Title: Bulletproof
Author: Jeff LaFerney
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Tower Publications
Publication Date: July 6, 2013
Format: ebook purchased from Amazon

Synopsis

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review (originally posted at Read, Run, Ramble):

Clay and Tanner bring on the intrigue and mystery again!

As mentioned in my review of Skeleton Key, I was more than ready to move on and read Clay and Tanner #3, Bulletproof. I jumped right in because I simply had to have more of this father and son duo. I definitely got what I asked for in this installment.

First, I have to mention Jasper. I failed to mention him in my review of Skeleton Key, which is the book in which he first appears. Jasper is a-FREAKING-mazing. He cracks me up, but he also turns out to be a great friend to Clay and Tanner. He’s a self-proclaimed “little person” with some intense acrobatic skills! Seriously, readers will not find another character like Jasper out there – he is supporting character GOLD!

Now, I cannot mention Jasper without also mentioning Sherman who first appears in this novel and he is the absolute perfect counterpart to Jasper. Just wait. When you read it, you’ll get it. Sherman, like Jasper, starts out a little rough (though funny), but this story wouldn’t be what it is without him.

As for Clay, Tanner, Zander, and Erika, they are on point. Again, their stories are so interesting and fun to read that I had a hard time putting my book down. When I did, I often found myself thinking about them as I went about my day. Honestly, I’ll probably have them in my head for quite a while.

Even after all the growth from the previous two books, readers will find that Clay and Tanner are still learning to navigate the world with their abilities and as they figure it out, they simply become more and more loveable. These two make me smile from ear to ear. Erika and Clay face some conflict in this story, which I was happy to see. Every couple, no matter how perfectly they seem matched, will face conflict and LaFerney weaved some into this story for them. Additionally, Clay and Zander face their own set of conflicts. Again, I love to see this. When a novel has so many good-hearted characters, it can be a bit of a letdown (for me) if they are always “perfect”, so I greatly appreciate LaFerney’s gift for writing mistakes and major mess-ups with these otherwise squeaky clean characters without turning them into sleazy bad guys!!

The mystery – oh, let’s talk about the mystery!! I’ve heard it said that Bulletproof is the “best” of the Clay and Tanner novels. I think it really might be the best. This story had me guessing and wondering the entire way through. I don’t know where LaFerney gets these ideas, but his mystery-building mind is unbelievable. AND, he’s offered up another ghost story component in this novel. There are a few ghosts looking for resolutions and readers won’t be disappointed with their stories!

At this point, I have no idea if the Clay and Tanner series is complete or not, but I can say that I will jump at the opportunity to read more of their stories should LaFerney write them.

Night Court by Ashley Fontainne is a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, unable to quit reading. My knuckles were white, I held by breath. I love vigilante characters and I am behind her 100%, right from the opening pages.

Judge, Jury, Executioner

An irresistible tagline that sucked me in. I had to know…Who? What? WHY?

I’m at 90% and I can only see this ending one way. Will I be right?

Night Court is a masterpiece and Ashley Fontainne’s writing is so good, I’m caught so off guard with how far she went. I am so engrossed in Merry’s life now, that I am not ready for the end, but here goes.

Oh no, enough already. Ashley Fontainne has to snatch my feet right out from under me, leaving me stunned, silenced, my jaw dropping to my chest. The gut wrenching ending leaves me smiling through my teary eyes.

Night Court by Ashley Fontainne delves into the human psyche, not allowing the monsters to stay hidden. The twists and turns are amazing and surprising, so don’t think you know where this will end. If you want to cry for a character, scream at a character, beat a character to a pulp and then beat him again, this is a story for you. My emotion roiled, boiled, screamed and raged to be let loose. CAUTION: May make you want to throw your ereader!

To see my full review and to enter the giveaway for all her ebooks, stop by http://www.fundinmental.com

Father and son team, Clay and Tanner Thomas, have already used their parapsychological abilities to solve crimes, but never before to keep themselves out of trouble. After a devastating injury to his father, Clay Thomas is abandoned by two people closest to him while being pursued by the local police chief for crimes he didn’t commit. While they investigate to discover the actual culprit perpetrating a series of local robberies, the spirited ghost of Bosley Pemberton appears, seeking their help to solve his eleven-year-old murder. With unexpected assistance from a rank-smelling midget, a bad-tempered giant, a gossipy curator, and a rule-bending coroner, Clay and Tanner incorporate their unique mind-control abilities to dig up dirt on Bosley as well as the numerous suspects who had motive and opportunity to put him to death. The plot unwinds, exposing the mystery about the real thief and putting an unexpected spin on broken relationships that need mending.

Review 5*

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Clay and Tanner Thomas Series. I absolutely LOVED it!

Clay and Tanner Thomas are both fantastic characters. Clay has become more at ease with using his special abilities of telekinesis and being able to communicate with the dead. His son, Tanner, also has special abilities such as being able to hypnotize people or influence them just with a thought. These abilities are caused through a genetic anomaly within their brain and come in handy when solving mysteries, but this one becomes personal when a robbery goes wrong and Clay's father is accused of committing it.

I have been wanting to read this book for some time, but due to the length of my reading list, haven't been able to until now. I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner, because I really love this series and the characters within the pages. I picked up the book and started to read; I did not put it down until I had finished it in one sitting. The story is told through various points of view, but as Clay and Tanner are the main characters, they have the most say. I am not a huge sports fan, but I love the way the author has woven his love of sport into this story. His attention to detail made the games come alive and I felt like I was there, watching the games from the bleachers too. I also love the paranormal (or is it supernatural) aspects of the tale; I love a good ghost story!

It was also wonderful to meet some old faces again, as well as some new ones. Jasper, Clay's friend and lawyer, happens to have a short temper to go with his short stature (he's one of the little people or, if you want to be politically incorrect, a midget). In a way, this character is one of my favourites, because he's more bark than bite, though he can get rather violent when riled. This also leads to almost comical events that made me smile and, on occasion, giggle over.
Zander Fauss is a character I liked from the start. He is a neurosurgeon and one of Clay's friends. He has been studying the Thomas's abilities in the hopes of understanding why they have manifested.
There are more than a couple of new characters introduced, but I really liked Sherman "Septic" Tankersley. He's a plumber, who happens to be a little intimidating due to his large size. He has many issues, but as I got to know this man a bit better, I realised that he is a gentle giant hiding behind a gruff facade to hide his loneliness.

This story is another fantastic mystery/thriller, full of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. There are some quite dark moments within the story that made me shiver, but the author also added some lighter moments which had me giggling or laughing out loud. There is mention of religion which may upset some readers, but it is not written in a preachy way. This is a fast paced, roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I hope that there will be more books in this series in the future.

Jeff LaFerney has written a fantastic mystery/thriller. I love his writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, and the flow is wonderfully fluid; each scene flows into the next seamlessly. He is one of the few male authors who has made it onto my favourite authors list and I am looking forward to reading more of his books in the future.

I highly recommend this as a "MUST READ" to everyone who loves paranormal thrillers or mysteries. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Loving The Rain, first. - Lynn Worton

In 1939, a sole Jewish smuggler immigrates to America to preserve a heritage Hitler hoped to erase. In 1944, two spies enter the United States on a mission to track down one man and a treasure of missing Spanish gold. In 2014, the immigrant’s son, his mind deteriorating from dementia, disappears, but not before he leaves his grandson clues, thrusting him into a mystery seventy-five years in the making. Blake Nolan and his girlfriend set out to unravel clues that could not only set secrets from history right again but also lead to two priceless treasures. With his grandfather’s life in the balance and suspects hot on Blake’s trail, will what was lost be found in time?

Review 6*

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic YA mystery/thriller. I LOVED it!

Blake Nolan is a wonderful character. I really liked this young man. He is kind, loving and incredibly gorgeous! He finds himself on an exciting but dangerous adventure when his grandfather, who suffers from dementia, goes missing.

This is a fantastic tale woven through a real life event. The second World War saw atrocities that have left the survivors reeling even after seventy-five years. Not only was the loss of life an outrage, the loss of possessions, either by theft or destruction, has left deep emotional scars within the families affected. Precious heirlooms and significant historical documents and paintings were either pillaged or destroyed by a regime that did it's best to wipe out a whole race. In this story, we are taken on a journey back to 1939 and a war torn Germany and a Jew by the name of Yosef Bloomberg. His journey to the USA is fraught with danger, but he bravely sets off to create a new life for himself after his release from Dachau. The story then jumps ahead to 2014, where Blake finds himself on a treasure hunt for his grandfather, who has gone missing. But, as the mystery of his grandfather's disappearance grows, he finds himself unraveling the clues to a past that will affect his future.

When the author approached me to review this book, I said yes immediately because having read a few of his other books, I knew I was in for an exciting read. I was not wrong! This story hooked me from the first page and had me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I read this book in one sitting, as I didn't want to put it down! There are several twists and turns that kept me riveted and I found myself guessing for most of the story as to what happened to Matthias Bloom, Blake's grandfather. When the big reveal happened, I was completely surprised. I love the red herrings the author had thrown into the reader's path. They had me thinking one thing when in reality, it was a completely different scenario. The history used in this story is well researched, and I loved the way the author blended the horror and danger of that time into a story that is not only believable, but sad and joyous at the same time. The characters are extremely lifelike and relatable, and the action and danger is intense. I reached the end of the story and my first thought was "Wow!". I had a book hangover from this book and struggled to begin my next read for quite some time. Avid readers will know what I mean when I say that, but for those who don't know what it means to have one of those: A book hangover is where a book affects you so much that you can't stop thinking about it for several hours or days. This book was that intense. I can't wait to see what else this author is working on!

Jeff LaFerney has written a fantastic young adult mystery/thriller. I love his writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, and the flow is wonderfully fluid; each scene flows into the next seamlessly. He is one of the few male authors who has made it onto my favourite authors list and I am looking forward to finally reading Bulletproof, his third book of his Clay and Tanner Thomas series, next.

I highly recommend this as a "MUST READ" to not only teens aged twelve to eighteen, but to adults too who are looking for an exciting read. - Lynn Worton