Scar Tissue (The Mindsight Series Book 1) by M C Domovitch

Synopsis via Amazon:

When successful model Ciara Kelly wakes up in the hospital, remembering nothing of the weeks she has been missing, her only clues are the ugly words carved into her skin. According to the police she was a victim of the Cutter, a serial killer who has already murdered three women. For her protection the police and her doctors give a press conference, announcing that because her amnesia is organically caused, her memory loss is permanent. But, whether her memory returns or not is anybody’s guess. Overnight, Ciara’s glamorous life is gone. Her scars have killed both her modelling career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend. With nothing to keep her in New York, she returns to her home town of Seattle, moves in with her sister and goes about building a new life. But when her sister lets it slip that Ciara’s memory is returning, the killer comes after her again. If Ciara is to stay alive, she must keep one step ahead of the Cutter.

Scar Tissue is a deep and thought-provoking read. How often are models looked at as having such  perfect and charmed life? Most models are society's definition of the perfect woman desired by the average man. These women are easily placed on a pedestal. Well, for Ciara, one person has gone over to the dark side in his obsession with her. He literally tries to love her to death, twice.

I was impressed with the character development. Each character was real and believable. It was easy to imagine some as a friend, others as entitled bitches and still others as manipulative, self centered liars. Some were transparent as others were complex. They meshed well into the complexity of the story keeping me not only interested, but intrigued. 

When I read this book I had no idea it was the first in a series. When I finished the book I still had no idea. There is no cliff hanger ending. There is no awkward ending. Miss Domovitch gives you closure in this story.

What about the development of the suspense? Well, I waffled back and forth about who the killer could be. I am happy to announce that I didn't figure out who the bad guy was until almost the end. 

What about the "thriller" portion of the story? Well, the depth of research it must have taken Miss Domovitch to basically get into the killer's frame of mind must have been interesting, to say the least. If she were to ever fall under suspicion for a violent crime, I am sure her internet browser history will not be her friend.

All in all, I liked this book. If you're in a mood for a suspense thriller, you should definitely check Scar Tissue out.

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beauty and the Weiner (A Rescue Dog Romance) by Casey Griffin

Synopsis via Amazon:

A TAIL AS OLD AS TIME...

Addison Turner has scripted a perfect future for herself, complete with a fairytale ending. She will become the name in doggie fashion design and live happily ever after with the husband of her dreams--and her dachshund, Princess, by her side. Just when her plan is on track and she's gaining recognition at the local dog show, Addison is hit with some Oscar-worthy drama. A group of prize-winning show dogs are stolen from under her nose, and she's stuck asking for help from Felix Vaughn, an infuriatingly hot bartender who is the exact opposite of Prince Charming.

When more dogs go missing--and Felix becomes a suspect--the two team up to clear their names. Although Felix and Addison fight like cats and dogs, there's an undeniable spark between them. And as the trail to the missing dogs heats up, so does their red-hot chemistry. Can Addison be persuaded to throw away her script to find an ending that just might be better than she ever expected?

This is a cute story. I enjoyed the way all the dogs were woven into it. Not to mention the interesting personalities of their owners. This story has romance, light humor, and suspense.
The suspense was very well written. I waffled back and forth throughout the majority of the story, wondering who was the bad guy.
I am a BIG animal person! Miss Griffin did an awesome job of creating individual personalities for each of the dogs. I can honestly say that I fell in love with each and every dog in the story!
For me this was a whimsical read. And that is a very good thing. As a nurse, my brain is constantly multi-tasking all day long. While I do enjoy stories that take deep thought, I really enjoy the stories that make me laugh, make me want to keep reading, and have plenty of cuteness!
I gotta say, I would read another story written by Casey Griffin in a heartbeat!

Flameout (Souls of Fire #3)

Synopsis via Amazon:

Emberly and her red hot partner, Jackson, have hit an impasse in their battle against the crazed humans infected by a plague-like virus derived from vampire blood. Their quest to unearth the leader of the group leads them into an ambush—and leaves Emberly at odds with her former lover, Sam, who’s pressuring her to join his Paranormal Investigations Team.

To make matters worse, three local witches have been kidnapped—and if their spells fall into the wrong hands, Emberly’s powers could end up smothered. With time ticking until the virus consumes the world, Emberly and Jackson must race to save the witches, find a cure, and smoke out their nemesis—or go down in a blaze of glory...

I can never get enough of Emberly, Sam, Jackson, Rory, and their adventures, wanted and unwanted.
As with the previous book in this series, Miss Arthur brings to life a whole new dimension to what our world could be with mythology come to life. Miss Arthur's take on the Phoenix species is so interesting and intriguing. They are immortal yet not immortal. They have 100 year lifetimes, They have life mates, but are not in love with them. They can only have children with their Phoenix life mates. They are destined to fall in love once each lifetime only to suffer heart break. She has taken the mythological Phoenix and developed it to fit into our modern times.
Miss Arthur is an expert and describing minute details without bogging the story down in descriptives. She helps the reader to create a running "movie" in their head. It is full of color, movement, excitement, and suspense. Her consistency between books makes it feel like you just put down the previous book.
In this story, I really enjoyed the relationship between Emberly and Jackson. How their private and working relationship intertwine. The chase of their current assignment that links into the battles of their private lives. There is also the sexual tension and relationships. As I said earlier, Miss Arthur is an expert at descriptives. But she doesn't create shallow relationships. Each relationship between the characters is complex and relevant to the story.
This book in the series is effortlessly tied into the previous book. It is fresh and exciting without being a "rewrite". This is also on my list of "definitely must be read". Bring the new year in with a burst of flame!