Review: Grave Morality by JC Finch

I received Grave Morality from the author in exchange for an honest review

Genre

Crime Mystery

Publication Date

March 15th, 2012

Publisher

Self-Published

Available At

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Formats

Ebook
Paperback

A mysterious stranger, with access to the shadiest parts of people's lives, seeks to manipulate those with the most to lose into an elaborate game in the name of repenting for their sins. Those drawn into the game are forced into killing their coworkers for a long list of atrocities previously unknown to most others. The murderer hits close to home for teenagers Ronald Persey and George Hart and they're determined to find out who is behind the killings and to stop the one pulling the strings, but will they be able to deal with the consequences that come next?

Review

Rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars

I liked Grave Morality, the plot was quite intriguing as the murders kept piling up. I was constantly trying to figure out who was the murderer, but JC Finch successfully kept me in the dark, fueling my need to read.

Grave Morality seems to be a plot driven story rather than a character driven story. Which isn't a bad thing, the plot has many intricate layers that get deeper and deeper and more mysterious as the story unfolds. It was a great plot that sucked me in, but I wish that the characters were just as great. At first the many POV's irritated me, but as I kept reading they simply meshed with the story. They were a must in properly shrouding the reader in mystery, but it didn't allow me to connect to the characters. 

I had a simply adoration for Ron and GC, but nothing more than that. I liked the fact that they were so supportive of each other and also the fact that they were in love with each other. It helped the story, but I was still lacking the proper investment into them as characters. I wish that there was more from them because they are two characters that could have pushed the story to unbelievable levels.

There was some unnecessary recapping that seemed to dominate the story, it usually took place without enough space in between the original information and the recapping, making parts come across as repetitive. There was also one inconsistency that I found while reading, it has to do with who was driving a car, but I don't want to give away any of the significant details.

The ending was done in a way that it could end here or be continued, I'd be curious to see how the continuation would pan out if the author was inclined to write one.

I did enjoy this book regardless of the minor drawbacks, and will recommend to anyone who has a love for stories that can successfully keep you guessing. Would I read more from JC Finch? Definitely! The plot and details were well thought-out, and the mystery almost made me forget the non-investment into the characters. Almost. Still, it was a great read!

Review: The Sin Collector by Jessica Fortunato

I was lucky yo receive a The Sin Collector from the author through the group, Making Connections on Goodreads.

"The Sin Collector" follows the life of Liliana, a born Sin Collector. She has spent over 100 years absorbing people's sins so they may rest in peace come death. However when she meets another Collector, one who insists everything she's been taught is a lie, Liliana must make her way from sunny L.A. all the way to the streets of Madrid. Searching for answers to a question we all share. Why are we here? The friends and enemies she makes along the way only seem to blur the line between right and wrong. Can Liliana fight the Castus, an organization bent on killing off every Sin-Eater? Should she trust her head or her heart when the two most important men in her life are fighting alongside her? Then there is the worst question of all, who will be left when the dust settles.

Review
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Sin Collector, the debut novel from author Jessica Fortunato, is a completely new concept that is fresh, new and oh, so intriguing.

As soon as you begin to read, you are hit with the loneliness that drips off of Liliana. It's a powerful emotion that everyone will easily empathize with. Although Liliana is lonely, she's still an adept female protagonist. She's strong, resilient, determined and loving. She also has a hilarious sarcastic flare that adds life to her character. Billy is sweet, caring and fierce at times, but his character is cloaked in suspicion along with Olexanders character. Olexander(in my eyes) was a powerful addition to the set of characters. He has his Old-World charm, protectiveness(of his small Sin-Collector family), he's compassionate, but with that said, you can never be certain where the suspicions should truly lay. Olexander and Billy(but really the author) expertly place suspicion into the readers mind. I was constantly asking the question, who can Lily trust?

The plot line will keep you entertained as you keep trying to figure out the end result. This is quite an adventure that Lily undergoes! There is action, a little bit of romance, suspense and mystery. The main focus in the plot was the paranormal and suspense with a light order of romance. The romance was sweet and innocent as Lily is faced with two men from her past. There are religious undertones, but it stays simple with the characters' beliefs/faith. The ending is satisfactory, tied up nicely with a hint of what to expect in the next installments. Although, there were some things that were left unexplained. I hope they will be in the next book. This was an enjoyable read with great characters and a fresh concept, recommended to all ages and genders!

Here's a quote that I found hilarious. . .

"Truth  was, I didn't really want to die today. I was in the middle of a really good book, and being alive had always worked out for me. . ."

The Sin Collector is available at Amazon