Category: Book Reviews

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Just Get Home-Blog Tour (Review)-Thriller-Available Now

To clarify from the beginning:

If you’re looking for a thriller about the aftermath of an earthquake, filled with excitement and suspense and action, you will get that only in small doses from this book.

If you’re looking for a thriller that is a character study of how people deal with tragedy and how it affects their behavior, you’ll get much more of that.

Really, I thought this would be more about the former, but ended up being much more focused on the latter.

I have mixed feelings about all of it.

It really was an excellent analysis of how quickly society could deteriorate in the face of a major catastrophe. I felt that several of the incidents were accurately portrayed and would probably recur across the landscape of the affected area.

These descriptions were brutally detailed. I think the author wrote them in such a way to really emphasize the desperation and barbaric behavior. When civil society disappears in an instant, what happens and who survives?

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With that being said, I felt that some points were belabored a bit too much and took me away from the humanity aspect of all of it.

For example, I understand why the author wrote the characters of Beegie and Dessa with the backgrounds each had. They had pasts, secrets that they would never tell anyone in a “normal” situation.

But it’s possible that they both recognized that in each other even without actually acknowledging it.

However, there are certainly some uncomfortable parts of the book. And I’m not sure if they contributed to the overall story or were included to make socially aware observations.

Also be warned, there are a number of potentially triggering topics that are addressed in this book, including (but not limited to) sexual assault, infidelity, and racial bias. It’s a lot to take in, especially considering the harrowing post-catastrophe setting.

Honestly, I felt a little beat up myself when I finished reading this. I was emotionally drained. That’s not to say that I didn’t like the book – I thought it was fine. But at times I felt like it was all “too much.”

I would still recommend it. Just know that you’re not getting a simple post-apocalyptic action thriller – you’re getting a searing look at human nature as well.

As the blurb says, “A propulsive page-turner grounded by unforgettable characters and a deep emotional core, JUST GET HOME will strike a chord with mainstream thriller readers for its legitimately heart-pounding action scenes, and with book club audiences looking for weighty, challenging content.”

For once, that’s totally accurate.

AUTHOR BIO:

Originally from Colorado, Bridget Foley attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television. She worked as an actor and screenwriter before becoming a novelist. She now lives a fiercely creative life with her family in Boise, Idaho.

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The Silent Girl-Books On Tour (Review)-Mystery Thriller-Available Now

I thought the description of this book was intriguing and it has one of the best catch lines of any I’ve read recently.

It also ended up being totally unlike any book I have read in recent memory.

Part mystery, part mysticism, part crime equals totally enthralling.

Right from the beginning, the author puts the reader into the frame of mind of the heroine, Sophie. She has no memory of her past, and the reader discovers it with her as things slowly start to come back to her.

I thought this was extremely effective. If there had been hints that the reader knew but Sophie didn’t, I don’t think that it would have been nearly as interesting. It put Sophie and the reader on equal footing and made her more relatable.

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I liked the mysticism that went along with the “haunted house.” It contributed to Sophie’s spotty memory: were there visions of the former owner or real people who showed up? Was Sophie being guided or was it simpler than that?

I also liked how she and Nathaniel related to each other. And the whole dynamic with the people involved with both of them was real and made sense.

There is a lot of imagery (some mystical) in this book at well, which I really enjoyed. The author certainly did the necessary homework to make it believable and not “out there.”

About two-thirds through, things started to crystallize and what had happened to Sophie became clear. I thought this was also well-done. I don’t want to give anything away, because (as I mentioned at the outset) the reader really does get to take the journey along with her.

To say anymore will probably reveal spoilers. Suffice to say that this is a good mystery with current topics and a compelling narrative that had me reading late into the night to reach the resolution.

Thoroughly satisfying and highly recommended.

@KHeardBooks

Author Bio:

Kelly Heard is a novelist from Afton, Virginia. She published poetry in literary magazines before signing her debut novel, Before You Go, with Bookouture.

Kelly prefers writing to most other pastimes, but you’ll occasionally find her in the garden, hiking, or exploring antique shops.

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My Husband’s Girlfriend-Books On Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

This psych thriller had a few things going for it, but at times it almost seemed like there were two books in one.

The main thrust of the book was about Sarah and her son Ollie. Her ex, Steve, has a new girlfriend, Laura, who takes an inordinate interest in Ollie. Sarah may also have a new love interest in Joe, who has baggage of his own.

Does Laura have a past? Is she just crazy? Is there something else in play? Does Steve know everything or is she hiding things? What about Joe’s ex?

As there are more strange incidents, Sarah starts to question everything about Laura, but always with Ollie’s safety in mind.

That makes up the heart of the story, but in the middle of all of that Laura’s mom shows up. It’s pretty apparent (and not a spoiler) to say that all is not right between Laura and her mom.

But who is telling the truth?

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For the most part, everything worked well together, and I was very invested in finding out where the twists were going to head next.

Each time Sarah had a new question, and she asked Steve or Laura about it, I felt her frustration when she wasn’t taken seriously and even blown off. It was hard to tell if she was being gaslighted or not. I liked that uncertainty.

What was less successful for me was the conflict between Laura and her mother. While it did keep me guessing I thought that it could have used a bit more depth and explanation. The resolution did not seem complete to me and the explanation fell short.

I felt the same about Joe’s baggage. I don’t want to say more about it, because there were a few good twists there as well, but it also suffered from lack of depth. There wasn’t enough info for me to believe all that went on.

In spite of these two things, I still thought the book was very good and it kept me engaged until the very last pages. I would certainly recommend it.

P.S. This book had a title change from The Whisper (which I thought was a pivotal aspect and it fit) to the current title. I’ll admit I’m a bit confused about it, because it seems to put the focus on a totally different aspect of the book.

I dunno…maybe I’m missing something there. Not a big deal, just thought I’d mention it.

Website: www.sherylbrowne.com
Twitter: @SherylBrowne

Author Bio:

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taut, twisty psychological thriller. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies where she completed her MA in Creative Writing. Sheryl has also obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Forensic Science and – according to readers – she makes an excellent psychopath. Sheryl’s latest psychological thriller MY HUSBAND’S GIRLFRIEND comes to you from BOOKOUTURE. Her previous works include the DI Matthew Adams Crime Thriller series, along with contemporary fiction novels, The Rest of My Life and Learning to Love.

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Somebody Out There-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

What could have been a run-of-the-mill psych thriller is elevated by atmosphere.

I know that sounds a little convoluted, but in the case of this book, I truly felt that the location played a huge part in making this a better than average story.

It was easy to be sympathetic to the family at the center of this story. Anybody who has ever moved knows how difficult it can be to adjust to a new location.

When you move from the city to the countryside, it becomes even more difficult. There’s a different attitude, different way of thinking, and (often) the locals have a commonly-held opinion about “city people.”

(I’ve been on both ends of this stick, so it all seemed familiar).

Fortunately, I’ve never had someone actively try to terrorize me or my family as happens to Ben and Deborah.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3s6g3gZ
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I thought the author did a great job of weaving the story so that it was never quite clear if there was a personal vendetta (due to Deborah’s job) or if it was a crazy townsperson.

Some of the tactics made me cringe, as I could imagine the horror that they would produce in real life. I’m not going to give details, because they could be considered spoilers. But the tactics do get VERY personal.

As I mentioned at the beginning, the location adds to the atmosphere. It’s not that they’re totally remote because they’re close to town but going from a city to that can be jarring and put someone on the defensive.

I also think that with the Irish countryside there’s an added level of remoteness. That could be my memory of a visit decades ago, but with the history and mysticism that are connected to the land, there’s an additional level of eeriness.

The book was a page-turner and the whole plot wraps up satisfyingly. I know this review seems vague, but I really can’t share what the family goes through and how they deal with it without giving stuff away.

And I hate doing that. So, I’m just going to say that this is a good psych thriller that plays up atmosphere in a most effective way.

About Kevin Lynch:

Kevin is a Guidance Counselor by day and a thriller author during his off hours. He puts an original slant on some common experiences and creates engaging stories with a personal twist. Kevin lives in Ireland with three great kids and a wife who makes him laugh, which is really all he could ask for. 

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The Bookstore on the Beach-Blog Tour (Review)-Fiction-Available Now

A lot of books in this genre center on a family secret that is revealed once said family is all together in the same place and can hash everything out.

This book has that, but on steroids. Seriously, pretty much every character in this book has at least one secret they’re hiding from the rest of the family.

These range from run-of-the-mill teen problems to troubled pasts to international espionage.

Seriously, there’s A LOT going on in this book.

In spite of this, I think the author did an admirable job of weaving everything together into a coherent plot.

Buy links can be found underneath “About the Author”

I was most interested in the grandmother’s story because I thought that had the most depth to it. It also went the furthest to explaining her present-day actions. Although, to some it might be farfetched.

To this, I think the reason that Autumn returned to beach was more of a reach. But that’s a personal opinion (obviously). It’s not that there was anything wrong with that storyline, but it didn’t work for me. Especially the way it all plays out in the end.

I also thought the same with Taylor’s storyline. While it was engaging and contemporary, it seemed a little bit forced and a lot for her (as a character) to deal with. Just one of the issues she was facing would have been fine.

In re-reading this, it appears as if I didn’t like the book, but that’s wrong. I did. I was engaged in the family drama and definitely interested in how everything was going to work out.

I just felt a little tired by it all because there was so much going on for each of the characters.

And I really thought that the bookstore would play more of a part in the whole thing, given that it’s in the title. As it was (again, to me) it was merely the setting and had very little further function.

I may have missed it due to the details of the characters’ lives, but I wanted more about how special the bookstore was. I would recommend this book for the detailed family drama and interesting plot threads.

TWITTER: @Brenda_Novak
FB: @BrendaNovakAuthor
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About the Author: 

Brenda Novak, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, has penned over sixty novels. She is a five-time nominee for the RITA Award and has won the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Bookbuyer’s Best, and many other awards. She also runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity to raise money for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised $2.5 million. For more about Brenda, please visit www.brendanovak.com.

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Just My Luck-Blog Tour (Review)-Thriller-Available Now

I have to say that this was an odd read for me. I felt like it wanted to be a psych thriller but also a thriller…but also a family drama. It definitely kept me hooked, but I’m not sure it was for the right reasons.

To begin with, I really didn’t like any of the characters, except for Lexi (more on her in a minute). After finishing the book, I totally understand why the author wrote them all the way she did (especially Jake) but in the midst of reading, they all pretty much came across as unlikeable.

I suppose that could be chalked up to the overall theme that “money corrupts.” It certainly seemed as if Emily and Jake got more carried away than Logan and Lexi did. That could absolutely be because teenage boys need a lot less to be happy than teenage girls? I don’t know.

But the frimily (as Lexi called them) also didn’t seem to be likeable, almost to the point where I kept wondering how they had all remained friends for so long even before they fell out.

The story is primarily Lexi’s although we do get a few chapters here and there from Emily’s point of view. As such, we are supposed to (I think) feel sorry for Lexi as she stands to be the voice of reason when the rest of the family goes a little off the rails.

I have to agree with one of the other characters, though, that there were times where she came across as sanctimonious. Maybe that was (again) because the others lost their marbles a bit.

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About half-way through, the action began to pick up, with the planning of an event and lots of fall out from it. I started to feel like there was too much going on. It might have just been my frame of mind when I was reading, which was entirely possible.

It seemed that everything started to go a little gonzo and not all of the choices seemed rational to me. Again, could just be illustrative of money giving people bad judgment. There was definitely a lot of that.

Characters like Colleen and Toma had interesting roles in the bigger picture, but they kind of faded and came back into focus. There were some moments near the end where I thought one of them was going to have a much bigger part in the whole story…but they didn’t.

There were also a few things that seemed to come out of nowhere as issues were revealed and resolved. And the last couple of chapters felt hurried to me, especially with the information that they contained.

The last chapter actually raised more questions for me than answering anything. It did make me re-evaluate what I thought I understood from earlier in the story, and I even went back to read a few sections to see if I could have caught what the author was plotting.

I would recommend this book, but hold on to your hat because it really goes a bunch of different directions leading to the climax.

Author Bio: 

Adele Parks is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of twenty novels, including Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck, as well as I Invited Her In. Just My Luck is currently in development to be made into a movie. Her novels have sold 4 million copies in the UK alone, and her work has also been translated into thirty-one languages. 

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Summertime Guests-Blog Tour (Review)-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

Part commentary on relationships part mystery, this book had quite a bit going for it. It did keep me interested, even as some of the aspects fell a bit short for me.

One of the things I did like about the way the author created the plot was how each of the partnerships (Riley and Tom, Marie and Jean Paul, Gwen and Jason, Claire and ???) were at a different stage.

The author introduced each of these in the first four chapters and then the action jumped back and forth between the different couples as well as in time.

The switches in time were a little bit jarring, but if you pay attention to the date at the beginning of the story and then the dates that head each chapter, you shouldn’t have any problems.

I thought that each of the couples were interesting in their own way. I kept expecting them to weave together and meet in the middle somewhere. I guess in a way they did, but not in the manner that I expected.

It really seemed as if each of them had their own story line and then the “main event” is something that touches each of them differently.

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I did feel like the author held back pertinent parts of information for a bit too long in a couple of cases. They did make for some surprise twists, but it also felt a bit forced in a few places.

For example, I thought Jason’s background and the subsequent twists that it provided kind of came out of nowhere. It’s not that the detail wasn’t plentiful, it just seemed to escalate rather quickly.

The same with Claire. She was my least favorite character (maybe that was by design?) and even though I did feel sorry for her at times, she was an ugly enough person in her opinions that I wasn’t upset by the big reveal about her.

(And by the way, those opinions only made sense to her character when I took into account where she was from and what she did for a living. Otherwise, they seemed like cheap attempts at political points, which I really hate).

I did expect more out of Riley and Tom, but I liked the end result of their relationship. The same with Jean Paul and Marie. I think I related to Riley (she reminded me a bit of me when I was younger) and to Jean Paul and Marie as a couple now.

In fact, I think any couple who has had their fun “couple times” usurped by a kid of any age would be able to relate to them.

As I mentioned, there were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming and one plot point involving Claire was especially effective, given why she had left home for a bit. That was nicely done.

I did enjoy this book, and the author did a good job of keeping me guessing right up to the last pages. I think if you go into it expecting the different perspectives on relationships with the touch of mystery, you’ll like it too.

Twitter: @wendyfrancis4
Instagram: @wendyfrancisauthor
Facebook: @wendyfrancisauthor

Author Bio: 

Wendy Francis is a former book editor and the author of the novels The Summer Sail, The Summer of Good Intentions, Three Good Things, and Best Behavior. Her essays have appeared in Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, Yahoo Parenting, The Huffington Post, and WBUR’s Cognoscenti. A proud stepmom of two grown-up children, she lives outside Boston with her husband and eleven-year-old son.

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The Blessed Bones-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

Detective Clara Jeffries remains a standout in the “strong female law enforcement agent” genre, and her background is certainly the most unique.

This third book in the series finds Clara quickly enmeshed in another investigation which is complicated by the location and proximity to Alber.

In fact, this time there are two investigations and it’s up to Clara to determine if there is any crossover. I very much like the way this author plots the stories, because everything is organic and natural. There is no forced connection or tying into each other.

Things just happen.

Clara’s background remains a major point both in her personal life and as she addresses clues and facts of the cases.

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(For those who haven’t read any of these books yet, Clara grew up in a polygamous town, leaving after being forced into a horrible marriage. She returned in book one and is still struggling with acceptance – both of her past and dealing with the townspeople viewing her as an apostate).

She and Max (a lost boy of the town) have also progressed in their relationship, but not without struggle there as well. I like how the author keeps this real as well. They both have baggage that they are trying to work around, but it’s not always unsurmountable.

I was happy to see a bit of progress with her relationship with her family as well. It’s an important part of her character, and there were some touching moments. It will be interesting to see if Mother Ardeth comes around.

In spite of Clara helping several people in the town and some seeming to soften toward her, there remains a sore spot (no spoiler) that will definitely take centerstage in future books.

As with any crime thriller, I don’t want to give anything away about the particulars of the investigation. But I will continue to look forward to Clara’s cases and to see what happens next.

Twitter: @KathrynCasey

Author Bio:
A novelist and award-winning journalist, Kathryn Casey is the author of eleven highly acclaimed true crime books and the creator of the Sarah Armstrong mystery series. Library Journal picked THE KILLING STORM as one of the best mysteries of 2010. Her latest true crime, IN PLAIN SIGHT, investigates the Kaufman County prosecutor murders, a case that made worldwide headlines. Casey has appeared on Oprah, 20/20, the Today Show, Good Morning America, the Biography Channel, Reelz, The Travel Network, Investigation Discovery, and many other venues. Ann Rule called Casey “one of the best in the true crime genre.”

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Tell No Lies-Blog Tour (Review)-Thriller-Available Now

This book starts with a heartbreaking event and takes an interesting turn almost immediately. Pretty soon, things are happening at a rapid pace and the reader is hit from all sides. It’s a well-plotted and intricate story that frankly left me a little tired after reading it.

Not that that’s a bad thing.

The author does a good job of dealing with timely references. It’s not a spoiler to say that child trafficking, widespread environmental pollution, and corporate greed are all bound together within the plot.

Honestly, it’s in the blurb as well.

While I read this, I got the feeling that there was a bit of background that I was missing. Shame on me for not realizing that it was the second in a series.

Buy links can be found underneath the Author Information section

That didn’t dim my enthusiasm for reading, but as there are only two books, I would recommend reading in order, if only to get the full scope of the two main characters, Quinn and Costa.

Apparently, they had a bit of history, and their roles in this book complicate what is an obvious chemistry between the two of them. Again, I think reading the first book might be helpful, because it kind of felt like the author was reluctant to explore their personal relationship any further.

That could also be because there were so many layers to the events in the book. Undercovers in various places, investigations that produce side-investigations, lies upon lies…it’s a lot to keep up with. And nobody really heeds the title of the book (oh, the irony).

But it does make for a page-turning read. Just start at the first one so this one is more enjoyable, and you have a firm basis going forward.

Facebook: @AllisonBrennan
Twitter: @Allison_Brennan
Instagram: @abwrites

About the author:

ALLISON BRENNAN is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over thirty novels. She has been nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers and the Daphne du Maurier Award. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in Arizona with her husband, five kids and assorted pets.

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The Last Bookshop in London-Blog Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Coming April 6

Done right, historical fiction not only evokes the time period in question, but also makes the reader truly feel the emotions of the events in the book.

This book is highly successful at that.

Descriptive and elegant, yet also haunting and brutal at times, I felt everything Grace was feeling as she found her way in London.

Right from the beginning, with the date stamp of August 1939 London, the reader knows what the background of the story is going to be, even as Grace and her friend Viv don’t. This added a sense of foreboding as the girls’ excitement at finally being in the city was quite apparent.

I liked the opening chapters because they set the scene for what was to come while also giving the reader a good look at just how “normal” everything was.

Until it wasn’t.

It also gave me time to get to know pivotal characters before the Blitz began (no spoiler there – if you’re reading historical fiction, you should know the time period and the history). This was a very good thing, because once the bombs started dropping, there were new things to focus on.

Buy Links can be found beneath the Author Bio

I thought Grace was a strong character and I loved her development over the course of the entire book. Even her name was an excellent choice because she was often the personification of it, even in the worst of times.

I really enjoyed her journey into reading. It was smart of the author for Grace to have that epiphany because it made her actions later in the book that much more poignant and impactful.

While I loved the scenes involving the bookstore, I do have to mention the details of the Blitz. I have read several books that contain scenes from the Blitz, but I don’t remember a time that it was described so thoroughly.

I felt like I could smell the smoke, see the fires, and feel the concussions of the bombs right along with Grace. It was harrowing and emotional. I honestly needed a break after a couple of the scenes and could totally identify with Grace’s exhaustion.

As the author writes, it’s a true testament to Londoners that they survived that onslaught.

But not only did they survive it, they pulled together. Even writing this part of the review right now, I’m tearing up thinking of the last few chapters.

It was that well-done. I’m not doing it justice. But it was just so good. All of it.

This book had a great story, a lead character to root for, charming supporting characters, and accurate depictions of war, both the good and bad sides of it. All of this together made for an excellent read that I highly recommend.

And make sure to have the tissues nearby.


Facebook: madelinemartinauthor 
Twitter: @madelinemmartin
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About the Author:

Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical romance novels filled with twists and turns, adventure, steamy romance, empowered heroines and the men who are strong enough to love them. Her website is http://www.madelinemartin.com/ 

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