Month: February 2020

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Blog Tour w/Review: Toxic Deception by K.C. Gillis

You probably could not pick a more timely subject than disease control and the reach of big pharma. With the coronavirus in the daily news and reports of the efforts to combat the spread of it, a medical thriller with those themes should be a no-brainer.

Toxic Deception has the premise locked in, and the parts of the novel that deal specifically with the spread of infectious diseases and the control that pharmaceutical companies exert are well-done. There is a lot of detail to be found from both the medical and business points of view, and this is where the novel is at its most interesting.

However, when the story follows the reporter who is investigating the latest possible subterfuge (due to an obituary taped on her door by an anonymous person), it becomes less exciting and more tedious.  

I did not think that Jordan was a likable character, and that’s tough when the main character turns a reader off. I felt that every time the narrative came from her point of view, it became about her. I would have preferred that there was more focus on her investigation.

I know that part of this stems from early in the book when Jordan opines that “the current presidential administration” releases a “constant stream of lies and misdirection….” The author tries to explain it away by also having Jordan hate all politicians, but the intent of the specifics are pretty clear.

I have said several times that commentary like this turns me off. If it is of no benefit to the plot or character development, it has no place in a fictional story. That being said, Jordan’s attitude is pretty crappy about a lot of things. She has obvious disdain for anyone who doesn’t help her, she apparently does not like anyone over 50 in the workforce, and all in all, she seemed way out of her league with this investigation. She was not a character I could get behind and root for success.

And that’s a shame because, as I mentioned at the top, the basic plot is timely and real. As I have written this review, there have been no fewer than six news reports covering different aspects of the coronavirus contagion. Coupled with the conspiracy theories regarding whether or not it is a bioweapon that was accidentally released, the time is ripe for this book. Too bad the main character wrecked it for me.

AUTHOR BIO

K.C. (Kevin) Gillis is the author of the Jordan Reed mystery series. Despite being a lifelong lover of stories and books, writing took a distant back seat as his professional career travelled through the Canadian Air Force, a decade as a chemist, followed by a long and continuing run in corporate America. With writing no longer in the back seat (but not quite yet in the front seat), Kevin has the initial novels (plus one novella) in the Jordan Reed series well under way. His personal interests focus on endurance and water sports, and obviously a lot of reading!. Having grown up in the Canadian Maritimes, he now lives in the US northeast.

He can be found online at www.kcgillis.com. You can connect with Kevin on Twitter at @kcgilliswriter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcgilliswriter and you can email him directly at kevin@kcgillis.com.

Information on all of his books can be found at kcgillis.com.

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Book Review: Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald

I like all kinds of books. Sometimes I prefer a story that follows multiple perspectives to get a full understanding of the events (ie, clues from an investigation that other characters aren’t aware of). Other times I like unraveling the plot right along with the main character. The latter is how Behind Every Lie is written, and it is excellent.

Told mostly from Eva’s perspective, I enjoyed taking her journey alongside her. It gave me a real feel for what she was experiencing, which gave me a greater appreciation of her story (and backstory). I also liked how there were chapters interspersed from Kat’s point of view. They were well-placed, and that part of the story unfolded in such a way that made the contemporary timeline even more fascinating.

What I enjoyed most, however, was Eva learning about kintsugi (a style of Japanese pottery). The concept itself is lovely: cracks are filled with gold to highlight damages instead of trying to hide it. I’ve seen this in real life, and the effect is stunning.

But what made it especially touching in this book, is how the concept applied to Eva’s own life. I loved the parallels between her past, recent events, and how she tried to move forward (filling in the cracks to become whole). This was exceptionally well-done and elevated the novel from good to something deeper and more unique.

I can’t stress enough how important this message is. People are so quick to cover flaws or hide behind lies (as in this book). In reality, it’s the scars and imperfections that make us who we are and embracing the events that created them enable us to grow.

The whole story is excellent with a few twists that I did not see coming (but I few that I did). All in all, I would highly recommend this page-turner.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Going Rogue by Neil Lancaster

Holy heck, what an action-packed page-turner this one was!

From the opening scene, I could tell that this was a book that was going to pull no punches both in terms of subject matter and general action, and I was right. It did not let up from beginning to end.

I liked how the author wove different plotlines into a cohesive story. Every event fed into the greater narrative and made sense. The story seemed entirely plausible, especially in today’s world of political turmoil and shifting alliances.

I thought that the characters were well-developed also. I had a difficult time keeping everyone straight at first because there were a lot of players. Novak is a hero to get behind, even as he skirts the limits of legal and moral boundaries. I found that to be one of his most realistic traits because real life (especially in the situation he found himself in) sometimes requires ambiguity for survival.

The descriptions of post-event analysis, risk assessments, and other law-enforcement/military actions were accurate and well-described. I appreciate it when an author shows knowledge in an area beyond the “oh, this would be interesting, I’ll do a Google search” mentions. It was clear to me that this author knows his stuff and knows it well.

The timeliness of subject matter may be touchy for some people, and I did feel that there were a few times that the author veered into more opinionated territory that was not warranted by the plot (case in point: Muslims are not a race, they belong to a religion, so while starting a “race war” with Muslims is a prevalent talking point in some countries real life, it is not factual). Fortunately, moments like this were few and far between.

Going Rogue is the second in the Tom Novak series. While it is not necessary to have read the first one to understand and enjoy this one, there are a few returning characters and references to events from the previous book. I would recommend picking up Going Dark first if only to get in on Novak’s story from the very beginning.

About Neil Lancaster:

Neil was born in Liverpool in the 1960s. He recently left the Metropolitan Police where he served for over twenty-five years, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond.

Neil acted as a surveillance and covert policing specialist, using all types of techniques to arrest and prosecute drug dealers, human traffickers, fraudsters, and murderers. During his career, he successfully prosecuted several wealthy and corrupt members of the legal profession who were involved in organised immigration crime. These prosecutions led to jail sentences, multi-million pound asset confiscations and disbarments.

Since retiring from the Metropolitan Police, Neil has relocated to the Scottish Highlands with his wife and son, where he mixes freelance investigations with writing.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Orphan’s Daughter by Sandy Taylor

A beautifully written story that packs an emotional punch, The Orphan’s Daughter just rocketed to the top of my favorites list. Set in 1920s rural Ireland, it is filled with rich detail and memorable characters. The author made everything (down to inanimate objects) come alive (more on that in a bit).

Amazon: http://bit.ly/2RTpHo1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/36YeVS1
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2vLhycR
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2tstj7e

One of the strengths of this book was the way the author circled back around to moments or thoughts. For example, the book starts with Nora and her friend Kitty grading a funeral. Their doing so illustrates the innocence of youth. Later in the book, when there is a personal loss, Nora realizes how much they did not consider the feelings of the mourners. The book is filled with moments like this, which showed real character growth.

Nora is a character one can naturally root for because she is just a good person. I enjoyed Nora’s interactions with people. I especially liked the exchanges with Kitty when Nora used a big word (“Grandad Doyle?” “The very man.”) That was a little detail, but it illustrated the closeness of the girls and the respect that Nora had for her grandfather (which arguably set her at least partially on her path mid-way through the book).

As to those inanimate objects coming to life? Seemingly innocuous items (a wall, a chair, a dress) have an impact on Nora’s life as much as a person might. While the objects can’t show emotion, they can undoubtedly evoke it. This is another aspect that I thought the author did very well. In a like manner, the town of Ballybun was a character in its own right. The author did a phenomenal job of describing rural Ireland so that the reader got a full picture of the town and its people.

There is real emotion throughout the book as well, and the author does a spectacular job of conveying the highs and lows as Nora experiences them. Her joy and sadness, her sense of wonder at finding something amazing, and her confusion when she can’t sort out her emotions are all detailed and completely natural within Nora’s personality.

Ultimately, the story is about love, loss, and the sacrifices that one makes. The tag line calls it “heartbreaking and unforgettable,” and both are true. I cried more than a few times (which rarely happens to me), and there were moments of beauty that will stay with me for quite a while. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up today.

Author Bio

Sandy Taylor grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist. 

@SandyTaylorAuth
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Blog Tour w/Review: The Southern Belles by Katie Simpkins

Based on the description, I thought this book had an interesting concept. Not to mention that I have read a lot of crime and psych thrillers lately, so a novel about three sisters whose fates change and who have to figure out new lives sounded appealing.

While the premise remained interesting, the book as a whole did not live up to my expectations. I liked the set-up (a sick girl asks her grandmother to read her a story). It reminded me of The Princess Bride (one of my all-time favorites).

I also liked how each of the sisters had a distinct personality as well, with Livvy as the dreamer, Georgie as the fighter, and Evey as the practical one. These fit the stereotypes of where kids often fall in age-order (youngest to oldest). I thought the author did an admirable job of creating events in each girl’s life that illustrated their character traits.

In addition, I appreciated how each of the girls found their path in life and how each path differed, but how they all realized that money wasn’t everything. That was a good lesson that was well-illustrated.

However, there were times when I felt like the author did not know where to go with the story. The action flipped back and forth between each of the girls multiple times, making it sometimes challenging to keep up with who the focus was on at the time.

Some extra characters and events seemed to have no purpose other than to stretch the story. I understand that there had to be conflict along the way, but some things muddied the plot and were unnecessary to the general development.

The other thing that struck me right from the beginning was poor grammar in a few parts. It almost seemed as if an editor missed parts of the manuscript. For example, there was one section at the beginning written in the past perfect tense, which led to multiple uses of the word “had.” It was awkward and clunky…and the English teacher in me was dying inside.

There was a unique twist at the end that I guessed early on. But there were a lot of uneven parts which made it difficult for me to get through smoothly. Better editing and some tightening of the plot would improve this story significantly. As a whole, the book was just okay.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb

Excited to be a part of Harlequin’s February 2020 Blog Tours. Today I have a review of a book from Harlequin Intrigue.

After a long stretch of psychological thrillers and police procedurals, I was looking for a brain break. I found it in this book.

You can read the synopsis in the blurbs, and what you see is what you get. There is no in-depth character study, no hidden secrets, or mind-boggling twists. It’s a straightforward plot with action and romance.

I enjoyed the story, but I will say that this book is part of a series, and I got the distinct feeling that I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the others first.

That’s not to say that it was unreadable as a standalone, because it certainly was. The plot was fully developed from beginning to end. But there were a lot of references to past events that obviously occurred in other books. So, I think reading those first would have led to a deeper understanding of the events in this book.

I did like the set-up, because really, who doesn’t love a damsel in distress/old flame as protector story? And I thought that the chemistry between Ali and Jax was tangible and realistic which made it easier to root for them. All in all, this was exactly what I needed when I needed it. It is a good book and a quick read. Just know that if you want to have a more in-depth read, find the first books in the series.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid

If you read enough psychological thrillers, you get to a point where you can sometimes guess where a book is going. That’s no fault of an author – it’s just that you become able to catch some signs or hints of a character’s motivations.

That’s not the case with Truth Hurts by Rebecca Reid. While I was able to guess a few things, the overall plot kept me turning pages because I truly had no idea how everything was going to work out. And that’s just one of the things I enjoyed in this book.

The author laid the groundwork for Poppy’s character (with flaws and assets) right from the start which stayed the same throughout the book. That consistency added to the feeling of unease in later chapters. Poppy’s backstory is old in intermittent chapters simply labeled “Before.” I liked how there was no real timeframe given; the ambiguity added to later events as well.

As I have mentioned before, it is difficult to write reviews about psychological thrillers because I am not someone who gives away plot points, and in a well-written book (like this one) even the littlest mention of something could ruin it for another reader.

I will say, however, that I loved the author’s cleverness in having Poppy read Jane Eyre because that same vibe was prevalent for two-thirds of the book. There was a gothic feel (obviously intentional) which made Poppy’s suspicions seem more probable and kept me waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.  

I did feel that there were some unanswered questions and a couple of loose ends that I would have liked to have seen resolved, but I did not see the end coming; it was a total jaw-dropper. Another psych thriller that you should take a look at, especially if you like claustrophobic, gothic novels.

AUTHOR BIO

Rebecca is the Digital Editor of Grazia. She has written for Marie Claire, the Guardian, the Saturday Telegraph, the Independent, Stylist, Glamour, the iPaper, the Guardian, Indy100, LOOK and the New Statesmen amongst others.

Rebecca is a regular contributor to Sky News and ITV’s This Morning as well as appearing on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, LBC, BBC News 24 and the BBC World Service to discuss her work. 

She graduated from Royal Holloway’s Creative Writing MA in 2015 and Perfect Liars was her debut novel. 

Rebecca lives in North London with her husband.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaCNReid
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccacnreid/
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Books On Tour (Review): The Leaving Party by Lesley Sanderson

I am a fan of claustrophobic movies (The Shining and Misery are two of my favorites). I have always found books a little bit more challenging to get into (the irony is not lost on me that the two movies above were books first). It is difficult to maintain interest when the action all has to take place in one location. The author needs to be very creative with the atmosphere.

I am happy to report that The Leaving Party does an excellent job of this. Not only is the claustrophobic feeling achieved (everything takes place in a house), but the author goes a step further and juxtaposes the tension of the story with a going-away party.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3aNeZXO
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2RuDpxD
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2O0iVdQ
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3aVn390

I liked how the author started with a murky prologue. Was it an event in the past, or something yet to come? How does it tie into the story? I had to go back and re-read the prologue a few times during the book to try to figure it out.

The story is told from alternating points of view between Ava and Lena, with the events of a past party interspersed. The action flows smoothly, and the switches are always natural; I never felt jolted out of the narrative.

I thought that the author’s exploration of friendship and the lengths people will go to for each other was especially fascinating. How can a person tell when a friendship crosses the line? Can friends always be trusted, even to the detriment of family relations?

What I appreciated most, however, was how the author threw in a few red herrings. I take notes when I read, and in looking over them to write this review, I noticed that I had at least four different solutions to a plot point affecting Ava. I changed my mind at least that many times depending on the details the author provided. I liked that I was kept off-balance.

I do think that there were a few things that could have used more depth, but overall it was a tightly written novel with tension and a few “that did NOT just happen” moments. I would certainly recommend it.

AUTHOR BIO

Lesley spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and also works as a librarian in a multicultural school. She has lived and worked in Paris and speaks four languages. She attended the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize. Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has since been hooked on psychological thrillers. She is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.

www.lesleysanderson.com
https://www.facebook.com/lsandersonbooks/
https://www.instagram.com/lesleysandersonauthor/
https://twitter.com/lsandersonbooks
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