The Storykiller by Humfrey Hunter

The Storykiller: A gripping thriller by [Hunter, Humfrey]

Publisher: Silvertail Books

Date of publication: September 29th, 2016

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

The Politician. The Powerbroker. The Secret.

And the man they want to help them hide it – at any cost. Because some secrets are worth killing for…

Jack Winter was once an idealistic and brilliant news reporter who broke the biggest stories around. But after wrongly blaming himself for a young girl’s murder he changed sides and began killing stories for the rich and powerful, protecting them from exactly the kind of journalist he used to be. 

When a new client drags Jack into a lethal world of corruption and long-buried secrets, he finds himself wishing he could turn back the clock, because now he is fighting not just for headlines but his life. 

My review:

The story is started by introducing Jack Winter as he is standing on a street corner. While he is standing there, a woman stabs him. Later it is revealed that she was the mother of a little girl who was kidnapped and killed. Jack was the lead reporter on the case. While Jack was interviewing the main suspect, the little girl was being held in the suspect’s house. Jack harbors deep guilt over not being able to sense that the child was there. He believes that he caused her to be killed. Make sure to keep this in mind while reading the book. It explains a lot about Jack’s actions during the book.

Fast forward three years.

Jack is no longer a reporter. He has earned a reputation as a story killer. What that means is that he gets to the reporter before the story is published and squashes the story. He squashes it either by bluffing or calling his contacts. He then has them contact the reporter/people wanting the story published. He has them tell the people that they will take legal or other action if the story is published.

One day, he is contacted by a businessman named Edward Valentine. He has a job for Jack to do. His friend, Adam Pryor, needs a story killed. Adam will be in the running for the PM of England. He did something foolish. He slept with a 19-year-old girl and didn’t tell her that he was married. She is threatening to go to the media because she was mad that he didn’t tell her he was married. This is where Jack will come in. He will talk to the girl and convince her to not to go to the media. If that doesn’t work and he knows the reporter the girl is talking to, he will go straight to the reporter. He will try to convince the reporter not to run the story.

This is where the story took a couple of unexpected turns. I was expecting the story to be about Jack trying to convince this girl not to go to the media. I was not expecting the story to take the twists and turns that it did. The book went from being dull to me devouring the pages because I wanted to see what Jack was going to do next. It was that good!!

The ending was not what I expected, and I loved it. I was kept on my feet until the last page.

How many stars will I give The Storykiller? 4

Why? This book starts off pretty boring for the first couple of chapters but more than makes up for it!! It is fast paced and keeps you guessing. A great read.

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why? Sex, drinking, drug use and an awful scene of molestation

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Clementine and Claudia by Piper Milton

Clementine and Claudia: A gripping historical romance novel of two sisters divided by love and war by [Milton, Piper]

Publisher: Silvertail Books

Date of publication: September 22nd, 2016

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

There are more than two sides to every love story…

The First World War is raging and sisters Clementine and Claudia are coping in very different ways. Clementine is a nurse on the front line, doing her best to save the lives of soldiers wounded while serving their country. Claudia, on the other hand, is living the good life in England, deliberately oblivious to the horrors her sister and so many others are living through. When they both meet their perfect man, their already fractured relationship is tested in ways they could never imagine.

The début novel from Piper Milton, Clementine and Claudia is a powerful and beautifully written story of romance and war for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, and a wonderful addition to the romantic traditions of Penny Vincenzi, Soraya Lane, Brief Encounter and Downton Abbey.

My review:

This book was so slow at the beginning that I almost DNF’d. Stress almost. Once I got past the first couple of chapters, the book started to pick up steam and move along.

I loved the historical aspect of this book. I loved that it took place during World War 1. The author did an excellent job world building. I could picture the bomb and air raid sirens going off. I could hear the battlefield in my ears along with hearing the moans and groans of injured patients.

I did have an issue with the romance part of the book. I want my romance from that period to be sweet and innocent. This one was twardy, and it was almost dirty.

I know people can’t help who they fall in love with. I wished that the author chose a different road for her characters. Cheating on your spouse isn’t cool, and I felt for Charles in that scene. And in the scene where he let his wife go to be with the one she wanted. I was so sad about that.

The ending was what I expected because I knew that the star-crossed lovers would be together.

How many stars will I give Clementine and Claudia: 3

Why: A wonderfully written, vivid historical piece that was written as a historical romance. For me, the romance fell flat and like I said in my review, was twardy and almost dirty.

Will I reread? Maybe

Will I recommend to family and friends? Maybe

Age Range: Teen

Why: Sexual situations (but never gotten into detail) and description of wartime violence (including an amputation of a leg).

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**