The truth is deadlier than fiction.When the mysterious Mr. Smith enters romance author Madison Shaw’s life, she is thrust into danger she thought only belonged in books. Though they clash at first sight, she places her fate in his hands when unknown forces threaten her survival.Paranormal events push Madison to leave behind a world where monsters don’t exist – not even in fiction. With Mr. Smith … not even in fiction. With Mr. Smith as her guide, she discovers the truth about her destiny and the things that go bump in the night. Can she survive her new reality, or will she fall prey to the creatures lurking in the shadows?more
The Chronicler and Mr. Smith (The Madison Shaw Chronicles Book 1)
By angiemartin
Such a great story!! I was hooked from the very first page. It was captivating and suspenseful. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I’m sure I’ll never read another like it again. I was sucked in so completely and before I knew it I was finished…..completely consumed.
This could be the start of something BIG…
Move over, Stephen King. Angie Matin is my new favorite paranormal/horror writer. With The Chronicler and Mr Smith, she’s now into a new direction, one where her hero and heroine are more directly and consciously involved in the struggle against the evil that lurks around them. The Chronicler starts out as Madison, a successful and slightly resentful romance writer with an itch that won’t quit. Mr. Smith, (not his real name, of course) poses as a fan, then as a blogger seeking an interview, and then becomes an angry stalker as Madison reacts with increasing affront and sarcasm to his attempts to “save” her from the Blood Seekers…. And down the rabbit hole she goes, dragging the reader right along with her into a bewildering and terrifying new life as a Chronicler. It is her genetically predisposed fate to occupy this key position, under “Smith’s” command, though the two clash repeatedly, heatedly, and in defiant resistance to the whatever-it-is that pulls them together despite their mutual dislike. Shared dreaming, blood exchanges, betrayal, beheadings, and virus-borne death figure highly in this tale the woman who becomes the new recruit in the war against monsters. While there is ample suspense and action, plenty of gore and gruesomeness, the focus of the book, told entirely from Madison’s point of view, is the tandem evolution of her transition to a new life, and her strangely angry – yet trusting – relationship with “Mr. Smith.” Fans of horror, suspense, slow-burn romance, and the supernatural will adore this introduction to a new paranormal world and its band of defenders against darkness, and will be gratified to know that the author has more in store for both the Chronicler and her maddening Mr. Smith. Fans of fine writing will appreciate the skilled world-building, and the finely nuanced characterization. My personal preference would be for a bit more backstory on the organization of the good guys, and and the blood seekers both, but this is Ms. Martin’s story to tell and she’s done a bang-up job of it so far. I thank the good folks at BookSprout for this ARC, and it’s my pleasure to leave this voluntary, independent and uncompensated review.
I loved this book. It was my first from Angie and I could not put it down. The mystery and suspense was completely on target. The underlying romance (NON ROMANCE) is enough to keep those who want thriller romance entertained. Her characters were well thought out and the plot was fantastic.
A paranormal thriller with intriguing concepts and storyline. I was totally immersed in this story and found myself hooked from the very beginning. A definite page turner with its interesting and well developed characters and plot. If you love paranormal stories, this is one you don’t want to miss reading.
A romance author at a book signing, meets someone that will change her life. He rescues her from the blood seekers. The blood seekers try to transfer blood to control you. This is a thrilling ride to get to a new life. Faking her death to be kept safe. And then a mission to try to defeat Dark Ma
Another captivating read by Angie Martin, this book is definitely different from anything of hers I’ve read before, but in a TOTALLY good way! No spoilers in this review…The main character, Mads is an author on a book signing. She encounters an unusual fan who purports to be a blogger, but that’s not all he brings forth, he seems to show up all the time every time, and offer the most unusual ‘assistance.’ A fast-paced page-turner, sure to delight fans of ANY genre, mostly because this author CAN WRITE! This paranormal thriller is well worth taking the time to read, and you are unlikely to stop until you finish! Although I received an advanced copy for early read and review, I loved it so much I purchased my own copy, and am happy to provide my unsolicited review!
a romance author, Madison finds herself meeting a mysterious stalker type twice in two days.
Mr Smith posing as a blogger, and getting an autograph for his real life super fan cousin Garett.
Mads discovers a new universe of battles, and darkness, and light – and struggles to deal with the authorities finding her alleged body, and her parents mourning her.
Worse is liking the betrayal of someone she thought of as family, who simply wanted to curry favor with the blood seekers.
The night stalkers are guardians and defenders. The author? called to be a Chronicler, to record info, and research info fro the past.
She will face another possible ending, and a different type of possible future.
Discovering that the things that go bump in the night are real was hard. Being one of them, just might be harder.
An action adventure dystopia with a bit of romance thrown in to mess with her more than any critter trying to kill or destroy her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s been a while since I’ve read an Angie Martin book, and I’m reminded again why she is an author I will follow into any trope and any genre. Martin has a gift for making sentences sing like lyrics and bringing a story alive in vivid color. With picturesque prose as stunning as lightning, this story leaped to life and played out in front of me, holding me spellbound until the last page.
Madison Shaw is a successful romance author on a book tour in New York City. After her signing, she has several interviews lined up, the first with a blogger, Mr. Smith. Strangely, he asks no questions about her book, and he knows things about her no one else does. When her life is in peril, it’s Mr. Smith to her rescue, which immerses Mads into a world she thought only existed in movies or books. In a moment, her life is irrevocably changed, yet her calling and purpose are higher than she ever imagined.
Holy wow, this story hooked its claws in me and would not turn me loose! With riveting action, supernatural surprises and compelling mysticism, it left me breathless. I’m not nearly ready to leave these characters, and I want more! More of Mads and her settling into her new life and soaking up details and knowledge of her new world. More of Mr. Smith, who seems stoic and in charge, yet we catch glimpses of something deep under those still waters. More of Mads and Mr. Smith and their clashing and butting heads with something more clearly developing. And more of monsters, fighting evil, saving humanity and good triumphing!
This is the first book in a series, which I’m always a little leery of because I hate to be left hanging. Not to worry with this book. Although there is clearly much, much more to come, Martin wraps up the pertinent plot points, leaving the reader satisfied but eager for the next book. If you’re strictly a contemporary romance reader, which I consider myself to be, I urge you to take a chance on this one. The writing is so phenomenal that ending the book with a blooming romance and more monsters to face doesn’t disappoint, but rather, leaves me in giddy anticipation for the next book. I can’t wait for more of these 1-Click-worthy characters!
*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
This feels like a short read. The pace is right on point. Before you can get settled the author snatches your feet from under you. Just like Mads we are thrown in a world of vampire hunters, completely unawares, clueless and surprisingly calm. So much of this new world is uncertain and unexplained, but there’s no time for too many details. Thrown into a supernatural battle Mads struggles to find her place and understand all that her life has suddenly become. This author handles this immersion with tact and skill. While you are struggling to catch up you are made to feel Mads unease and fear. It’s an amazing read and while it doesn’t end in a cliff hanger you know this author is not done with you. This is a fast paced read with thrills and chills and a tease of more to come. This is my first read by this author and it was awesome!
This book is refreshingly different. Not everyone is who they seem to be. This story will have you thinking of vampires and zombies in a new light. The characters are interesting and there is a twist at the end. There were some things I thought could have used more explanation and even though there is not really a cliff hanger, there is more to be done with this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I have read a few other books by Ms. Angie Martin. Her suspen novels are always worth it to read.
In this book, we have Madison Shaw – Mads, is a Book Author. She is on a book tour for her latest book release in NYC. In the line for signatures is a strange man. Someone who Madison knows doesn’t belong in a line for romance book author book signing. This man says he is Mr. Smith, who has a book blog, and is getting the book signed for a friend of his. Madison doesn’t know what to believe. She knows he gives her a weird feeling.
Later that day, Madison is supposed to meet one on one with some bloggers for some Q & A’s. Who should be waiting on her? None other than Me. Smith. Madison knows this isn’t a blogger just by some of his questions. Madison has also had a burning itching sensation at the base of her neck about the hairline for the past few days. It is getting worse by the hour it seems. Mr. Smith hands Madison a card that is blank all except for his name and phone number. Mr. Smith advises her to call him before the burning gets much worse. Madison doesn’t know how he knows this. She doesn’t even understand what is going on, how can a complete stranger?
Later that night Madison, is confronted by Mr. Smith and told to leave the hotel room. She questions him and questions him. Why would she leave with a stranger? Mr. Smith is quite irritated with her, he is trying to save her life and she’s not cooperating with him.
Mr. Smith gets Madison finally safely in the car and on their way to safety. Madison doesn’t realize what she is now involved with. Mr. Smith is thrusting her into a new life and leaving her old one with her friends and family behind.
Will Madison be able to convert quickly to this new life? Will she be able to understand and pick up everything Mr. Smith is thrusting at her?
I did receive a free ARC book. I am freely leaving a honest review.
I really liked this. This was my kind of story. Angie never ceases to amaze me. Please continue more of this one.
“I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this .”
I love Madison’s journey into The Order and her role as Chronicler. This story is fast-paced and hard to put down. It’s full of great action scenes and dream sequences. Looking forward to more from the Complex.