Category: Book Reviews

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The French House-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Available Now

Filled with lush descriptions, memorable characters, and vivid events, this historical fiction novel about the world-renowned vineyards of France is not to be missed.

You don’t have to be a wine aficionado to understand the nuances of the plot. Anyone who even pays half attention to wine or celebration will recognize the names of Moet and Cliquot right from the start.

(But just in case, those are two of the most famous brands of champagne available to this day).

Set in the late-1700s to 1800s, the story follows Nicole, the headstrong daughter of a vineyard owner in Reims, France. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that she becomes (shall we say) extremely involved in the wine-making process.

Her journey to get there, however, is not without heartache and lots of troubles.

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In fact, from the very beginning in the prologue, the author does a fantastic job of melding fictional and non-fictional events and characters into a seamless, compelling, and emotional narrative.

It actually took me a bit longer to read this book than it normally would because I kept stopping to verify who was a real historical figure and who wasn’t. Some were obvious, some less so.

I liked the message of resilience that was woven through the story. It applied not only to Nicole’s situation, but to the grapes themselves. It’s hard to explain, but it worked for me because I saw the vineyards as an extension of her.

I don’t know if that’s what the author intended, but it’s how I read it.

I also particularly liked Natasha. I’ve mentioned how a Russian history class doomed my History major in college, but I remain fascinated with the historical aspect of the culture and people. I’d never given much thought to Russians living in France, or how they would have been impacted by the Napoleonic Wars.

As I have said before, I love learning new things from historical fiction novels. In this case, not only did I learn more about the above-mentioned national ties, but also more about winemaking in general. Fascinating stuff to me.

I was utterly charmed by this novel. Frankly, it was a nice break from WWII (which makes up much of my historical fiction reading). The author’s research was informative, and her writing talent made the vineyards of France come alive. I can’t wait to read more from her.

NOTE: This book was originally titled The Champagne Widow, so you might still find it listed as such on some sites.

FACEBOOK: hfrippauthor
TWITTER: @helenfripp

Author Bio:

Helen loves historical fiction, and in her writing, she’s fascinated by the women throughout history who have made their mark against all the odds. She finds researching the architecture, art and customs of the time really inspirational, and the tiniest detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. Her female characters rail against the social constraints to which they are subject and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of her characters that she loves to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops – and she will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for her next story.

Her first novel is set in the Champagne region in France, and she is currently working on her next one, set in late eighteenth-century Paris. She spent a lot of time in France as a child, has lived in Paris and spent a year with her family in a fishing village in South West France, so that’s where her books have ended up being set so far. Who knows where next!

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Bright Burning Stars-Blog Tour (Review)-Fiction-Available Now

I was predisposed to be extremely interested in this book. Why?

I did ballet from ages 3-17. If I wasn’t in my own class or rehearsal I was helping with younger classes. I was, it’s fair to say, obsessed.

One of my favorite book series is Maggie Adams, by Karen Strickler Dean. It’s a familiar world, and the events and characters were easily identifiable.

One of my favorite movies to this day is “Center Stage.” Again, characters and situations that are all very familiar. And I remember “The Turning Point” having an impact on me.

I also grew up during an exciting time for American ballet – Baryshnikov was king, I watched Gelsey Kirkland’s Nutcracker year-round, we had season tickets to the San Francisco Ballet, and I was one of 50 dancers chosen in the state of California to attend a summer intensive ballet-school.

In short, I ate, breathed, and lived ballet for a long time. It was central to my growing up. So, I was definitely not going to miss this book.

For a story aimed at young adults, the author hits all of the right notes. She covers the competitiveness, the sense (or lack thereof) of self-worth, the insecurities, and the exhilaration of a well-done performance beautifully.

She also captures the male dancer lothario type perfectly. They’re everywhere in studios and companies. Kudos for the accuracy there.

I can’t say that Kate and Marine’s trajectory was surprising. It was, in fact, reminiscent of some of the fiction that I mentioned above. But I think that’s a good thing, because what happened to them is prevalent throughout the industry.

I really appreciated the attention given to the lengths that the girls would go to so they could maintain their ballet bodies and their ranks on “The Boards.” I remember being a younger dancer, watching the older girls in the company take their breaks, subsisting on cigarettes and black coffee.

Readers not familiar with ballet terminology may have a hard time with some of the scenes, because the author is very accurate with the steps and phrases. I’ll admit, it was strange to see them in writing – I’m very used to hearing them and not seeing them. I found myself muttering the phrase so I could picture what the step was.

Actually, that was kinda the fun part.

Anyway, I think it was a well-written book for anyone, young or old, who has a vested or passing interest in ballet. For parents of hopefuls, it will be an eye-opener to the potential pitfalls.

For me, it was nice to reminisce about my youth for a few hours, as messed up as some of the ballet parts were.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A. K. Small was born in Paris, France. At five years old, she began studying classical dance with the legendary Max Bozzoni, then later with Daniel Franck and Monique Arabian at the famous Académie Chaptal. At thirteen, she moved to the United States, where she danced with the Pacific Northwest Ballet for one summer and with the Richmond Ballet Student Company for several years. She’s a graduate of the College of William and Mary and has an MFA in fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her husband, her puppy, and her three daughters, and practices yoga. Bright Burning Stars is her first novel.

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The Pretty One-Books On Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

This book went in completely different directions than I thought it was going to go. Frankly, even though I enjoyed the whole thing, it left me a little confused.

From the very beginning, I could tell that there was going to be an emphasis on the psychological aspect between Bay and Nell. A situation like theirs is the stuff that psych thrillers are made from.

Add in that they are both teenagers and it multiplies the interest (in my opinion).

As I read further, I could tell that Bay would be the lynchpin in all of it, but I became less certain about who the other part of the equation would be. Would it still be Nell? Anna, the stepmother? Iris, the younger stepsister? Or Dom, the dad who walked out on Bay?

I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say that nobody is really left untouched in this story.

That being said, there is also more to it than just blended family drama. The author relays a searing account of the modeling industry (which, from what I know is pretty accurate). These were extremely interesting passages.

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Less successful were the sections about Anna’s marriage and a past love. I felt like these were thrown in as justification for Anna to not see the bigger picture of what was going on with Bay. But they didn’t all work for me.

There were also parts that seemed to drag for a long time. I know that the author was building the tension and that was mostly successful. But there were times that I wish the action would have kicked in a little bit sooner.

The last third of the book really went fast though. Everything came to a head and each character’s motivations became clear. I did think that the extent of a few things were staggering and would have liked a few more hints to them early on.

But the flashback to when Bay and Nell were younger were well-done and laid enough groundwork for the bigger revelations to be plausible.

It all did seem to wrap up rather quickly – almost as if the author decided it just needed to be finished. The prologue served as a “here’s what happened,” when I would have liked a little bit more of that to be action.

But no matter, it was still an enjoyable book. It certainly kept me guessing as to the extent of the psychological games, and I definitely didn’t guess the ultimate reveal. Jealousy can be a real bitch, that’s for sure.

I’d recommend this one – stick with it, because it’s a good look at how easy it is for people to be irreparably broken.

FACEBOOK: clare.boyd.14
TWITTER: @ClareBoydClark
INSTAGRAM: claresboyd

Author Bio:

Clare lives with her husband and their two daughters in Surrey, where her little green shed at the bottom of the garden provides a haven for her writing life. Before becoming a writer, she enjoyed a career in television, as a researcher in documentaries and then as a script editor in drama at the BBC and Channel Four, where her love of storytelling took hold.

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Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour-Blog Tour (Review)-RomCom-Available Now

How much do I love this series?

How excited am I that we are back in Autre with the Landry family?

We just moved 1000 miles, and I have left ALL of the unpacking until I could finish this story. I don’t even care about not having space for all of our clothes, or where the plunger is, or that we still haven’t found our pots and pans or even have furniture to sit on.

Don’t care one bit. I care about the Paige and Mitch and their story. Period.

I devour these books. I want to live there. Just like Paige realizes, being part of their world would be amazing.

While I greatly enjoy other books and series, I cannot think of a single other setting or characters that I want to be real and be able to be a part of…weird, right?

I really enjoyed Paige’s journey in this one. As we are reminded a few times, she’s only 22, and she definitely exhibits a self-centered vibe through the beginning chapters. It may make me sound old, but I think that’s pretty typical of any person in their early 20s.

But as she spends time with Mitch and the Landrys, she comes to some deep realizations that make her re-evaluate her own perspectives on family and how they support each other.

For a rom-com, I thought her growth was particularly interesting and heartfelt. I could literally see her maturing throughout the book. That made me want to root for her.

I think that (maybe…just maybe) she also reminded me of, well…me. I was older than 22, but I also took off across the country, leaving my family (and everything I’d ever known) on a whim for a guy I’d met only a few times.

That was 18 years ago. We’ll be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this May.

Didn’t realize how much I identified with Paige while I was reading the story, but now it makes more sense to me.

But I digress.

Of course, it being Autre and the Bayou, there’s a healthy dose of Landry crazy, although not as wild as some of the past stories. And Mitch truly is one of the good guys….one of the most swoon-worthy heroes of the series.

And that’s saying a lot with this bunch.

My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that I wish more attention had been given to the weddings. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I would have loved some details about each of the weddings in question (readers will know what I am talking about).

There were some perfect opportunities to explore the things that made these couples who they were, and I wish they had gotten a little bit of extra detail – just to spend some time with them celebrating.

That being said, I am truly beyond excited that we got to meet the next group of Bayou Boys and that it seems as if there a few stories yet to come. I can’t wait to return and visit with this crazy clan.

Many thanks to Ms. Nicholas for creating a world that engulfs me and reminds me that there are still many things to be thankful for in this world, even if they’re fictional.

About Erin Nicholas 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

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Be Mine Forever-Books On Tour (Review)-Serial Killer Thriller Series-Available Now

I don’t know how she does it!

This is becoming a common refrain, because DK Hood just keeps churning out the Kane and Alton series. BUT (and I can’t stress this enough), the series still manages to feel fresh and exciting.

You’d think that at book 11 (holy moly) that things would be stale, or run-of-the-mill.

You’d be so wrong.

This time around, cheerleaders are disappearing and meeting terrible ends. It would be easy to insert a joke in here about easy targets or something, but it would be too flippant. The author manages to take a cliché and turn it into a serious case.

If you’ve read any of the books, you already have a feeling for how Kane and Alton work together, and this case is no exception. There’s something to be said for familiarity.

But again, that doesn’t mean it’s boring. I found myself confident in the characters enough that I was actually able to see other things that I might have missed if these were “new-to-me” characters.

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Does that make sense? I guess I was able to pay attention to smaller details because I wasn’t hyper-focused on the main characters. Maybe other readers will understand what I’m trying to say.

I really enjoy the relationship that they have built with each other. I will say as with any male/female partnership, there is some push-pull as to whether the female can “hang” with the guys. This might irritate some readers.

At this point Jenna has more than proved herself, however, and I feel strongly that any “male dominance” is tempered by her wit, her ability, and her savviness.

Plus, you know, there’s that ending.

Anyway, it’s another solid entry in the Kane and Alton series. I’m sure it will continue just as strongly.

Oh, and yes, it can be read as a stand-alone. But with this number of books in the series, you’d certainly do yourself a load of favors by starting at the beginning. There’s a lot of backstory, and some attitudes/conversations will make more sense if you have a history of the characters.

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The Girl from Berlin-Book Review-Historical Fiction-Available Now

There are not enough superlatives to describe this thought-provoking, well-researched, searing novel.

If you like historical fiction, this should be at the top of your list. Period.

Told in alternating timelines, pre-WWII during Hitler’s rise to power and immediately following the end of the war when Germany was being carved up, the author manages to capture the gamut of perspectives of Germans across the years.

The early years are told mostly from the perspective of Liesel, 15 years old at the beginning, whose father is a chemist and works for the Nazi party.

I found her to be intriguing right from the start. She had the innocence and naivete of a young girl of the time, yet she also had the feeling that things she was being told were very wrong. She could sense the evil even before she could put a name or face to it.

She also blindly loved and trusted her father – until she couldn’t anymore. I don’t want to give away why or how, but those were some truly heart-wrenching scenes. It went beyond a typical young-daughter-worships-father-but-grows-up, as Liesel realized the depths of her father’s involvement.

I thought the trajectory of Liesel’s thoughts was indicative of many Germans of the time, and it was all cleverly presented. For example, when she joined the BDM, she felt gratified to be a part of something – even as she disagreed with pretty much everything it stood for.

Likewise, as things turn uglier, Liesel wonders why she hadn’t paid more attention and been more indignant or outraged earlier in the whole situation. It brought to mind the famous quote by Martin Niemoller.

But I digress a bit.

The later years were also very well portrayed. I liked how a simple chemistry teacher, tasked with the nearly impossible job of hunting down anyone involved with the Nazi party in post-war Germany, managed to uncover important information.

I really liked Sam. He seemed to be a good person – perhaps that’s why Anna trusted him as much as she did? In a time where not many people in the country were trustworthy no matter what nation they were from, he stood out as one of the good guys.

As for that relationship – I thought this was probably the best part of the book. I’m not going to give anything away, because the author does a phenomenal job of relaying just enough information to keep the reader guessing as to past experiences of the characters and the bearings they have on present situations.

This is a rambling review, and I have to apologize for that. There are so many things I want to mention that I enjoyed about this book. (And yes, it does seem strange to say I enjoyed a book that counts Nazi atrocities as a main focus).

Friedy’s blind devotion; Ilse’s incapability to cope, until she’s forced to; the hopelessness felt by each member of the family even as they realize what they need to do just to survive; the little moments were worlds crash, trusts are broken, relationships irreparably harmed…everything adds up to a stellar book that asks tough questions, answers them realistically through the characters’ actions, and leaves the reader with deep thoughts to ponder.

And that’s even without drawing parallels to modern movements and perspectives.

Do yourself a favor. Do. Not. Miss. This. Book.

Top of the list, immediately. It will stay with me for a long time.

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One Perfect Grave-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

One of many kick-ass heroines on the pages these days, Nikki Hunt manages to stand out. I thought the first book (The Girls in the Snow) was a good introduction and was happy to see the same commitment to character in this second book.

I thought the introduction of how the bodies were found was unique and chilling (literally – given the location and time of year). Once identifications were made though…that’s when the story really took off.

I liked how the author wove a couple of narratives together to form the bigger picture. I thought that kept it true to investigative form.

I also find Nikki to be a reliable and likeable heroine. She’s tough when she needs to be, but the cases she takes in this one (missing children) allows her to show her vulnerable side as well.

That’s not to say that she can’t kick a little ass when she needs to.

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She doesn’t take things at face value all of the time, but she isn’t overly suspicious either. She’s just smart and tries to look for connections.

The ones she finds in this book are largely unexpected. No spoilers, but I totally didn’t see the end coming. The author did a great job of relaying plot points to keep the reader engaged without giving away huge hints that made it too easy to figure out.

I will say that there might need to be a trigger warning for some readers, as some of the actions of the perpetrator are disturbing. But (again) the author does a very good job of showing the evil side of people without getting salacious or overdoing it.

I like Nikki. She’s tenacious, and she knows her stuff. This is definitely a series I will continue to follow.

TWITTER: @stacygreen26
FACEBOOK: StacyGreenAuthor

Author Bio:

Stacy Green is the author of the Lucy Kendall thriller series and the Delta Crossroads mystery trilogy. ALL GOOD DEEDS (Lucy Kendall #1) won a bronze medal for mystery and thriller at the 2015 IPPY Awards. TIN GOD (Delta Crossroads #1) was runner-up for best mystery/thriller at the 2013 Kindle Book Awards. Stacy has a love of thrillers and crime fiction, and she is always looking for the next dark and twisted novel to enjoy. She started her career in journalism before becoming a stay-at-home mother and rediscovering her love of writing. She lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter and their three spoiled fur babies.

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Cry for Help-Book Review-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I don’t know how this author does it.

This series must have been written in tandem, because the first book, Shadow Falls, just released in January.

It totally works in favor of the reader though, because the action seamlessly picks up where the first book left off.

Madison Harper is back in Colorado, still searching for her missing son. She never imagines where she will find him.

I thought the author did a great job with building the tension, starting with the initial scene when the first dead body is found. She writes with such description that I could absolutely picture it all, almost like I was watching it on television. It was that vivid.

She has also developed the characters well. Even though this is only the second book, there is a lot of depth to both Madison and Nate. They’re the focal point, although the secondary characters get almost as much attention.

I will interject here that it would be best to read the first book. It’s early in the series, so it’s not too much to take in. You’ll have a much better understanding of Madison’s background. That being said, there are plentiful references to her past in this one.

If I have any complaint, and it’s a small one, it’s that this one seemed heavier on the personal and less on the detecting. Maybe that’s just compared to the first one, because it was so recent? I don’t know.

Regardless, the author knows when to stop a chapter so that there is a natural desire to want to keep reading. I like the forethought, because I’m sure that takes great planning to know where those breaks should come.

The action does pick up towards the end, with an awful lot happening in a short amount of time. Definitely turned into more of a page turner at that point. And the ending certainly indicates a new path for Madison, plus possibly more focus on Nate.

I’ll be ready and waiting to see what happens next.

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Eastern Lights-Blog Tour (Review)-Friends to Lovers-Available Now

I’ve been a fan of this author for a while (put her name in the search bar on my blog and you can see the reviews). I can honestly say this is one of my favorites of hers.

I was immediately drawn in by the story of Red and Cap (aka Aaliyah and Connor). We actually met Connor in Southern Storms, when he was just the assistant to Jax. I went back and re-read the parts of that book that Connor was in – it was pretty cool to see how the character developed and continued into this book.

I think he’s one of my favorite characters out of all of hers.

Connor is just a good person. Shaped by his mother’s illness for most of his childhood, he understands the importance of capturing every moment, even as he is reticent to give too much of himself in case he loses the person he loves.

It’s not a spoiler to say that in spite of how Red and Cap leave their initial meeting, you just know they’re destined. Of course, being a book from Ms. Cherry, there’s going to be a lot of angst and the path to their happiness isn’t going to be smooth.

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Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/EasternLights

I thought she did a good job of creating individual characters, and I really enjoyed the friendship between the two leads. Even though the romance is inevitable, I loved how they helped each other and how the friendship grew – it didn’t just happen.

I also thought that the twists in this book were some of the best.

They kept occurring right up to the very end. Interestingly, this is the second book I’ve read lately that featured the same medical condition, issues, and events around the illness. That’s all I’m going to say about it, but just strange, because it’s not exactly a mainstream idea.

Not all of the twists were entirely believable, and if there’s a family as corrupt as the one in the book, I hope I never meet them. But I was happy to see people get what they ultimately deserved, and I did literally laugh out loud at the fruits of Damian’s abilities (plastic hot dogs was inspired).

Speaking of Damian, I really hope he’s the character featured in the next book, because I’d love to follow his story.

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About Brittainy

Author Brittainy C. Cherry is an Amazon #1 bestselling author.

She has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelor Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.

Her novels have been published in 18+ countries around the world. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin with her fur babies.

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When the World Stood Still-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Available Now

The author wastes no time dropping the reader right into the heart of St. Marylebone Infirmary, as the staff deals with both shell-shocked soldiers from the last vestiges of WWI and a new, deadly disease.

It doesn’t take a great knowledge of history (only a simple reading of blurbs, or any newspaper lately) to know that the deadly disease is the Spanish Flu.

It also goes without saying that it is quite natural to draw parallels to the current world situation and what is described in this book.

I’m not going to try to NOT get political in this review. But I will say a major difference is that the science and medicine of the time was not advanced enough to be able to handle the pandemic. That’s quite the contrast from today’s pandemic.

Plus, they didn’t have to deal with the media and politicians who had ulterior motives.

But I digress.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2ZkWWn7

As with any disease, things move quickly, and the workers of St. Marylebone are left continuously playing catch-up. This worsens when the workers themselves begin to fall ill.

The author keeps the pace of the action moving, and I think that would be my one (minor) complaint. Things seemed to skim along quickly, characters are introduced, events occur…all at a rapid pace.   

I think a little bit more time spent on the characters and how they are each personally affected could have added to the story and made things even a little more relatable.

That being said, it’s possible that the author did not want to have a lot of parallels to the present and made a conscious effort to keep things moving so fast that there wasn’t time to think about comparisons.

On that front, I commend the author. I think she also did a good job of not allowing current perceptions to color the characters and efforts of the past. Hindsight being 20/20 and all….

I did like how the characters related to each other, and it was obvious that author did the necessary homework to convey the horror of shell shock and the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic.

I would still recommend this book to any historical fiction fan. Do yourself a favor, though, and read it “as is” – lose yourself in the past and don’t try to compare it to now. You’ll find it much more enjoyable.

Author Bio:
A change in circumstance meant Kate Eastham made the shift from a career in nursing to being a carer for her partner. Determined to make the most of this new role ‘working from home’ and inspired by an in-depth study of the origins of nursing, she wrote her first novel at the kitchen table. Miss Nightingale’s Nurses was published by Penguin in 2018, closely followed by three more in the series. With her passion for history, Kate aims to make visible the lives of ordinary yet extraordinary women from the past.

Her current historical fiction is set during the World Wars and will be published by Bookouture.

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