In the Prologue of this scary novel we are witness to an accidental death and a horrific murder that gives me the creeps just to remember it. Obviously the murderer in this story is obsessed with something and not real attached to reality.

The tale continues more than 20 years later with another killing that seems totally unrelated except for the way it's done. A young man is the victim, killed while using a pay phone to talk to the girlfriend he regrets breaking up with. He of course doesn't show up to see her but she refuses to believe he has run off. Her best friend, a beautiful neighbor who cares more about sexy clothes and expensive gifts than her friend's missing boyfriend, tries to talk her into dating a shrink but he keeps standing her up. She isn't interested anyway.

Throughout the book I was relieved that the main character has a Doberman named Zeus who is of course protective of her. Most of the time she doesn't believe she's in danger and I kept talking to her (out loud) about her lack of brains. She's a college student and yet she acts too bubble-headed to be real to me.

There are several candidates for the title of creepy bad guy here and actually I dismissed him as fairly harmless but the big clue was staring me right in the face. Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to call someone else bubble-headed, eh?

I have a hard time coming to a decision about Prey of Desire. I suppose the modus operandi here is clever for a mystery writer but I struggled with it, still do actually. I've already mentioned my difficulty with the main character too but on the other hand if she hadn't acted as she did, there wouldn't be much of a story to tell.

Recommended with caveat about method of murders
Source: Partners in Crime Book Tours ( )

In Prey of Desire, author JC Gatlin weaves a riveting psychological thriller that keeps the reader sitting on the edge of their seat while turning the pages in anticipation of what would happen next. This intriguing page turner of a story transports the reader back twenty-five years to an unsolved mystery surrounding the disappearance and murder of two high school students, then fast forwards to the present questioning could this old mystery have a connection to a series of murders that are happening now?

This action packed story has fascinating characters, enough mystery interspersed with clues, and suspenseful twists and turns that easily draws the reader in, keeps them guessing, and holds them captive until the surprising conclusion. You can't help but get immersed in the mystery, it challenges the reader to try to figure out the motive and who the murderer is, while providing an intense and tension building storyline that is full of drama, dark humor, thrills and chills that will make it hard to put the book down. If you are a fan of exhilarating mystery / suspense / thrillers that makes you hold your breath, then this is definitely the book for you!

Prey of Desire is one hell of a gripping whodunit that is guaranteed to keep the reader on their toes.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/10/prey-of-desire-by-jc-gatlin-au... ( )

Kim Bradford‘s boyfriend, Ross, broke up with her. Or did she break up with him? But it wasn’t the first time they’d broken up over some silly lover’s quarrel, so after three weeks, four days and 16 hours (but who’s counting), she was thinking that Ross would contact her any moment. Until then, she was going to live her life and go out with whoever she wanted. She went with her friend Mallory and her boyfriend, Addison, to meet a blind date December 31, 1999 at a fabulous New Year’s Eve party. Then murders begin and she receives things – a poetry book, strange notes and yet stranger calls. She keeps thinking they are from Ross trying to contact her — trying to apologize. She has no idea that something from twenty-five years ago has resurfaced and she is right in the center of it.

This was a really good mystery. I was actually pretty thrown by who the ‘bad guy’ was. In many ways, this felt like a cozy, but it is more graphic than most cozies. A couple of pieces didn’t entirely mesh for me. For example, while at the New Year’s Eve celebration, Addison had disappeared for a time. When Kim saw him later at the party, he appeared ‘frantic and upset.’ It never came to anything, so it felt like a loose end. I rated Prey of Desire at 3 out of 5.

http://www.fictionzeal.com/virtual-book-tour-prey-desire-j-c-gatlin/ ( )

"Prey of Desire" is a thriller that is exciting from the start. A few pages into the novel we observe a gruesome murder. Our curiosity is aroused. Why was this person killed in such a gruesome manner? What happened to the killer afterwards?

Twenty-five years later we follow the action of college co-ed Kimberly. She had just broken up with her fiance and her friend Malory is attempting to set her up with someone and to go on with her life.

Reluctantly, Kim agrees to a date but is stood up. Later, she is persuaded to attend a New Year's Eve party where something major happens.

Not to give away the plot, I was entertained by this suspenseful, fast moving novel. There are a number of surprises and it is easy for the reader to empathise with Kimberly.

I received a copy of this book in return for honest review. ( )

I was given a copy of “Prey of Desire” by author J. C. Gatlin to review in exchange for an honest review. Also, I’m participating in a virtual book tour hosted by My Addiction is Reading. I was excited about reading this book simply for the fact it’s classified as a horror novel. I had been reading a lot of romance books lately and this was just what I needed.

*****

In “Prey of Desire” we are transported to May 24, 1974, in Black Moon Forest. Brian Williams, a popular senior and son of the wealthy state governor, is out for a late night swim with his girlfriend Bonnie. Somehow she accidentally drowns and in a state of panic, Brian carries her lifeless body to her father’s home. Her father and Brian carry her into the kitchen and place her on the table. Instead of calling the police, her father takes a spike awl and stabs Brian in the eye, killing him.

Then the final thing we hear being said by her father is, “Oh, Bonnie. If you forget me, there’s something I want you to know…”

Next thing we have advanced 25 years later. It’s December 31, 1999. Ross McGuire and his girlfriend Kimberly Bradford have had an argument and he’s dumped her off on the side of the road. Their engagement is now off. He had decided that it’s time to get on with his life. Only problem is, that he is still in love with her. They have broken up multiple times over stupid stuff and this was just another one.

Pulling into the Flying J, he parks his Camero and heads to the phone booth. With the engagement ring in hand, he debates even calling Kim and apologizing and making up. It’s when he calls and she answers the phone that all hell breaks loose. A hand has grabbed him around the throat, then a sharp pain hits him the eye and pierces his brain, killing him instantly.

The man who just murdered him picks up the receiver and listens to Kim on the other end. Having also picked up the engagement ring, he whispers into the receiver, “Oh, Kimberley. If you forget me, there’s something I want you to know…”

Kim knows that this is Ross calling to make up. It had been three weeks, four days and sixteen hours since they broke off their engagement. She has tried to move on with her life, but all she can think of is Ross. Even her best friend Mallory has tried to get her mind off him. They are supposed to be headed to a New Year’s Eve party at the Congressman’s estate.

Her dress is ruined by an exploding garbage disposal. She is hoping that her friend Mallory, by the way is also her neighbor, has something dashing to wear. Trying to get herself out of going, she isn’t able to convince Mallory that she’s just going to stay home. Addison, Mallory’s much older boyfriend, has set her up on a blind date with a doctor.

Arriving at the part late, Kim, meets the Congressman. His estate is the Black Moon Manor. His older brother had been murdered on this property 25 years ago. So people already feel the creepiness that encompasses the estate. Entering the mansion, Kim is blown away with how spectacular it all is. It’s when Addison informs her that her date won’t be attending due to a medical emergency, Kim decides to make the best of the situation and wander the house. It’s when she bumps into the dashing host, Congressman William Dietz, that Kim is smitten.

It’s when a letter is mysteriously handed to her that she starts to sense someone is watching her. Opening the letter it states, “If you forget me, there’s something I want you to know.” Believing its Ross, Kim is just beside herself with the thought of the two reconciling. Only problem is, she can’t spot Ross at the party. The waiter can’t describe the man who handed off the letter.

Time starts to progress and Kim starts seeing more and more mysterious events taking place in her life. The Congressman has been brutally murdered. He was stabbed in the eye and his body found inside his refrigerator. She has a kid in her English class following her. A book of poems has been found in her college books with the name Bonnie on the inside. Mysterious phone calls are occurring more and more frequently to her house. Plus, she always feels that someone is watching her.

It’s when the body of Ross is discovered that everything starts to escalate and Kim is trying to sort out what is actually going on in her life. Is someone stalking her? Why are people that she knows starting to show up murdered? Who is calling her house? Will she ever be able to get peace and find happiness?

*****

As I previously stated, I did enjoy this book. With it being outside the genre that I had been stuck in for a couple of months, it was nice to read something gory. I found that the book captured my attention from the start. The story moved fast, but was very easy to keep up with all that was going on.

I only had issues with how the book ended. I found that the ending was rushed. It was as if the murderer was exposed, then BAM, just over. I would had really liked to have learned more of how it all became focused around Kim. I was left with a lot of unanswered questions.

Other than this part, I did enjoy this twisted and sick story. ( )