Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Review & Giveaway: One Scream Away by Kate Brady

"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".

My Thoughts:

Wow, this is chilling suspense that is riveting from the very beginning. Brady is expert at making the characters come right off the page. I could just feel Beth's relief when she finally breaks down and tells Neil Sheridan what really happened the night she and Bankes crossed paths. Her secrets are now in the open but her terror is on the rise. The suspense builds and builds to a breath stopping crescendo. As the killer gets closer and closer, Beth's gut wrenching fear is almost palpable when diabolical Chevy Bankes places his next taunting phone call.

The story is not all horror and suspense as Brady manages to incorporate a romance between Beth and Neil. This is a somewhat predictable element but does not detract in any way from the entire book. The rest of the story is anything but predictable. There are so many psychological twists and turns to this story, I just could not put the book down until the end. And what an ending it is! The plotline with Chevy's sister, Jenny, had me guessing until the last page. For fans of romantic suspense or thrillers, this is one book you don't want to miss. For it's genre, it gets a rating of 5***** from me.

About Kate Brady:

My writing career began in the closet, where--thankfully--my first several novels remain. As a full-time choral conductor and assistant professor of music education, I didn't consider going public with my fiction. It was strictly clandestine and only a hobby.
Then the needs of small children convinced me to switch to part-time teaching. For the first couple of years as a mostly stay-at-home-mom, it was all I could do to complete the metamorphosis from domestically-challenged career woman to culinary-queen and housework goddess. (Okay...Some transitions are never fully realized.) But later, when the kids got old enough to be in school for six hours a day, the characters in my head found time to come out again. Murderers, cops, victims, lovers. I started writing down everything they did and said, then finally decided to see if anyone but me wanted to read about them.

Now, I lead a double life. Some days are spent in the university classroom or at the rehearsal podium; others spent chasing villains on my laptop.
So what do I do when I'm not creating music teachers or psycho murderers? (Two unrelated populations, I assure you.) With a husband, two children, and way too many furry, feathery, and scaly things, there isn't a lot of time left. It's enough to keep up with the house, the yard, and the family schedule, and hope no one on my laptop gets murdered when I'm not looking.

Authors website is here.

Now for the Giveaway: Hachette is allowing me to give away 5 copies of One Scream Away. This contest is open to USA and Canada only. No P.O boxes. Deadline to enter is July 28th at 5 PM. Good luck!

For your official entry leave a comment.

For 3 bonus entries become a (google friend connect) public follower~ already a follower? Thank you, that counts too.
For 2 bonus entries post link to contest on your blog, sidebar is great!
I don't twitter but if you do, tweet about the contest and give me the link, you'll get another bonus entry.
***Please leave all your comments in one box and be sure to include an e mail address. ***

43 comments:

  1. The book sounds fantastic. Good luck everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd love this.

    I follow.

    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

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  3. You had me the moment you said it was unpredictable, aside from the romance part.

    I'm a follower, and I posted the giveaway in my sidebar.

    --Anna
    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com
    Diary of an Eccentric

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been hearing good things about this one. It sounds exciting!

    I'm a follower too.

    melacan at hotmail dto com

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  5. Been reading great reviews of this - sounds great!
    msboatgal at aol.com

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  6. This sounds a little scary. I'd love to read it! Thanks for sharing~

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com

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  7. This sounds like just my thing. Please enter me. Thanks!

    stacybooks at yahoo

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  8. I. MUST. WIN.

    well, I would really love to.
    And I now Follow.

    caitemaireAThotmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like a wonderful read!

    I'm a follower too.

    dlodden(at)frontiernet(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. +1 Awesome giveaway, I really wanna read this book!
    +3 I already am a public follower :)
    +2 It's on my blog sidebar here: http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/
    +1 I also twitted about it here: http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders

    Thanks!
    -Eleni
    lafemmereaders@yahoo.com

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  11. +1 Count me in please

    +3 already a follower

    +2 blogged: http://throuthehaze.blogspot.com/2009/07/giveaways-pt-4.html

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  12. This sounds really good. I love suspense! Thank you for the giveaway!

    I'm a public follower.

    Carol M
    mittens0831 AT aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. "One Scream Away" sounds like an awesome book.

    I'm a follower of this blog.

    janie1215 AT excite DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would love to be entered! I am a follower & I will put your giveaway on my blog! Thanks:)
    julyso@grandecom DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oops-the link to my blog...
    http://julyso4463.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Would love to be entered.

    Thanks for the great review and giveaway.

    JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like a thrilling read! Please enter me.

    hawkes(at)citlink.net

    + I follow

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow count me in I would love to read this book!!!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. I'm always ready for a suspense filled book. Count me in!

    I follow

    Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi, I saw your post at Book Blogs. I posted this give on my new MckLinky for others to see.

    Thanks for the chance. (Loving Heart Designs)

    gahome2mom at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. No need to enter me. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great review. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance.

    I'm a follower.

    lgladnick(at)cox(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  23. Please include me in your giveaway.

    I am a current follower


    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Please enter me.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  25. Posted on my blog under current giveaways.

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  26. Oooo, this sounds like a great thriller. Count me in! :0)

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you! I'd love a chance!

    kamijisatsu@gmail.com

    Already a Follower. ;)

    Posted the contest in my sidrbar@ninthfactor.org

    ReplyDelete
  28. forgot to post already a follower

    msboatgal at aol.com

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  29. 1. cant wait to read this awesome book. spellbound18@hotmail.com
    2. i follow you
    3. i blogged about this (right side bar)
    http://www.kaycity.blogspot.com

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  30. The review sounds awesome, please count me in, I am a follower.

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  31. Would love to read this! And I'm a follower...

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Always looking for good read. i think its great to have the give aways!

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  34. I would love to read this!

    I am a follower.

    marielay@gmail.com

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  35. One Scream Away sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This sounds like a seriously odd thriller...Antique Dealer meets Serial Killer.i would like to know if the author can/could..."pull it off'

    oh, i will try(?) to add you as a Follower on my blog....time will tell on that..i'll get back if it works

    Jude
    jdthloue@yahoo.com
    http://jayditreader.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Very good review. It sounds like an exciting book.
    annarudow at gmail.com

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  38. I would love to be thrilled and scared. One Scream Away seems right up my alley. Sign me up! Please! vanduzer1@yahoo.com

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  39. One Scream Away sounds like my kind of book! Would love to read it.

    tsg_74@hotmail.com

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  40. Sounds full of suspense, I'd love to read 'One Scream Away'!
    +3 I'm already a follower=)
    Thanks bunches & good luck to everyone!
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

    ReplyDelete
  41. This sounds good. I love thrillers. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete

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