DEVILS GAMES (A Mcswain & Beck Thriller Book 1)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by CR Hiatt. I felt an immediate understanding of the main characters and loved the way the book flowed. Enough background at the start to take you into the action which is based around a well thought out plot. The main character, a young detective, does an amazing job on her first, big case unearthing a sinister plan in the process. A heroine with attitude is what you get and I was left impressed by her tenacity and grit. You'll be willing her What a great story! You'll be willing her on to succeed in her endeavours and will be left wanting to know what happens next.

An excellent read for young adults and adults alike.

May 13, Pragya rated it really liked it Recommends it for: And I love those kind of books. Ooh, the thrill, the action, just wow. And more so when the main protagonist is a 18 year old girl. This book never slows down and I adore that. It has mystery and action that is all raring to go. And the twists and turns were amazing.

Also, I loved all the characters, what fun! It made for a short, quick read that I finished reading in one sitting. In short, this book has it all. May 13, Nancy Fornataro rated it it was amazing. CR Hiatt did a wonderful job with this teenage thriller. The dialogue was snappy and realistic, with snippets of teen life I found very fun! I am looking forward to reading her new book.

May 23, Melissa rated it really liked it. Full review and other blog tour stops at http: I'll be honest, the main reason I decided to give this book a try was because the cover reminded me of the types of movies that I like to watch. Movies like The Bourne Identity, Wanted, Taken, all movies where there is some mystery and the main character has to be stealthy and solve the puzzle with out getting shot by the bad guys.

The first few chapters I was worried that it wasn't going to be like those movies at Full review and other blog tour stops at http: The first few chapters I was worried that it wasn't going to be like those movies at all. In the first few chapters we're introduced to Sydney and her friends Cody and Jaden. She seems like any other teenage tomboy. But it wasn't until she was starting to solve the case that I really began to get interested. I was also kind of confused for the first few chapters. Not confused enough to dislike the book, but I just wished that all the subplots were connected more early on.

Here are all the things the reader is trying to figure out in the first half of the book. How come every few chapters are about a teenager being stalked and kidnapped? Do Cody and Sydney have feelings for each other? Who is Sydney's dad? Who is the guy Sydney is paid to spy on and what is he up to?

Who killed her mom? Why was her mom helping that girl? Why does the one cop give her the creeps? What is that rich family up to? And the list goes on. While it was hard to keep everything straight, it also made it impossible for me to stop reading because I needed to know all the answers! The second all the answers started to come out and plot points started to connect together I was so excited. It was pretty genius and very much like those movies that I mentioned earlier.

I was holding my breath hoping Sydney and Cody would make it out of their missions alive. The writing was so suspenseful and a perfect combo of dialogue and action. Sometimes books of this genre are only action and the characters don't develop a lot or they only have inner dialogue. It was kind of weird that sometimes it was written as a story and other times it was like the narrator was talking to the reader. I loved Sydney's character. She's a tomboy and hangs out with two guys all the time.

Reminds me of my senior year of high school. I was not a tomboy at all, but I had mostly guy friends. It was fun to see their relationships and how I was able to relate. Also I loved that romance was not the main focus of this book. And there was no insta-love or love triangles. I finished the last page of the book and was frantically looking for more pages.

I couldn't believe that it was over with a few important questions unanswered. I think the author is writing a sequel called Fireworks on the 4th. I can't wait to read it! Overall, if you're into action packed books or movies this is definitely something I'd recommend. This is a condensed version of my review. To see the extended review, a guest post, and a chance to win this book click here.

I received this book for review as part of the Reading Addiction Blog Tours. For more information, see the disclosure at the bottom of this post. I had never heard of this book before being asked to review this book for the blog tour. I looked at the cover, the synopsis, and then realized it was about teenage private investiga This is a condensed version of my review.

I looked at the cover, the synopsis, and then realized it was about teenage private investigators and so I gave it a shot. Hiatt created a compelling world with lots of intrigue. I constantly felt the wheels turning in my head as I tried to piece all the information together to figure out who was really the villain. Hiatt also created characters that I absolutely loved. Sidney was a character that I could relate to and one that I was rooting for. Cody was the best friend and maybe more if you trust Sidney's mother's take on the situation who you loved shaking your head at. The friendship between Cody and Sidney made for an enjoyable read.

I also really liked their friend Jaden, but you didn't learn a whole lot about him in this novel. From the few pages I've read of the next novel, it appears like that might change in the sequel. I've mentioned that I loved the plot, the characters, and now let's talk about the novel in terms of style and writing. Hiatt's writing was fresh and I sincerely felt like I was in the character's minds. This novel was told mostly through Sidney's mind; however, there were a few other perspectives brought up in the novel.

Her writing lent to realistic characters that I loved reading about. However, while I liked her writing style on the whole, there were some occasions where I felt like the text jumped ahead too quickly or else lagged behind. There were a few pacing issues and a few moments in the text where something caused me to momentarily disconnect with the novel or made me pause and think 'could that really happen? But those moments were few and the rest of the novel made up for these few moments.

Overall, a great start to an intriguing series. I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. May 08, Margot rated it liked it Shelves: I don't read a lot of action novels, but I enjoy reading them once in a while.

This book really was worth the time it took me to read it. I was amazed by the characters. They were great, and not some lame stereotypes. The girl, Sydney, was not very girlyl, but more of a tomboy. She definitely kicks ass! Then there was her a hot, and b great fighter bst friend Cody. He loves filming and photographing, which is why his parents kicked him our. He lives in the house of Jaden, the third, and last, one in the friend group.

Together they form a marvellous trio of teenagers that might be able to arrest some major criminals The plot of this book sounded very promising, and it was just like I expected it to be. There was only one empty spot; no t much romance. But I get it, action and romance isn't always the best combination Still, I was okay with it because of the whole story. Some teens who kick ass and save the world from criminals always are great to read about -this explains my obsession with Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider series- and I adored all characters.

It was very well-written and easy to read. However, sometimes it was just so easy to read for me. As a Dutch girl that's still learning English, I am used to having a hard time reading novels because of the use of difficult words. This book was so easy to read Maybe I'm just getting better at English. That would be great: A book I'd recommend to all teens that love books packed with action, mystery and humor.

You will not be disappointed.

Tag: * KU free series

I give this book 3 stars! May 08, JennRenee rated it really liked it Shelves: I picked this book up thinking I could use a good adventure. The cover, the title, the synopsis all lead to an adventure and I got an adventure. This book was thrilling, exciting, and full of action, mystery, and attitude.

This decision leads to them getting chased, beat up, and shot at, not to mention they solve the I picked this book up thinking I could use a good adventure. This decision leads to them getting chased, beat up, and shot at, not to mention they solve the big mystery and bring the baddies down. Sounds like so much fun. Sydney is an amazing heroine. She is very snarky, which I love, very independent, courageous, cunning, and very sneaky.

Her mother taught her well in the business and she starts off the business better than your average PI. Cody is sexy, funny, smart, and a real flirt. They make a very odd couple but their friendship works. They back and forth banter had me laughing out loud on many occasions.

Sydney and Cody are thrown into a mess of crime when their very first client walks in the door asking for surveillance detail on her step brother. In the process of staking out her target she stumbles on to some very heavy things and has to connect all the pieces. She and Cody never hesitate when it came to solving the mystery. There were events in the story that were over the top but somehow it fit. I have not read to many crime books. I am sure this will be the start of many as it was a blast to read. The story was really easy to get into. It was a fun ride and I really enjoyed reading this book.

I look forward to the next installment. Jul 19, Jenn rated it really liked it Shelves: The story was action-packed, edge-of-your seat entertainment. The story is about 18 year old Sydney and her friends Cody and Jaden. Sydney witnesses it live on TV. She decides to take over the family business, as she and Cody have been working there anyway. Sydney and Cod Gone at Zero Hundred The two are somehow connected and lead Sydney on a wild journey, constantly putting her in peril — much to the chagrin of the cop who has been a mentor and father figure.

In the end are Sydney and Cody in over their heads or can they save the day? I really liked the main character, Sydney. She is witty and easy to like. Her friend and partner Cody is a good secondary character. He is caring and seems like fun — even though he constantly has a camera to his eye trying to film crazy shots.

CR Hiatt's writing style is perfectly paced and easy to read. She really kept me guessing. I will definately be reading more by CR Hiatt and I will be recommending the book to many. May 10, Michelle rated it liked it Shelves: This was such an action packed, fast paced book that I had trouble putting it down. Sydney McSwain is a sassy and highly intelligent teenager who unfortunately witnesses the murder of her mother on live television. Sydney was a great female lead character and I thought it was so refreshing to read a book with a female lead that was self-reliant and not just totally focused on a love interest or other shallow pursuits.

I loved the short, fast chapters of this book but did sometimes feel that some parts were a little disjointed due to them being so short and rushed. I also felt that some sections were a little 'over-described' and this made me feel a bit bogged down in superficial details now and then. This wasn't very often though. Jul 04, Beth Cutwright rated it it was amazing. Who at age 18 didn't feel like they were invincible and were going to live forever? Who wouldn't feel the weight of guilt for arguing with a parent in the AM and then losing that parent the same day?

And who wouldn't take over their mother's business as a means of support when there was no other means of support? Fortunately Anna McSwain had taught both her daughter Sydney and her friend Cody Beck well in the mundane and safer issues of private investigation. They had listened and learned well a Who at age 18 didn't feel like they were invincible and were going to live forever? They had listened and learned well and were willing to takeover the business in her absence. Two eighteen year olds were well in over their heads. With one detective on the local police force as a trusted friend, they set out to do PI investigations.

Their first client however, hired them to investigate her brother, David Klein. This case was directly related to Anna McSwain's death, unbeknownst to our sleuths. There is danger, action, shootings, murder, kidnapping and human trafficing and a lot of puzzle pieces begging to be put together! I enjoyed the book immensely. Mysteries have become on of my favorite genres and CR Hiatt has become a new favorite author. I loved how she kept Sydney McSwain tough and "relentless" and yet tender hearted to feel the suffering of the trafficed year olds! Aug 15, Teresa rated it it was amazing Shelves: Syd McSwain main character was easy to empathize with.

A very likeable girl, typical teenager in some ways, and not so typical in others. She's a sort of contemporary Nancy Drew type character. The plot was good: Her mother, a PI, is gunned down during a very high profile arrest and Syd and her friends watch it live on a morning news broadcast.

It's the day Syd graduates from high school. With the help of a couple of friends, and under the watchful eye of a family friend who happens to be on th Syd McSwain main character was easy to empathize with. With the help of a couple of friends, and under the watchful eye of a family friend who happens to be on the police force, she sets about to find out who killed her mom. In the process of wrapping up her mom's cases, she runs across a file from a case her mom was working. A mystery girl mentioned in the file contacts Syd, and she agrees to meet her. It almost costs her her life.

The plot is good. But there were moments when I felt like I was watching Scary Movie--as in, don't go there alone! It's evident early on that there are dirty cops involved. The end was pretty big, and even though kind of fantastic, it did hold the action and suspense till the end. I always round up, so this gets five from me.

Jun 17, Dalene rated it liked it Shelves: I first agreed to do it because I love a good mystery and adventure. This book did deliver such a story. This book kept the pace and was a quick read. The chapters are quick and not too long, making the story fly by. The mystery and plot was developed very well. A lot is going on, but the author does tie it up nicely at the end. Sydney and Cody are the main characters. They are great friends and work well together.

Their personal interests combine very well throughout the story. Another character I did enjoy was Detective Carter. He was the comfort of the law enforcement side to the entire story. I enjoyed his character so much I hope we see him in the next book. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a great story. Plenty of action and suspense on every page. Jun 30, Alone rated it liked it. Review from Read that also Reality is not a strong point of this book. This is a read where you sit back, relax and breeze past the pages. You just have to know what next before putting it down.

The surprise elements are nicely strewn along the way and they develop wonderfully, without hindering the flow of the read. And the privileged ones. An effective techniq Review from Read that also Reality is not a strong point of this book. An effective technique in building tension.

The pace and flow of narration makes this an interesting read. There is excitement and the book manages to hold on to the tempo well. I was suspicious if the author would be able to pull of the multiple plot lines into a satisfactory ending. Well, my doubts were completely unfounded.

Ending was fit to the pace and tone of the rest of the book, with just enough set aside for a sequel. Jan 10, C. Raggio rated it really liked it. Hiatt was a fantastic read. I breezed through this in three sittings. The chapters were short, which I loved, and the pace fast.

I found myself up way past my bedtime saying, "just one more chapter, just one more chapter. Sydney McSwain is a tomboy with sass, but she has to grow up real fast on graduation day when tragedy strikes in a highly traumatic and emotional way. From there on the pace and mystery really start to pick up speed and it never slows down. Robert Pruneda's first installment in his Devil's Nightmare series is not for the squeamish. Aaron's attempts to woo her are humorous at times.

I wanted so badly for this book to be much better than it was. I read several reviews and believed the hype that it drew with its massive sales numbers on Amazon. However, I was severely disappointed. Lets start with the good: This book is essentially comprised of bad cop cliches and misguided Satan worship ideals.

I should have known when, within the first ten pages, the m I wanted so badly for this book to be much better than it was. I should have known when, within the first ten pages, the main character said "I'll be the one asking the questions" to someone how had neither asked a question nor even really spoken; that this book would not be a good one. It seems to be written with the competency of a freshman or possibly sophomore in high school. The word choice is extremely simplistic, the characters are flat cliches, the story arch exactly follows the bell curve we were all given as a "guide" for writing, the monster s are essentially useless, the settings are one dimensional and required little to no imagination whatsoever.

I found myself skimming or even skipping whole sections because of the extreme level of repetition. In all honesty, this book could have been about pages and still told the same flat story, with the same cardboard cutout characters and stand in locations, and the reader would have been no worse for it. I found myself, over the last pages or so, mentally preparing this review and realizing that I was wasting my time with this book. I impressed myself that I was able to finish it and I am very glad that I did not spend any money on this book.

If you want something that deals with demons and the occult; go read Dan Brown because honestly, you'll get a better scare out of Angels and Demons that you ever would out of this story. Mar 21, Erin rated it really liked it. I liked it a lot, good horror novel without being over the top gore. I will certainly read the next one. I found myself wondering do I go on, what is this thing? Am I ever going to know? There were a few things that tripped me up, but nothing to detract from the story too much.

It was well edited, which is a huge plus. I mentioned religious undertones, the perspective is that of the detective searching for himself in that aspect. I wont explain for fear of revealing too much. There was a great twist, which unfortunately had to be revealed a little too soon, still I liked that. And the epiloge was a perfect wrapping and tying with a bow. Wow, my heart's still beating out of my chest!

I really enjoyed reading Devil's Nightmare. I was hooked at the prologue; then it's fast pace proceeded to yank me through one heck of a scary thrill ride! This is a difficult review to write without spoilers, but what I can say is that the characters are fleshed out well, description and dialog paint the story vividly, and the mystery takes twists and turns that kept this reader guessing. I'm not a horror fiction fan; however, I'm a fan of Mr.

Prune Wow, my heart's still beating out of my chest! Pruneda's work and this occult thriller seriously kept my heart pounding every step of the way. I could easily see Devil's Nightmare being made into a film and I recommend that you read it Such a refreshing change to find a book written with the right pace and level of descriptive narrative.

I really enjoyed this book, the author add some real authenticity to the setting and detective work whilst keep the story moving at a great pace. Spooky, chilling and compelling, with a story line that makes you want to keep turning the pages. I read it in a week and really enjoyed it!! I was engrossed from page one! Robert brings it and then some!!!

Love his style of writing, it's hugely competitive with the evil Master Stephen! May 04, Greg Dill rated it it was amazing. This was a fun ride and very hard to put down. Quite a big surprise at the end. Looking forward to reading more by this author. Jan 27, Domino rated it it was amazing. This book was exciting. Could not put it down. Would recommended for faints of heart. Very good story with lots of blood and gore which puts a different spin on demons. I don't run into a pure horror novel very often. Most of the time these days you get haunted house, spooky goings-on stuff that skirts around the truly nasty stuff.

This book is good old fashioned in your face horror. Demons and devils and blood and gore and viscera flying everywhere. This book is not for the faint of heart, nor for those who are bothered by satanic themes. I think at times the author was a little too enthusiastic about the amount of nastiness he piled on, but that's a personal I don't run into a pure horror novel very often. I think at times the author was a little too enthusiastic about the amount of nastiness he piled on, but that's a personal opinion.

For me, i like the unapologetic horror of it, and also thought it was too much at times. Definitely not for everyone. Oct 11, TE rated it really liked it.

1. Things to do in while in Chengdu, China.
2. Ooooh.... It Scared Me!!
3. Inside The Mind of a Franchisor Founder - Articles and Essays - Volume IV (Lance Winslow Franchising Series Book 4)!
4. Cuando todo se derrumba: Palabras sabias para momentos difíciles (Budismo) (Spanish Edition).
5. Devil's Nightmare.
6. Tagged works.
7. Using the tag?

I decided to binge read scary books for October and boy does this one fit the bill! It starts off a little slow and is more like a police procedural at first. There was a crime no spoilers here! All heck starts breaking loose and things get crazy. There were a couple of twists I didn't see coming and I really liked the ending. For those who want to know: This one has graphic violence and I decided to binge read scary books for October and boy does this one fit the bill!

This one has graphic violence and gore, some language and occult aspects. Nov 04, Paola rated it did not like it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Let me not forget the relationship between Maria and Aaron??? It all felt so forced between them. Oct 05, Erth rated it really liked it.

See a Problem?

First time reader of this author and now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative series. The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. Riveting Monsters do really exist and it's hard to believe how it came about. Comp lex tale of carnage begun by a little boy who had no idea what demon he was c alling upon.

Devil's Nightmare (Devil's Nightmare #1) by Robert Pruneda

Thce curse was now in force. I had nightmares the first two nights, but then again, it was worth it. The book is good and I after I get some real sleep, I plan on reading the second book. I don't usually read books with mystical creatures but this book was great!

I read it in one sitting. If you like a great cop story and a little bit of romance plus a demon beast, you'll love this book! That was some sting in the tail! Phew that story was excellent,exciting,moved at fast pace the head character Aaron stumbled thru the unbelievable story,wondering if he was mad.. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Videos About This Book. He left a career in the newspaper industry in to pursue the life of a nocturnal author, brainstorming new and creative ways to creep out his readers.

He also pens the occasional family-oriented tale just to keep from going completely nuts with all those creatures of the night whispering in his ears. Other books in the series. Devil's Nightmare 2 books. Books by Robert Pruneda. Trivia About Devil's Nightmare No trivia or quizzes yet. Quotes from Devil's Nightmare. He pushed himself backward, his hands frantically splashing in puddles of muddied water. The darkness of the cemetery made it impossible to see anything more than a shadow, but Cody knew what stalked him.

He knew the evil coming. He screamed and jumped back to his feet. He ran as fast as he could on the slippery ground. Another loud crash of thunder followed a bright flash of lightning. He was so close, so close to the entrance to the cemetery, but the rain, stronger than before, hammered down upon him. He splashed through puddles of water, flinching from the sheets of rain slapping his face. He struggled to increase his speed, his tears blending in with the rain. Four bicycles lay scattered on the ground near the entrance of the cemetery.

The mud, caked onto the soles of his shoes, caused his feet to slip on the wet pedals. He peered into the dark depths of the cemetery again and found the familiar shadow creeping towards him. Whimpering again, Cody reached down to scrape the mud off with his bare hands, and then pedaled a mile to his home in the heavy rain.