The Prophet by Ethan Cross
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
ISBN-10: 1611880459
ISBN-13: 978-1611880458
Pages: 400
Review Copy from: The Story Plant
Edition: ARC Kindle
My Rating: 5

Synopsis:
OLD ENEMIES…
Francis Ackerman Jr. is one of America’s most prolific serial killers. Having kept a low profile for the past year, he is ready to return to work – and he’s more brutal, cunning, and dangerous than ever.

NEW THREATS…
Scarred from their past battles, Special Agent Marcus Williams cannot shake Ackerman from his mind. But now Marcus must focus on catching the Anarchist, a new killer who drugs and kidnaps women before burning them alive.

HIDDEN TERRORS…
Marcus knows the Anarchist will strike again soon. And Ackerman is still free. But worse than this is a mysterious figure, unknown to the authorities, who controls the actions of the Anarchist and many like him. He is the Prophet – and his plans are more terrible than even his own disciples can imagine.

With attacks coming from every side, Marcus faces a race against time to save the lives of a group of innocent people chosen as sacrifices in the Prophet’s final dark ritual.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
WOW! Chilling and fast paced!! A couple of caveats. This is the 2nd in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. The author did an amazing job of inserting information from the previous novel, The Shepherd, where needed with no interruption of the story. This author is now on my “authors to read” list, this book was that good!! I would also like to give credit to the publisher, The Story Plant. For the past three (3) years, I have been reading and reviewing books from The Story Plant’s catalogue and have put every author under this imprint, on the same list.

The book, The Prophet, pulls you in within the first few pages. The reader gets introduced to the cast of characters, all believable but unsure of how they are connected. This story has so many twists and turns that the pages just kept turning. The settings vivid. The author’s writing style is extraordinary at how he weaves and interweaves the plot and characters together. The story tense and intense.
A white knuckle read!! About 3/4 into the book, the author ramps up the suspense to warp speed pulling everything together. I found myself wishing I could read faster to keep up with the heart pounding thrill ride. I could not put this book down until I read the very last word. The ending, a huge cliff hanger, which I hope means there will be a subsequent novel. I highly recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a thrilling, accelerating plot with a surprising intricate puzzle to try and piece together, you will not be disappointed. An electrifying read!!!!

(2012 Challenges: JFF, Serial Killers, FreeReads, Where Are You, A-Z, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s muse:
This week’s musing — courtesy of http://cmashlovestoread.com — asks…
Do you have a system as to which books to read from your “requested review pile? What is it? What about when there are too many to read in a certain time frame? {apologies to those who don’t review}

My thoughts:
Before I answer my own question lol I want to share my reaction this morning when I saw today’s question. I booted up, got all my pages opened, and then went to copy/paste today’s muse. And thought, what a good question! lol  And because I had just grabbed my coffee mug, it took a few minutes to realize it was one of my questions I had submitted, don’t remember when, but there it was lol.  Thank you Miz B for choosing my question.

Over the past 3 years, I have tried different policies when it comes to “requested review books”.  When I first started to review, I would read novels in the order that I received them.  This worked out for a while but I then found myself going into “reading slumps” since  I’m a mood reader and felt that I was reading in a robotic fashion.  I then tried to guarantee 2-4 books per month that I would guarantee a review posting.  That also worked for a while.

Now, because of the tour companies, Partners In Crime Tours and Providence Book Promotions, and medical issues,  my reading time has been affected.  My first priority are books that are being toured, then the 2nd tier are for those publishers and publicists that I have been reviewing for since the beginning and the 3rd tier are the books that sit on my TBR shelves of my bookcase, but those that are chosen depending on my mood.

I receive many requests in a week and I know, and have been trying my hardest, to say that 2 letter word NO, but I don’t have it in me.  I read a synopsis, knowing it is something I would enjoy and I accept it adding it to my “TBR requested review shelves, which are the top 2 shelves of my bookcase, not counting what’s in my EReaders.  However, since I am now starting a 3rd shelf, I have been trying so hard to say NO, but I admit, I have an addiction to books.

What about you?  Do you have a review reading system?

October is being hosted by Parchment Girl

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on text for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound Affiliate)

Monday:  Into The Dark by Stacy Green from Author for Partners In Crime Tours
Monday: Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult from Simon & Schuster
Thursday: The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd from Harper Collins
Thursday: Breaking The Code by Karen Fisher-Alaniz from Sourcebooks for WOW!
Friday: Villa Triste by Lucretia Grindle from The Hachette Book Group ARC

Hosting Blog

For the past month, I have been in a huge reading slump.  I even tried reading this week , with the incentive from Seasons Of Reading Read-A-Thon, and it did jump start my reading.  I think I have finally caught up with work and blog to-dos that I will be more focused for Dewey’s 24 hour Read-A-Thon.  I have my munchies ready (fruit, soy chips, rice cakes) and plan on parking myself in my recliner. I plan on taking a break every 2 hours to post my progress:

Start Time:  8am
Book:  Amanda’s Story by Brian O’Grady
Starting page #:  Kindle 38% ( I really wish that Kindle would do page numbers.  Anyone feel the same as I do on this?)
Murphy’s Law: Am getting a late start. Husband was on travel and this morning we were catching up over coffee.

Updates:

2pm:
Pages read:  up to 52%
Book:   Amanda’s Story
Comments: Very lat start.  Didn’t start reading until 10:45am.   Taking break to get lunch ready, move around and back to reading.

WRAP UP:
Pages read:    Kindle  55%
Book:  Amanda’s Story by Brian O’Grady
Comments:  Unfortunately, after getting a late start, and then the fact that I kept dozing off, I didn’t  make my goals of how much reading I had planned to do.  I was hoping to finish my current read but didn’t.  It never fails, whenever I sign up for a Read-A-Thon something always interferes  🙁

…..of Until My Soul Gets It Right by Karen Wojcik Berner

22 Stephanie Larison Leave a Blog Post Comment

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond, with a mailing address, or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

Hosted by An Island Life

From An Island Life:
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
I used to love this time of year. I would do a heavy fall cleaning, each room top to bottom, throwing away items that weren’t used, windows, etc. A true nesting feeling. However, since the last 2 back operations, it makes it quite difficult to do but still have that feeling. Recently, due to breaking down my mother’s house and putting it on the market, some items were moved here so I have been emptying boxes, rearranging, etc. Which brings me to today’s question.

Do you do a top to bottom “fall cleaning”?  

Yes!!!!  It’s THAT Sandra Brown.  Sandra Brown, the renowned author, which I have been a fan of, for many years.  So when Caitlin, from The Hachette Book Group contacted me regarding reading, reviewing and hosting a showcase on Sandra Brown, it was an instant YES!!  It is my honor to have the opportunity of spotlighting Ms. Sandra Brown!!!!

SANDRA BROWN

Sandra Brown is the author of over sixty New York Times bestsellers, including, most recently, Lethal; Rainwater; Tough Customer; Smash Cut; Smoke Screen; Play Dirty; Ricochet; Chill Factor; White Hot; Hello, Darkness; The Crush; Envy; The Switch; The Alibi; Unspeakable; and Fat Tuesday, all of which jumped onto the New York Times list in the number one to five spots. There are over eighty million copies of Sandra Brown’s books in print worldwide and her work has been translated into thirty-four languages. In 2008, Brown was named Thriller Master by the International Thriller Writer’s Association, the organization’s top honor. She currently lives in Texas.
Visit Sandra Brown at her website here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sandra Brown is again at the top of her game with a fast-paced mystery set in the high profile world of publishing and tabloid media. LOW PRESSURE (Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; September 18, 2012; $26.99) combines all the key elements that make Sandra Brown’s books must-reads.  The Associated Press has said “no one is better in the genre than Brown” and LOW PRESSURE proves them right. Combining an insider’s knowledge of publishing with her trademark dead-on characters and plot, Sandra Brown’s LOW PRESSURE is “a winner.”

Bellamy Lyston was only twelve years old when her older sister, Susan, was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy’s fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene along with her memory of what really happened during the day’s most devastating moments.

Now, eighteen years later, Bellamy has written a sensational, bestselling novel based on Susan’s murder. Because the book was inspired by the tragic event that still pains her family, she published it under a pseudonym to protect them from unwanted publicity. But when an opportunistic reporter discovers that the book is based on fact, Bellamy’s identity is exposed along with the family scandal.

Moreover, Bellamy becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan’s murder to remain unknown or, even more threatening, is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.

In order to identify her stalker, Bellamy must confront the ghosts of her past, including Dent Carter, Susan’s wayward and reckless boyfriend – and an original suspect in the murder case. Dent, with this and other stains on his past, is intent on clearing his name, and he needs Bellamy’s sealed memory to do it. But her safeguarded recollections – once unlocked – pose new, unforeseen dangers.

As Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan’s slaying, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime that call into question the people she holds most dear. Through haunted by partial memories and conflicted over her feelings for Dent, she won’t stop until she reveals Susan’s killer. That is, unless her killer strikes first….
Watch for me review in the near future.

THANKS TO CAITLIN, AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE
ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.  OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

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An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered!