Amanda McKinney

A Marriage of Lies by Amanda McKinney

Wow…Just ~ W OW ~ This is a twisty twisted tale with so many secrets and so much intrigue that I will need some time to process it, I think! Good job Ms McKinney!

What I liked:
* That it made me think and care
* I was absorbed by the characters and story as it unfolded
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing were excellent
* The characters were not easy to like but I did feel I understood them
* The characters I felt most in tune with were Rowan’s dog Benjy, her aunt Jennifer with Alzheimer’s disease, and perhaps Chris & Emma
* That Kellan never gave up on Rowan
* The twists and turns and red herrings
* How it all concluded without any loose ends still needing to be tied together
* Thinking about all of that was covered - lies, secrets, infidelity, attempted suicide, murder, twisted love, unhealthy protectiveness, mental illnesses, criminal behavior and more
* That it made me think about love and loyalty and what people are willing to do in the name of love

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that abuse and abandonment of children happens all to often and the child fostering and care systems are often insufficient and even abusive
* The pain more than one suffered at various times in the story

Did I like this story? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to the NetGalley, Storm publishing, and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars… (más)

I recently finished 'Buried Deception' by Amanda McKinney and immediately made sure I had all of the alerts set that would let me know when another book by her would be available for ARC. She proved with that book that she was going to be a favorite author of mine and this next book certainly didn't disappoint. And if I thought the first one got nitty and gritty, then this one went full-on gruesome. In the absolutely best kind of way. I also loved that Mia and Easton made appearances.

Beckett and Jo were at the center of this book and I was loving the chemistry between the two of them. Beck has had a crush on Jo for a while, so naturally, when she becomes the target of a serial killer, he is right there to help protect her. Swoon! In checking out what other people think of this book, I noticed that some feel the romance is rushed between Beck and Jo. But, personally, I'm assuming since he's been crushing on her for a while, they at least have known each other for a while even if they haven't interacted much. Plus, their friends are together. So, I really didn't feel that things were too rushed and reading about their romance was a great addition to the suspense happening. I love them as much as I love Mia and Easton and that's saying something!

A lot of red herrings pop up in this one to lead you astray. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I absolutely fell for them and I'm willing to bet many other readers will as well because Amanda McKinney is a master at the craft of red herrings! Maybe if (when) I go back and read it a second time I will pick up on different things and realize I could have figured out the guilty party sooner. But those red herrings are so good and so well done. I strongly recommend this book and I recommend that you read 'Buried Deception' as well! I'll just be sitting here waiting for the next one to come out.… (más)

Buried Deception was incredible in so many ways, starting with its characters. The way that Mia described not only her own trauma but trauma in general, was so beautiful and raw. Amanda McKinney writes with so much truth woven into her characters and story that it would be difficult not to get sucked in. Add in the mystery and the genuine intrigue of the story and you had me completely lost in the pages.
Easton was so reserved with others, I expected him to have a long and difficult road when it came to trusting Mia. But there seemed to be something about her that pulled him in and took all his defenses out. And I love when the tough guy gets deep! Especially when it's someone he's attracted to. Mia certainly smashed through all Easton's walls. He was also a natural hero. But one who didn't realize how much of a hero he was. There were some jaded feelings from his own past. But he was also naturally protective over those he felt responsible for. And Mia was most one of those people quickly. More than that, he had a firm belief in right and wrong. And no one was going to sway him. So his job as CEO of a tactical tracking company made sense. As did his past as a marine.
The fact that Mia took her own trauma and situation and turned them into a way to help others was admirable. But it was also relatable. Because so many people take what they've been through and turn it into a career of helping others. Making sure they don't go through the same types of situations. Or helping them recover once they have. It made Mia an admirable character and a very memorable one too. Because when you read a lot of novels, it can be hard to remember all the characters you've read about. But Mia is going to be one I always remember. Because she is fierce, professional, and tough. But also allowed herself to be vulnerable and open with someone else. And I think that's pretty impressive. It was also clear she was a very talented psychologist and natural profiler.
The mystery and setting of the novel were creepy as hell. A stalker in the woods is a terrifying premise, to begin with. But add in that it's happening in the foggy and naturally eerie setting of the swamplands in East Texas? Yeah, that made for a pretty terrifying mystery. But in the best way possible, because I'm a sucker for a mystery that gives me chills, and this one provided that in spades. Every moment had me getting into it deeper and deeper. You know an author has a true gift when the real world around you fades away and you find yourself completely immersed in the world they have presented to you. That's what happened with this book and it made for an even better experience. I was lost within these pages and did not want to be found.
Easton and Mia have both had traumas in their lives and while they did their best not to be affected by the case while investigating, that's easier said than done. Especially for Mia who was feeling her past blend into the situation in front of her in the present. It was understandable why Easton was concerned about things in that case. But Mia was also an extremely capable and strong character. So when the two of them teamed up, I knew there was going to be some intense sparks flying. And I was so happy to be right. Their interactions were bursting at the seams with tension. It was clear pretty much from the moment they teamed up to work on the case, that things between them were going to go way beyond professional.
This novel checked all of my boxes and then some when it comes to finding a good book. It had a beautiful romance intertwined with an intriguing and terrifying mystery. But it also had so much depth and emotion on every page. The mystery kept me riveted to the pages for the entire length of the novel and the ending was satisfying. This is listed as book one and I cannot wait for there to be more books in this series. Because I absolutely will be reading all of them. And while this is the first book by Amanda McKinney I have ever read, it most certainly is not going to be the last. She has found another fan in me and is absolutely being added to my favorite author list.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (más)

The Keeper’s Closet by Amanda McKinney
Narrative of a Mad Woman #4

Another dark, chilling, psychological thrill-ride that explores a rather warped interconnected collection of people and their interactions with one another.

What I liked:
* The setting, pace, character development, nonlinear timeline, twists and turns, and conclusion
* The way the character interactions and dynamics were presented
* That more than one character was multi-faceted and not just good or evil
* That I was immersed in the story and wanted to know what would happen next…and how it would all play out
* Having an unsettled feeling at the end of the story and wondering if the story was REALLY finished or if there might be one more chapter waiting to be written

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Some of the thoughts I had while reading and wondering what it would require to be as self-centered and hedonistic as some of the characters were

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (más)