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Vengeful Things #1
Dead End Road
A writer, a musician, an unexpected love...and a killer who wants to destroy it all. Reclusive author Abby Delaney never dreamed she'd meet her rock-n-roll fantasy Seth Caldwell in her quaint, lakeside town…or that his love might be deadly. Seth is weary of road trips, endless parties, and dead-end relationships, but what choice does he have? Songwriting and performing are all he knows. Then he meets Abby and finally finds a heart he can’t stand to break. But forget small-town tranquility. An attempt is made on Seth’s life, and another mysterious death hits eerily close to home. Everyone’s a suspect, he’s taunted with ominous messages, and it’s only a matter of time until the killer finds his mark. What if the only way to keep Abby safe is to do the one thing she can never forgive—walk away? As the noose tightens, one thing becomes clear… If the killer isn’t found soon, Seth and Abby will take their love to the grave.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2017
67 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Lori Whitwam
5 books157 followersLori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.
She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as a full-time editor for indie authors and small publishing houses.
Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.
She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.
Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.
She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as a full-time editor for indie authors and small publishing houses.
Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.
She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.
Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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June 9, 2023💝 FREE on Amazon today (4/20/2018)!💝
July 5, 2017
This was my first time reading Lori Whitwam and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Seth and Abby first meet under less than ideal circumstances, but it doesn't take long for the acrimonious feelings to give way to something more...friendly.
Abby is the type of person who doesn't like to venture out of her comfort zone, and is notoriously famous for the lack of filter, and her inadvertent way of blurting out her thoughts without realizing she's spoken aloud.
Seth's been pretty much going through the motions for the last year or so, since the implosion of his previous relationship, but when he meets Abby, something about her calls to him on a cellular level and he finds himself drawn to her in a way he can't explain, and doesn't want to. All he knows is that he feels free when he's with her.
So you might be thinking "aww, how sweet!" And it is. Until it's not, and the trouble seemingly starts the morning after Seth stays at Abby's house. That's when the story begins to blend in the incidents alongside the blossoming romance. And for the most part, you might think you know who's behind the incidents, because that person seems like the most obvious choice. So when all was revealed, I was surprised because that's not who I was anticipating, and the reason for everything happening was definitely misdirected towards Seth; it wasn't his fault, but the perpetrator didn't agree with my assessment lol. The best part was who was responsible for helping to stop the suspect, I got a kick out that individual's role.
Seth and Abby do get their HEA, and I'm extremely curious about Marshall's story and can't wait to read it and find out exactly WHY his head is now bald!
Abby is the type of person who doesn't like to venture out of her comfort zone, and is notoriously famous for the lack of filter, and her inadvertent way of blurting out her thoughts without realizing she's spoken aloud.
Seth's been pretty much going through the motions for the last year or so, since the implosion of his previous relationship, but when he meets Abby, something about her calls to him on a cellular level and he finds himself drawn to her in a way he can't explain, and doesn't want to. All he knows is that he feels free when he's with her.
So you might be thinking "aww, how sweet!" And it is. Until it's not, and the trouble seemingly starts the morning after Seth stays at Abby's house. That's when the story begins to blend in the incidents alongside the blossoming romance. And for the most part, you might think you know who's behind the incidents, because that person seems like the most obvious choice. So when all was revealed, I was surprised because that's not who I was anticipating, and the reason for everything happening was definitely misdirected towards Seth; it wasn't his fault, but the perpetrator didn't agree with my assessment lol. The best part was who was responsible for helping to stop the suspect, I got a kick out that individual's role.
Seth and Abby do get their HEA, and I'm extremely curious about Marshall's story and can't wait to read it and find out exactly WHY his head is now bald!
July 2, 2017
This book is about a mystery writer who finds herself living in a mystery when she meets rock star Seth, the lead singer of Dead End Road. The mystery part really surprised me in the end. I simply love that in the book. What’s the point in writing a mystery when the readers figure out the game before the big reveal? Not the case with this book!
The romance part of the story was really quick. After just a few days of meeting, this conversation starts:
“I love you, Abby, and I need for you to know it, to believe it”
“How can you believe it? How could it happen so fast […]”
“I feel like I’ve always known you. I just hadn’t met you yet.”
I love that last line! It’s so perfect. Best line I have read in a long time. Plus, it perfectly explains the fast connection and fast-paced romance.
All the characters are really dynamic, and I’m sure we will see them all again soon. At least, I hope so. It’s easy and so much fun to get caught up in rock star stories. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they are some of my favorite stories.
I loved how Abby and Seth met. It was cute … after they got over. Definitely a story to tell the grandchildren one day. And Abby’s small-town gossip mongering was perfectly cliché—everyone knowing what’s going on the minute it happens. It made all the characters so endearing.
My only complaint is the formatting. I have an ARC, so I’m hoping that isn’t an issue in the published copy. It made certain parts difficult to follow because dialogues ran into each other or were a part of the same paragraph as someone else’s dialogue.
Despite that, the story was easy to follow, was a real surprise mystery, and again, I fell in love with all the characters, even the fanatic, slightly psycho Seth fans.
The romance part of the story was really quick. After just a few days of meeting, this conversation starts:
“I love you, Abby, and I need for you to know it, to believe it”
“How can you believe it? How could it happen so fast […]”
“I feel like I’ve always known you. I just hadn’t met you yet.”
I love that last line! It’s so perfect. Best line I have read in a long time. Plus, it perfectly explains the fast connection and fast-paced romance.
All the characters are really dynamic, and I’m sure we will see them all again soon. At least, I hope so. It’s easy and so much fun to get caught up in rock star stories. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they are some of my favorite stories.
I loved how Abby and Seth met. It was cute … after they got over. Definitely a story to tell the grandchildren one day. And Abby’s small-town gossip mongering was perfectly cliché—everyone knowing what’s going on the minute it happens. It made all the characters so endearing.
My only complaint is the formatting. I have an ARC, so I’m hoping that isn’t an issue in the published copy. It made certain parts difficult to follow because dialogues ran into each other or were a part of the same paragraph as someone else’s dialogue.
Despite that, the story was easy to follow, was a real surprise mystery, and again, I fell in love with all the characters, even the fanatic, slightly psycho Seth fans.
April 14, 2020
Ok, I'm splitting the difference here. I truly hated Abby (h) after the first chapter. More on that in a moment, but quite honestly, I nearly gave up right there. However, I pushed through, and after the first chapter, things got better. A lot better. So, I'm averaging it out and saying 3 stars.
The premise is good. Abby (h), a writer living in a small town, has an unexpected run-in with Seth (H), the lead singer of a band she loves. After a rocky first encounter, they (eventually) hit it off and hook up, only to find out (the hard way) that someone is trying to kill him. Both have personal baggage to overcome relationship-wise, but they've also got a killer determined to make Seth pay - but for what? Who would want him dead? And what sort of future do they have together when it's all over?
So, good premise, but then there's Abby...
Yeah, I hated her in chapter 1. Not a single redeeming quality. She's driving recklessly when we meet her (but it's ok, because 'she knows the road' and the 'local deputy has a crush on her anyway'). When her bad driving and air-headed behavior has her clipping Seth and destroying his guitar (something both rare and expensive and rather important to his job), she kinda apologizes. Rather flippantly, I thought - who leads off an apology with "I was irritated and sort of distracted" instead of "what can I do to make it up?" And then when this guy she nearly ran over gets mad, she's furious at him for being a jerk! Never thought 'hmmm maybe he had a reason to be mad at me!' She mouths off at one point that "he might harbor an actual human being under all the guitar-grieving hostility." Yet she's shown no actual human being under her own general-purpose hostility? If she's got any specific reason, she's mad about having to miss a concert because her best friend bailed on her. He's mad because she nearly ran him over and in doing so, destroyed a $4K guitar! I'd think he has reason to have a little hostility. And then we have the priceless attitude, "It wasn’t like she couldn’t understand why he was upset. She just didn’t want to let him off the hook too soon." What is she, 12? 'I'm going to make him grovel first, before I forgive him'? Add to that, that she's been bad-mouthing her friend Molly's boyfriend for 'stealing' Molly away for a weekend, superseding their BFF plans. We've been given no reason for her to dislike Craig (and we don't get any hints even until about 2/3 of the way through), but she's running her mouth off - including to her BFF - about how he's an ass. Isn't that one of the friend code things? You might not like someone's BF, but you let them lead the badmouthing? Instead, we see her badmouthing him, and as we haven't met him yet, we don't even know why? Overall, her first impression was that she was immature, airheaded, no filter, serious anger issues, selfish, and rather b*tchy. Like I said, I had to make myself keep reading, because I nearly gave up on them after Chapter 1.
She didn't improve on me much either. While she did get better (a LOT better) once we got past Chapter 1, she still had some serious issues. She really really needed some therapy after all her life events 6 years ago - deaths and divorce will leave a person like that. But she never did try to work things out, so now she's still so hung up about "being abandoned" and "being left behind." Ummm... her dad didn't ask to die. He didn't intentionally abandon her. That whole attitude screams 'unresolved grief issues.' The only person who's ever really left her behind was her ex. 34 years old and only 1 major "abandonment" in her life? I'd say she's doing pretty well, yet she doesn't see it. I was truly amazed at the 'gasp, I have non-blood family!' realization. How selfish and self-absorbed can you be? Especially in a small town! She's been BFFs with Molly since elementary school - 20+ years. She's got half the town coming out after the bomb went off to take care of her and her house on the day of the event, dropping everything to help. Yet, she doesn't see that there are lots of people who care about her? Sigh...
Moving on to other issues. For as wordy and highly descriptive as this book was, they had a lot of unprotected sex. With Seth coming from the stereotypical 'rock and roll lifestyle,' protection was never even mentioned? I was really surprised, and as a result, was half expecting the stereotypical romance novel 'miracle pregnancy.' Usually seems to follow those sorts of hookups.
Some minor editing issues. Tune vs tuning - that sort of thing.
On the plus side...
Seth (H) was an enjoyable character, though I never really saw what the attraction was to Abby. He's intrigued because she had "gone from ditzy driver to morally outraged spitfire in the blink of an eye"? If those are the first two impressions of someone, do either of those scream 'I want to know this person better,' let alone 'I want to take this person to bed'? Despite some hard-core insta-love, I enjoyed how he was really sweet when he talked with her. Songwriter's talent with words?
The suspense and mystery were good too. I read enough mysteries that I picked it up before the leads did, but it was still a good way through the book before I had all the pieces. And there were some funny moments too. I loved Abby talking about Team Mom. So, well done there. That was really what kept me reading, I think.
Favorite character? Dilbert. Who doesn't love a good canine companion?
Alternating 3rd person POV. No cheating or love triangle nonsense. OW drama from Seth's groupies. OM drama from Abby's ex. Horrible h, though not the worst I've read. She just entered the story in full-on angry b*tch mode, and never really improved for me. H was better, and I enjoyed him. Insta-love dropped the romance points for me, but I liked the mystery and suspense. HEA with no cliffhangers, but we do have some threads in the epilogue leading into Marsh's story next.
Would I read more? Maybe. Abby really did leave a horrible taste in my mouth. But once we got into the story and less in the meet-the-characters, things improved. Might be worth trying the next book in the series, especially if it's another free kindle find.
The premise is good. Abby (h), a writer living in a small town, has an unexpected run-in with Seth (H), the lead singer of a band she loves. After a rocky first encounter, they (eventually) hit it off and hook up, only to find out (the hard way) that someone is trying to kill him. Both have personal baggage to overcome relationship-wise, but they've also got a killer determined to make Seth pay - but for what? Who would want him dead? And what sort of future do they have together when it's all over?
So, good premise, but then there's Abby...
Yeah, I hated her in chapter 1. Not a single redeeming quality. She's driving recklessly when we meet her (but it's ok, because 'she knows the road' and the 'local deputy has a crush on her anyway'). When her bad driving and air-headed behavior has her clipping Seth and destroying his guitar (something both rare and expensive and rather important to his job), she kinda apologizes. Rather flippantly, I thought - who leads off an apology with "I was irritated and sort of distracted" instead of "what can I do to make it up?" And then when this guy she nearly ran over gets mad, she's furious at him for being a jerk! Never thought 'hmmm maybe he had a reason to be mad at me!' She mouths off at one point that "he might harbor an actual human being under all the guitar-grieving hostility." Yet she's shown no actual human being under her own general-purpose hostility? If she's got any specific reason, she's mad about having to miss a concert because her best friend bailed on her. He's mad because she nearly ran him over and in doing so, destroyed a $4K guitar! I'd think he has reason to have a little hostility. And then we have the priceless attitude, "It wasn’t like she couldn’t understand why he was upset. She just didn’t want to let him off the hook too soon." What is she, 12? 'I'm going to make him grovel first, before I forgive him'? Add to that, that she's been bad-mouthing her friend Molly's boyfriend for 'stealing' Molly away for a weekend, superseding their BFF plans. We've been given no reason for her to dislike Craig (and we don't get any hints even until about 2/3 of the way through), but she's running her mouth off - including to her BFF - about how he's an ass. Isn't that one of the friend code things? You might not like someone's BF, but you let them lead the badmouthing? Instead, we see her badmouthing him, and as we haven't met him yet, we don't even know why? Overall, her first impression was that she was immature, airheaded, no filter, serious anger issues, selfish, and rather b*tchy. Like I said, I had to make myself keep reading, because I nearly gave up on them after Chapter 1.
She didn't improve on me much either. While she did get better (a LOT better) once we got past Chapter 1, she still had some serious issues. She really really needed some therapy after all her life events 6 years ago - deaths and divorce will leave a person like that. But she never did try to work things out, so now she's still so hung up about "being abandoned" and "being left behind." Ummm... her dad didn't ask to die. He didn't intentionally abandon her. That whole attitude screams 'unresolved grief issues.' The only person who's ever really left her behind was her ex. 34 years old and only 1 major "abandonment" in her life? I'd say she's doing pretty well, yet she doesn't see it. I was truly amazed at the 'gasp, I have non-blood family!' realization. How selfish and self-absorbed can you be? Especially in a small town! She's been BFFs with Molly since elementary school - 20+ years. She's got half the town coming out after the bomb went off to take care of her and her house on the day of the event, dropping everything to help. Yet, she doesn't see that there are lots of people who care about her? Sigh...
Moving on to other issues. For as wordy and highly descriptive as this book was, they had a lot of unprotected sex. With Seth coming from the stereotypical 'rock and roll lifestyle,' protection was never even mentioned? I was really surprised, and as a result, was half expecting the stereotypical romance novel 'miracle pregnancy.' Usually seems to follow those sorts of hookups.
Some minor editing issues. Tune vs tuning - that sort of thing.
On the plus side...
Seth (H) was an enjoyable character, though I never really saw what the attraction was to Abby. He's intrigued because she had "gone from ditzy driver to morally outraged spitfire in the blink of an eye"? If those are the first two impressions of someone, do either of those scream 'I want to know this person better,' let alone 'I want to take this person to bed'? Despite some hard-core insta-love, I enjoyed how he was really sweet when he talked with her. Songwriter's talent with words?
The suspense and mystery were good too. I read enough mysteries that I picked it up before the leads did, but it was still a good way through the book before I had all the pieces. And there were some funny moments too. I loved Abby talking about Team Mom. So, well done there. That was really what kept me reading, I think.
Favorite character? Dilbert. Who doesn't love a good canine companion?
Alternating 3rd person POV. No cheating or love triangle nonsense. OW drama from Seth's groupies. OM drama from Abby's ex. Horrible h, though not the worst I've read. She just entered the story in full-on angry b*tch mode, and never really improved for me. H was better, and I enjoyed him. Insta-love dropped the romance points for me, but I liked the mystery and suspense. HEA with no cliffhangers, but we do have some threads in the epilogue leading into Marsh's story next.
Would I read more? Maybe. Abby really did leave a horrible taste in my mouth. But once we got into the story and less in the meet-the-characters, things improved. Might be worth trying the next book in the series, especially if it's another free kindle find.
July 5, 2017
Great Story!! Loved the intensity. Crazy whirlwind insta-love. Abby and Seth warmed my heart. they were so sweet together and the chemistry between them was electric. There was a great mystery element through the story as the gang try to figure out who is trying to take out the lead singer of Dead End Road. The inspired parallel is that the heroine is a mystery novelist, and she knows a thing or two about how to kill off people.
Throw in a few crazy fan stalkers and this makes for a really intriguing, fun, steamy mystery. I would definitely recommend an read of Dead End Road.
ARC provided for honest review by Enticing Journey Promotions
Throw in a few crazy fan stalkers and this makes for a really intriguing, fun, steamy mystery. I would definitely recommend an read of Dead End Road.
ARC provided for honest review by Enticing Journey Promotions
July 30, 2017
Great story.
This is a rockstar romance, a mystery, and a perfect book. I love the characters and the fact that Abby is an author. Seth is a mature rocker, has been around long enough to have two married band members and some common sense. They meet under unusual circumstances and the rest is a totally page turning good HEA. Need more of this group, Marshall is the last single member and his story needs to be told.
This is a rockstar romance, a mystery, and a perfect book. I love the characters and the fact that Abby is an author. Seth is a mature rocker, has been around long enough to have two married band members and some common sense. They meet under unusual circumstances and the rest is a totally page turning good HEA. Need more of this group, Marshall is the last single member and his story needs to be told.
August 1, 2017
This story had me giggling one moment and at the edge of my seat the next. It isn't often that you meet the rock star of your dreams only to have him want to strangle you - that was the funny part. Seth the rock star in this book is having to hole up in Emporia, MN after an attempt on his life - Good thing Abigail, the woman he wants to strangle is also a native of the area and the girl of his dreams. With engaging characters, a one-eyed black lab and mystery of who is trying to kill Seth this not-so-typical rock star romance is a great way to pass the time on a hot summer's day.
March 25, 2023
This was a decent story. Band visits small town and MCs (band guitar player and the author who has had a crush on him forever) get into an altercation immediately, but I guess that altercation piqued guitar dude's interest. It felt a little insta-lovey, but it was still cute. Decent suspense. I'm not going to say I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series, but I'm not seeking it out at this point.
January 12, 2023
cujo
Abby and Seth meet under a disastrous situation. Seth is in a band, Abby is a mystery writer where they meet in a small town. Someone want Seth dead. The story goes on with finding the killer along with a happily ever after. An enjoyable read.
Abby and Seth meet under a disastrous situation. Seth is in a band, Abby is a mystery writer where they meet in a small town. Someone want Seth dead. The story goes on with finding the killer along with a happily ever after. An enjoyable read.
August 12, 2025
Dead End Road
Really enjoyed reading this very good and well written book. I highly recommend reading it as you won't be sorry you did. Looking forward to reading more by Lori Whitwam.
Really enjoyed reading this very good and well written book. I highly recommend reading it as you won't be sorry you did. Looking forward to reading more by Lori Whitwam.
July 5, 2017
Dead End Road is an intriguing story that is filled with suspense and a beautiful love story. You really have to pay attention in this book so that you don't miss anything and I enjoy that you did not know what was going to happen until it was revealed.
Abby is a mystery writer that is secluded in life...she has no filter and say what she means. I loved that part about her she is who she is. Seth is a rockstar with a great heart, he didn't come off arrogant and it was refreshing. They have an instant attraction but it wasn't over the top it felt real and honest. Their love story is fast moving but fill with twist and turns in the plot that keeps the story moving.
Great Love Story!
Abby is a mystery writer that is secluded in life...she has no filter and say what she means. I loved that part about her she is who she is. Seth is a rockstar with a great heart, he didn't come off arrogant and it was refreshing. They have an instant attraction but it wasn't over the top it felt real and honest. Their love story is fast moving but fill with twist and turns in the plot that keeps the story moving.
Great Love Story!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews