina are led deep into Seattle’s Hi-Tech world as they stalk the killer. But the killer is also hunting them. Can Ted find the killer before the killer finds him? 

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Mystery, Thriller

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Pendelton Wallace on Facebook

Website www.pennwallace.com

#ReviewShare #Suspense #Thriller - Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro @biagiotrader

Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book that if you introduce it in your book club, be prepared to spend hours on it. The author’s writing technique is better than most but when read collectively as one whole novel, it raises some questions. More than one reader felt as if this novel was written in different sections over different months and then pieced together. The tone and styles don’t quite match.

Then there is that the overpowering sex scene which had many females in my book club freak out. And I truly mean freak out. I have known many of these ladies for decades. None are prudes. But some also don’t read books with graphic sex or fight scenes by choice. This book gave no heads up whatsoever. Nothing in the description, nothing in the intro. It just grabbed you, and slapped you in the face. Like the drunk in the bar who tries to grope every female in sight.

It is necessary for some characters and some stories to have such scenes but in a society that is so diverse, I do think it is necessary for authors to give some warning about how graphic the content will be or at least to get the rating right. This book had a PG16. If I were 16, I’d still be reading these scenes under my bed not in front of my parents.

Overall, this is one of those stories where it’s strong plot pulls you into the story and the plot takes the driver’s seat as the main characters do their best to navigate themselves between the twists. I recommend this book but I would advise you to read the other reviews to get a gist of content warnings.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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#ReviewShare #Mafia #Thriller - Lethal Journey by Kim Cresswell @KimCresswell

Lethal Journey by Kim Cresswell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author Kim Cresswell is definitely good at her craft. If you like legal thrillers with a romantic twist, this is a good book for you. Most scenes popped off the page for me and I felt like I was there.

I did take off one star because although I liked her writing, not all of the scenes were realistic. Dialogue in most chapters were witty but sometimes it felt as if the sarcasm wasn’t understood by the other characters. Especially when Eric and Lauren are conversing, there are these waves of emotions associated with most of their sentences but most of the time if ended up looking awkward.

Overall, this was a good read which I recommend. I will read other books by this author.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

View all my reviews

#Author @KimberlyShursen on Writing, Inspiration & Family #AmWriting #Thriller

How did you develop your writing? By simply reading, listening, and taking in everything that a successful writer/person shares. I am a student of those who have accomplished what they’d hoped to achieve.

Where do you get your inspiration from? Everyday stories from everyday people.

Do you find it hard to share your work?  I am very careful about who I share my writing with. They have to be someone I trust who I know doesn’t want to re-write my work in their words, but offer suggestions if they feel something either needs to be clarified, or needs more explanation.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you? Yes. I am extremely lucky in that I have a huge support group. Many of my supporters I didn’t know until they read my book(s.)

Do you plan to publish more books?  The stories I have in my head will go to the grave with me; there simply isn’t enough time.

 What other jobs have you had in your life? I graduated from college with a BA in education, but most of my careers have been in marketing. From real estate agent, to property manager, to the director of marketing for a post-acute, long-term care center; corporate life was never my forte. I achieve much more when I’m left alone. Don’t we all?

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick? Law. When I wrote HUSH was when I realized how much I had always wanted to be a lawyer. However, I would never want to be a lawyer because of money, but to fight for the poverty stricken; the elderly; the children who have no one to represent them. I can’t imagine not using a law degree for the good of society. What University would I pick? Any that would take me.

Tell us about your family? I am a widow, so my handsome, bright sons are the cornerstone of my life. After my husband passed from cancer was when I moved from Minneapolis to the Midwest to take care of my aging mother.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk? Everywhere. It depends on my mood. In the winter months when it’s below zero, I bring the computer into my bedroom. If it’s 75-80 degrees outside, you might find me with my laptop on my deck.

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry? I have a ton of friends in the industry. Many I interviewed when I was first started my website. My friends live all over the world; Italy, Germany, the UK. I don’t ever want to lose even one of them.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support? Katie French, who is an excellent author, and I have been beta readers for each other’s books for three years. My books are enhanced by Katie’s input. We are brutally honest with each other, and that’s what we both want.

Soon after Ann Ferguson and Ben Grable marry, and Ben unseals his adoption papers, their perfect life together is torn apart, sending the couple to opposite sides of the courtroom.

Representing Ann, lawyer Michael J. McConaughey (Mac) feels this is the case that could have far-reaching, judicial effects -- the one he's been waiting for.

Opposing counsel knows this high profile case happens just once in a lifetime.

And when the silent protest known as HUSH sweeps the nation, making international news, the CEO of one of the top ten pharmaceutical companies in the world plots to derail the trial that could cost his company billions.

Critically acclaimed literary thriller HUSH not only questions one of the most controversial laws that has divided the nation for over four decades, but captures a story of the far-reaching ties of family that surpasses time and distance.

*** Hush does not have political or religious content. The story is built around the emotions and thoughts of two people who differ in their beliefs.

 EDITORIAL REVIEW: "Suspenseful and well-researched, this action-packed legal thriller will take readers on a journey through the trials and tribulations of one of the most controversial subjects in society today."

Katie French author of "The Breeders," "The Believer's," and "Eyes Ever To The Sky."

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Kimberly Shursen through Facebook and Twitter

Website http://www.kimberlyshursen.com/

@MarcADiGiacomo on Being a #NewYork Detective & More #Thriller #GoodReads

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Marc A. DiGiacomo

1)      I am a real New York Police Detective (retired) who worked for a small town.

2)      In A Small Town was my first published work but it isn’t my first story.

3)      I am a huge fan of the band Pearl Jam, In A Small Town, is a shortened title of one of their songs.

4)      I have saved someone’s life.

5)      I have a dog named Lola, she’s really sweet, sometimes.

6)      My favorite time of year is the fall.

7)      My favorite NFL team is the Miami Dolphins.

8)      Unlike Matt Longo, I can never remember any of my dreams.

9)      I married my high school sweetheart.

10)   I can eat an entire watermelon, as long as it’s perfectly sweet.

The shotgun blast catches Detective Matthew Longo by surprise. His world unravels into a nightmare that seemingly won’t end. Murder, rapes, pedophiles, the small town of Hutchville, N.Y. is changing. It is up to him to make a difference.

While partner Donny Mello is in Italy attending a funeral for a family member who is connected, to say the least, a beautiful F.B.I. agent waits to question him about his family business. Can Matt keep from answering the Agent’s questions? More importantly, can he hide a potentially career-ending secret from his community, his brother, and most especially Agent Cynthia Shyler?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Thriller

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Marc A. DiGiacomo on Facebook & Twitter

#ReviewShare #Thriller #MustRead - Copyright: A Novel by Lori Lesko @LeskoLori

Copyright: A Novel by Lori Lesko
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How would you feel if your written manuscript is stolen? Years of hard work and labor goes down the drain in just one minute. And how would you feel, if you find your book in a bookstore, under someone else’s name?

Yes, this is how Amber Tyler feels, when the writer's worst nightmare becomes a reality. We see how in just one day, the heroine faces tragedy upon tragedy and our inner- writer is horrified with the events taking place. We can easily sympathize with her. Her health, her family and her career, everything goes down by just a heart attack.

The writer Lori Lesko is like a magician, captivating us with her simple phrases and making us feel the same things that a character is feeling. The characters are powerful and hold their positions perfectly. I love how easily she has described the Lesbian relationship of the heroine with her lover Karen, without any hesitation of the traditional society. Even though the characters are not perfect (what with the heroine being an alcohol addict with a lot of issues) the idea of a perfect family is unique and new (Lesbian couple and two kids, Danny & Kira).

The plot is a strong and continuous one. The author unfolds the story Step-By-Step and doesn’t confuse the reader. We feel heartbroken with whatever happens to the heroine and how the person she trusts, actually betrays her. We all feel proud, when she confronts the antagonist and is saved by her son.

In the end Lori shows that no matter what situation you are in, it is your family and your loved ones who will bring you back to your life, support you and stand by your side. It took a little time for the heroine to set up her priorities straight and to bring her life back on the line but throughout the novel the readers are supporting her. She is like a real life individual, who makes mistakes and wrong decisions but in the end will always have a lot of supporters, when she gets back on the track.

The story was intense. Sometimes you would feel frustrated at the heroine for her choices and sometimes you would wait for her to take a next step, praying all the time to make things right for her.

It is truly a heart wrenching Psychological Thriller – that will give you an amazing roller coaster ride. It is a “must-read” book for all the readers, bookies and bookworm. I will give it 4/5 stars. Great Book!

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


View all my reviews