MIND GAMES by Stephanie Black

MIND GAMES by Stephanie Black. This was a very interesting book. The last phrase is very true. Nothing is as it seems. I have to admit that I found my mind questioning everything I read as the story went on. I knew I had part of it figured out but the rest of it was not as it seemed. It was a fascinating book that I will read again just to piece everything together. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller and likes to really have to think about how the story will end.

:) :) :) :)

Psychologist Natalie Marsh's dream is now reality: her mental health services clinic has opened and is houses in an elegant, newly renovated nineteenth-century building. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with the clinic's presence, including Heather Osbourne, a troubled young woman who wholly objects to the occupation of the building. Heather has spent years wandering the halls of the abandoned structure, convinced she's communing with her ancestor's ghost. When Natalie thwarts Heather's attempt to leap from a window, the shaken psychologist soon realizes Heather's failed jump is merely one piece of a disturbing puzzle. Greed and deceit are weaving a web around Natalie, and someone will stop at nothing?—not even murder—to get what they want. Stretched to her breaking point, Natalie struggles to learn the truth, but only one thing is clear: nothing is as it seems.

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Sept. 11^th

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NOT A WORD by Stephanie Black

NOT A WORD by Stephanie Black. This was a really good read once I got into it. I had a hard time the first couple of chapters. When it settled into the main two characters points of view and I understood who the other character point of view was, the story made more sense. Natalie and Gideon are wonderful characters who are easy to fall in love with and understand their quorks. I enjoyed watching them grow. The red herrings were well planted and served their purpose well. For the most part I kept the pages turning. It is a great read that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good suspense novel.

:) :) :) :)

Psychologist Natalie Marsh is a pro at keeping secrets. She not only guards her clients’ confidences but also expertly hides her own pain after being disinherited by her dying mother. As fresh personal challenges begin heaping on top of professional ones, Natalie’s best friend, Camille, confides that she thinks someone is stalking her. Natalie suspects that stress, not a stalker, is shadowing Camille—but Camille’s fear only continues to grow when the widow of a local businessman starts whispering that her husband was murdered and a new client of Natalie’s seems to be concealing something much more frightening than her inability to stand up for herself. Soon a shattering crime proves the danger is real. But when everyone has something at stake, is there anyone Natalie can trust? Or will she fall victim to a killer who will do anything to keep secrets hidden?

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Nov. 7th

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Nov. 10th

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Nov. 11th

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PLAYED FOR A FOOL by @StephanieMBlack — #reviews #books #amreading #bookreview

PLAYED FOR A FOOL by Stephanie Black. I was excited about this book as I got into it. The premise was very intriguing, but the more pages I turned, the more I felt like I should have read another book first. A lot of it is people questioning things that happened in the past and talking about things in a way that made me feel left out as a reader. I was so busy trying to piece together what happened in the past that I feel like I missed what was going on in the present. It's a great suspense novel that I can recommend for just about anyone though.

:) :) :) :

Three years ago, the small town of Britteridge was rocked by the senseless murder of Gail Ludlum. Now the people most affected by the tragedy have returned to the place where it all began, and the scene is set for the perfect revenge . . .

Megan O’Connor’s life was shattered when she was unwittingly drawn into a kidnapping plot that ultimately led to the murder of an innocent woman. Though the road to redemption has been long, she’s finally found happiness with her recent engagement to a wonderful man, a pillar of the community. But amid the chaos of wedding planning, the return of Gail Ludlum’s son to Britteridge sets in motion a disturbing sequence of events. Soon Megan finds herself the victim of a series of cruel deceptions that indicate one thing: her past mistakes have not been forgiven or forgotten. As the mischief escalates to dangerous levels, it becomes clear that someone is determined to avenge Gail’s death. And he won’t rest until he’s taken a life for a life.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Sept. 28th

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Sept. 29th

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Sept. 30th

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Oct. 1st

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Oct. 2nd

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Book Review--Methods of Madness

Methods of Madness by Stephanie Black. I had the privilege to be in Stephanie's critic group and the LDStorymakers conference this past May. She gave me wonderful insight on my writing and I just had to pick up one of her books. I loved this story. I thought I had solved it, but in the end I wasn't even close. Books that prove me wrong and so much fun. The characters kept me involved and I felt for them, although I will admit the ending was odd. It worked really well, I just remember thinking, "Huh, that's weird." I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery. It receives a :):):):):)

Here's a blurb about the book, a link to read the first chapter, and an interview with Stephanie. Let me know what you think!

It’s been three years since the terrible night Emily Ramsey suffered a double tragedy—the death of her sister and the disappearance of her fiancé. She deserves another chance at happiness, and gentle, adorable Zach Sullivan is just the man to mend her shattered heart. But from the moment Emily opens the hand-carved box holding a glittering diamond solitaire, she’s seized by an unshakeable fear: she’s going to lose Zach.

That’s exactly what Monica, Zach’s ex-girlfriend, is banking on. Bitter with envy, Monica will stop at nothing to sabotage Zach and Emily’s romance. A troubling note shows up in Emily’s mailbox, fanning the flames of suspicion. A bloody photograph sends her reeling. But when someone is brutally murdered, will Emily be able to escape suspicion and the possibility that she might be next?

What made you decide to become a writer?

I've always loved books, even when I was a very young child. Besides loving to read, I loved playing Barbies as a child--which may sound like it has nothing to do with writing, but I think it has lots to do with writing! Making up stories about make-believe characters--that sounds like writing fiction to me! For me, I think writing is a grown-up way of playing Barbies :)

When I was a senior in high school, I took a creative writing class, and on the last story I wrote for the class (my other stories were all very boring) the teacher wrote something like, "Interesting--don't stop!" I didn't stop. I played with that idea for years. Eventually--after many years of writing, rewriting, and reading lots of fiction technique books--that story evolved into my first novel, a futuristic thriller called The Believer.

Who inspires you?

In my personal life, my husband is a great inspiration--he's always encouraged and supported me in my desire to write. My family and my husband's family have also been a great support to me. And I receive so much support and encouragement from fellow authors--the support network among authors is really fantastic!

A literary inspiration for me is Mary Higgins Clark--I've enjoyed so many of her suspense novels. I also admire Connie Willis--I'd like to write some more science fiction (my first novel was sci fi).

What would you like your readers to get out of your writing?

With my mystery/suspense novels, I'm hoping readers will get a good, fun, exciting, nail-biting, clean read!

Where did this idea come from?

Brainstorming. The two novels I wrote before Methods of Madness both came from ideas that had been percolating for a long time, so when I finished my second book and it was time to start a new one, I had no idea what it was going to be about. I only knew that I wanted a contemporary suspense novel with a young female protagonist. It was a bit daunting to start from scratch! I wrote down ideas--I brainstorm best by typing into a brainstorming file on my computer--and played with them until a story finally started to take shape. Then I ended up taking the story in a different direction than my original ideas, and eventually, it developed into Methods of Madness.

Who was your favorite character to develop?

Hmm. That's a tough question. It's been a while since I wrote it, so who knows what I was thinking at the time? But if I have to pick a fun character, I think I'll vote for Brent.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Study technique. There are tons of fiction technique books available. A couple of my favorites are Jack Bickham's The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them) and Jack Bickham's Scene and Structure. Be willing to learn and improve your craft. Don't expect instant success--be ready for rejection. The ability to get back on your feet and dust yourself off after a disappointment is vital to success as an author.

What can we expect next from you?

My next suspense novel, Rearview Mirror, will be released in October.

Where can we purchase your book?

Any LDS bookstore, online or brick-and-mortar, Amazon.com.

THANKS STEPHANIE!