Renee C. (steelergirl83) reviewed When a Heart Stops (Deadly Reunions, Bk 2) on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
When you pick up a suspense book you always hope that the story has a few heart stopping moments and some great twists and turns. In When a Heart Stops those heart stopping moments start off right away! If there was a ever a story that "grabbed me from page one" it's this one! While When the Smoke Clears was a good book, I liked this story so much better just because the killers were so creepy and the crimes were chilling. I got goosebumps more than a few times so I'm glad I read this on a sunny day rather than late at night or I may not have been able to get to sleep!
Serena, a medical examiner, and Dominic an FBI agent are investigating murders that are more than likely the work of a copycat serial killer. While investigating things become personal for Serena especially when she recognizes a victim and then is threatened herself - more than once. Dominic is determined to protect Serena and find out and save the killer's next targets.
I loved everything about this book including the major creep out factor of the Doll Maker Killer *shivers.* I don't know about you but I liked to be scared sometimes but I can't say that that has ever happened to me while reading Christian fiction. This was definitely more of a psychological, get-inside-your-head thriller than anything I've read in the genre. That said there were a few issues with the story that made me dock it a half star. For instance Serena had a letter from a friend that the killer was after but Serena didn't notify the investigators because of a promise she had made to said friend. I'm sorry, but if lives could be saved or a killer captured by details gleaned from any part of that letter it should have been handed over ASAP. When a Heart Stops was still an excellent suspense novel and I'm definitely picking up the last book to see if the mastermind behind all these crimes is finally caught and brought to justice.
~ My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars ~
Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
Serena, a medical examiner, and Dominic an FBI agent are investigating murders that are more than likely the work of a copycat serial killer. While investigating things become personal for Serena especially when she recognizes a victim and then is threatened herself - more than once. Dominic is determined to protect Serena and find out and save the killer's next targets.
I loved everything about this book including the major creep out factor of the Doll Maker Killer *shivers.* I don't know about you but I liked to be scared sometimes but I can't say that that has ever happened to me while reading Christian fiction. This was definitely more of a psychological, get-inside-your-head thriller than anything I've read in the genre. That said there were a few issues with the story that made me dock it a half star. For instance Serena had a letter from a friend that the killer was after but Serena didn't notify the investigators because of a promise she had made to said friend. I'm sorry, but if lives could be saved or a killer captured by details gleaned from any part of that letter it should have been handed over ASAP. When a Heart Stops was still an excellent suspense novel and I'm definitely picking up the last book to see if the mastermind behind all these crimes is finally caught and brought to justice.
~ My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars ~
Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
Helpful Score: 1
Oh the bodies are dropping! I think there must have been another murder every twenty pages and there really isnt much time to do a whole lot of gawking with this novel.
Im not a blood and guts kind of girl, Id rather reader a romance over a murder, so when I read a murder, I take them suspenseful. If youre going to creep me outthen. creep. me. out. I think this novel didnt a pretty fair job of that task. The balance between murder and romance was pretty well level, though it did tip a bit heavier towards the murder business side.
The novel did feel a bit as though there needed to be a killing to keep the tension level high, but I didnt think it too much until the ending.
I loved it when the story took a personal turn for our heroine. Putting someone close to her in danger, totally upped the anty and pumped my blood. Excellent moment in the novel. The only place where I thought it totally came out of character for the novel was at the end and the twist. Which of course I cant say anything, so my lips are sealed, except to say I didnt see it coming and wasnt sure it really fitbut thats just my personal opinion.
All in all, great book, cliffhanger ending, darn that author! ;-) And I have to wait more months until we figure out whats in that envelope people were killing over. Shoot.
Pun intended.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publisher for my copy to review.
**Available October 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker publishers**
Im not a blood and guts kind of girl, Id rather reader a romance over a murder, so when I read a murder, I take them suspenseful. If youre going to creep me outthen. creep. me. out. I think this novel didnt a pretty fair job of that task. The balance between murder and romance was pretty well level, though it did tip a bit heavier towards the murder business side.
The novel did feel a bit as though there needed to be a killing to keep the tension level high, but I didnt think it too much until the ending.
I loved it when the story took a personal turn for our heroine. Putting someone close to her in danger, totally upped the anty and pumped my blood. Excellent moment in the novel. The only place where I thought it totally came out of character for the novel was at the end and the twist. Which of course I cant say anything, so my lips are sealed, except to say I didnt see it coming and wasnt sure it really fitbut thats just my personal opinion.
All in all, great book, cliffhanger ending, darn that author! ;-) And I have to wait more months until we figure out whats in that envelope people were killing over. Shoot.
Pun intended.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publisher for my copy to review.
**Available October 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker publishers**
