Jessica R. Patch: The Other Sister

 By Kelly Bridgewater

 She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life, one where she isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. An existence worlds away from the chaos of her own. Then her estranged mother dies, and Charlotte makes a stunning discovery—she has an identical twin who was given up for adoption.

Acelynn Benedict is polished, successful and seems to have everything Charlotte yearns for—a wealthy, doting family in Savannah, a handsome boyfriend, a great career. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker…

No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.

My Thoughts:

The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch is a unique story. What if you could trade your life with a twin that you never knew existed? What would your life look like? What issues or joys would you find? Patch does a wonderful job at answering the questions. The suspense is pretty interesting and kept my attention. The Then chapters gave me the chills. What a horrible little girl. I kept trying to guess who she was in the regular chapters. Patch had me guessing to the very end. When she showed who it was, I was surprised, which takes a lot to do for me. She did a good job at keeping the actual villain a secret. Even at the end of the novel, there is another twist that I kind of figured out, but I needed Patch to show me. I really like her stories, and I hope she keeps writing them. Overall, The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch thrilled this reader who LOVES to be surprised in a suspense book. This story definitely kept me engrossed the entire time. I can't wait to read her next book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Jessica R. Patch: The Garden Girls

By Kelly Bridgewater

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

 

My Thoughts:

The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch dives deep into the past of Tiberius Granger. Readers are introduced to “Family” and the ideas that they carried. The serial killer was unique and different. The way that he captured the girls, tortured them, and eventually killed some of them was different, yet fascinating. Patch crafted a character that was definitely hurting, but he believed these garden girls would make him complete. I loved how she showed the serial killer through the eyes of one of the victims. Made him appear sane physically and mentally, but he had little ticks that showed he was not mentally stable. As for the plot, nicely woven together with plenty of trails to lead the reader along. Patch gave Tiberius a complicated past that wove together with Bexley. As the story progressed, emotions that were hidden down deep came bubbling back to the surface. Overall, The Garden Girls does a wonderful job at keeping the focus on the suspense of the story, which is the way that I enjoy my stories. A touch of romance, but really nothing that subtracted from the race to save the girls from the killer. Definitely recommend for readers who like grittier novels.

I received a complimentary copy of The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch from Love Inspired Trade Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:   4 out of 5 stars

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Jessica R. Patch: A Cry in the Dark

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Deep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered.
But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws.
And they’re not talking…

Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda. With locals refusing to reveal their secrets, Violet’s only ally is Detective John Orlando. But even John has an ulterior motive—he’s convinced this case is connected to his wife’s murder. 

As they dig deeper, Violet uncovers a link to her own unresolved past. For years she’s worked the cold case of her mother’s abduction, which had led to her birth. The need to look into the eyes of the sinful man who fathered her consumes Violet. Until she can, she’ll never have peace. Because she’s terrified she might be exactly like him.

In this chilling novel, when the present collides with Violet’s mysterious past and John’s tragic loss, they must unravel the warped, sinuous connections before the killer strikes again. But solving the case might not be nearly as terrifying as the possibility that Violet’s finally found her roots…

 

My Thoughts:

A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch is a thrilling chase for a serial killer. One of my favorite aspects of Patch's novel is the heroine. I loved that she has a wounded background. Not only a wounded soul, but the possibility of a character who could take the chance and go down a dark and disturbing path. Violet was introduced in the first novel, Secrets in the Dark, but allowed to share her story in this novel. Patch created a redemptive element for Violet that had me excited and thrilled. Patch did allow readers to think the serial killer was this one person, but then she will throw a twist into the ending that has the readers shaking their heads in wonder. The plot had an interesting path as the characters had to solve the mystery of who was killing all these women. The action keeps the readers guessing as they flip through the pages of the story. Of course, there is a hint of romance. Nothing really overdone, which was nicely handled. As a reader who enjoys stories like this, I hope that Patch composes another twisty tale of mystery for fans like me.

I received a complimentary copy of A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch from Harlequin Trade Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

Publishers Weekly Bestselling author Jessica R. Patch is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she's penned a romantic suspense, a cold case thriller, or a small-town romance. When she's not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, watching movies with her family, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she'll probably never cook. Sign up for her newsletter "Patched In" at www.jessicarpatch.com. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management. (Taken from Amazon.com)