Category: Book Reviews

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Books On Tour (Review): Her Darkest Hour by Sharon Maas

I’ve mentioned several times that I enjoy historical novels for a few reasons. One, I’m just a big history buff; and two, I like learning new things. Even if I know the overall theme, there’s usually some nugget of previously unknown information to be found.

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In the case of Her Darkest Hour, I knew that the Germans had invaded France and had taken control of most regions, but I did not remember (based on previous studies) the extent to which they turned everything German. And I did not know that they actually built a camp in France. That was very revealing and educational (and I love that).

As to the plot in general, it was somewhat unique among many WWII historical fiction novels in that there was one time period; there wasn’t a contemporary and flashback. That made it easier to follow each of the girls’ stories.

I liked that the families in question were established wine-makers. Their standing in the town made the decisions of the individual members more intriguing. I was a little confused by the family relations at the beginning, but I got them straightened out. I felt a little better about that later in the book when I found out just why everything seemed confusing.

I thought the author did a pretty good job of embodying the spirits of the French people during the Occupation by giving each of the girls (Juliette, Victoire, and Marie-Claire) different perspectives and attitudes. I do wish there had been more of Juliette; I thought that the novel would be more between the three girls. But her story just sort of disappeared for quite a while.

There was certainly plenty else to focus on, and I found Marie-Claire’s story to be indicative of what many women had to deal with when it came to the Germans who took over. I thought that Jacques’ evaluation of her to be accurate, as she never quite reached her potential and made some poor choices that seemed to be based on trying to make herself feel better. She did not seem to be very deep and ended up reaping what she had sown. I can’t say I’m too sorry about that, honestly.

I did think that the build-up took up most of the book, and then a LOT of events happened in the last quarter of the story. Characters came and went, secrets were revealed, and time sped up. Once the story reached early 1942, events went by at rocket speed, with some only receiving a quick mention.

I understand the importance of laying the background, but I wish that it had been a bit more balanced. The events at the end were quite exciting, as were the actions of the girls, and I would have liked more detail of those.  I also felt that a few of the stories were left unfinished or up in the air. It was almost like the author had to wrap it up quickly.

But that didn’t detract from what I learned about the depth of German infiltration into French society (Mein Kampf and German names?!?). It also confirmed that their brand of tyranny and power should never again be allowed to see the light of day.

Post Script: I wasn’t going to add this, but I strongly feel that it needs to be mentioned. It concerns the scene where the Nazis arrived at the chateau and informed Margaux that her livestock, property, and anything she produced belonged to the state. I read that section late at night.

The next morning I woke up to a headline in the news. A legislator in Illinois had proposed legislation that would give the governor the power to confiscate livestock, food, property, clothing, etc. For no other reason except for that he could do so.

I cried.

It was a stark reminder that this type of history should NEVER be repeated. No. Matter. What.

Author Bio
Sharon Maas was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951 and educated in Guyana and England. After leaving school she worked as a staff journalist at the Guyana Graphic and the Sunday Chronicle in Georgetown.

Sharon has always had a great sense of adventure and curiosity about the world we live in, and Guyana could not hold her for long. In 1971 she set off on a year-long backpacking trip around South America. In 1973 she travelled overland to India through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and spent two years in an Ashram in South India. 

Website: https://www.sharonmaas.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharon_maas  
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Blog Tour (Review): The Best Man by A.S. Kelly

Everybody has favorite authors and look forward to their series, but sometimes it’s fun to find new authors and new places to explore. This is the case with Connemara in The Best Man.

The action starts with a bang as Alex interrupts his best friend’s wedding for, shall we say, personal reasons. From there, we get a long and winding story as Alex and Ellie try to find their way to each other as the pressures of their choices complicate things.

The story does is not rushed. There are a lot of internal monologues and even more angst on both parts. These are interspersed with scenes that could only be set in Ireland. I almost enjoyed the secondary characters more than the main ones, especially Ellie’s brothers.

I liked the setting. I could picture the towns and townspeople; the author made Ireland come alive. I also thought the business that Alex and Ellie worked in was creative – who doesn’t like a good Irish whiskey?

I did think that there were passages that seemed to go on a bit too long. It was almost like the author was trying to meet a word count instead of just getting to the point. However, when I looked at the front of the book, I saw that it was a translation; the wordiness makes a lot more sense in that context.

I do wish that I had seen that before I started reading because it certainly would have changed my mindset. That’s totally my fault. But now I know that for the next book. I am looking forward to it because it was a neat little place to visit. It was also pleasant to take time with a book instead of being rushed through it.

♡ Connect with A. S. Kelly ♡

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Books On Tour (Review): Little Whispers by K. L. Slater

In my opinion, good psychological thrillers lay a groundwork of “normality,” drop a few hints here and there to let the reader know that all is not as it seems, and then start unraveling everything building to what I call “the big reveal.” I’m happy to say that this book mostly succeeds in the formula.

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Right from the start, we know that there is some dark secret that Janey’s mom confesses to her from her death bed. It takes a long time to find out what that actual secret is, but there are clues dropped in the form of a few flashback chapters, as well as in Janey’s own memories. As the past takes shape, the question becomes how it fits into the main plot. And that’s where it gets a tad foggy.

I enjoyed the main thrust of the story. I could relate to Janey and how she felt moving to a new area where she didn’t fit in. With her mom’s recent death still fresh, her young son having to adjust, and a husband who had pushed it all to happen quickly, Janey had a lot going on. Safe to say that nothing is as it seems throughout it all.

Which of the Buckingham Crescent mummies is lying? Which is hiding something? Can any of them be trusted? And why is Janey’s husband Isaac being so cagey about everything? And really, what DOES the deathbed secret have to do with it all?

There are quite a few twists and turns along the way. The author does a good job of tying everything up by the end, and I was satisfied with the resolution. I did think that the first half was a tad drawn out; I kept waiting for something “bigger” to happen. But once the flashback chapters entered into the narrative, things took off at a rapid pace, and it was a page-turner for the rest of the book.

There were still a few stumbles. Janey’s behavior at school towards a student was shocking. Even in the face of what she was dealing with, it seemed very out of character (not to mention that she would have been out on her butt in a heartbeat regardless of the reason in most schools).

That, and I thought Rowan got a little left behind in the whole story as one of his actions was out of character, but then sort of glossed over. They didn’t distract me from the story (well, Janey’s kind of did), because the rest of the action was still swirling.

I also thought that the “big reveal” was good, but because of how it functioned within the main plot, I wish that there had been a bit more revelation earlier. As it stood, it seemed a little manipulative. Which now that I think about it, is precisely how it was used: to manipulate a situation.  So maybe that’s all okay then.

On a side note, I thought that the commentary on social standing and the importance of money was interesting and accurate. The author excelled at truly illustrating how money is at the root of all evil. I’ll leave it at that. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for summer reading.

Author Bio:
For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents but never made it off the slush pile. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimLSlater 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15622135.K_L_Slater
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimLSlaterAuthor/ 
Website: https://klslaterauthor.com/
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Books On Tour (Review): The Bride by Wendy Clarke

This book was nothing that I thought it was going to be. That’s a good thing. It was a quintessential psychological thriller. I liked how the book read sort of like it was in three acts.

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The first act established Alice’s character and made it very clear that she was someone on the ropes who was reaching for a lifeline. Act two was Alice’s experiences in the apartment once she arrived. And act three…well, the less said, the more exciting it will be for you when you read it. So I’ll just say that it takes everything you learn in the first two acts and completely twists it.

I thought the prologue was smart; even though it was clear whose memory it was, I still found myself questioning what I knew the further I read. I had to go back and read it a few times to make sure that I still understood it correctly.

The author did a fantastic job of creating doubt throughout the plot as well. At any given time, I wasn’t sure which character to trust and whose motivations to believe. I love it when an author can keep me guessing like that.

I did think that there were a few things in “act one” that seemed superfluous the further I read. I know that they were instrumental in driving Alice to make the decisions that she did, but they seemed a little manipulative because once she arrived at the apartment, they just sort of disappeared. That being said, I also get that it was vital to the plot that she had that break. I felt the same about a couple of other secondary characters; they played small parts, but ultimately only served as pawns.

The atmosphere created by the author was the most striking aspect of this book. I loved how she created a claustrophobic feeling even though the actual locations were anything but enclosed. I also like how she used the ships coming and going on the river to illustrate that life was continuing outside even as Alice became more focused inward. That was a compelling juxtaposition.

As I mentioned above, the first two acts really just lay the groundwork for the third. Once you hit that point (and you’ll know what it is when you get to it) hang on, because it gets even twistier. Oh, and the author also resisted the usual “everything is resolved” ending. But I won’t say more.  It was a page-turning read that I tore through in one sitting; it is definitely one to pick up!

Author Bio:


Wendy Clarke started her career writing short fiction and serials for national women’s magazines. After having over three hundred short stories published, she progressed to writing novels. With a degree in psychology, and intrigued with how the human mind can affect behaviour, it was inevitable that she would eventually want to explore her darker side.

In her previous life, Wendy has published three collections of short stories and has been a short story judge for the Chiltern Writers Group, Nottingham Writers Group and The Society of Women Writers and journalists.

Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyClarkeAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyClarke99
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Books On Tour (Review): As Greek as it Gets by Sue Roberts

Among all of the psych thrillers and crime procedurals, it’s lovely to find a book that offers pure escapism, and a sunny vacation in Crete fits the bill perfectly.

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One of the things I liked the most about this book was that it was as light and airy as being on a Greek island. I know that sounds kind of odd, but the story just kind of rolls along smoothly. I don’t know if you can read in a relaxing manner, but that’s how I felt with this book.

The characters were likable (except for Alice’s mom; she was a pill). There were times that I thought that Max was too good to be true, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I won’t tell you if it did or not, but let’s just say that this book reaffirmed that not all male characters have to be jerks.

That’s not to say that he didn’t have his moments. He was a strong personality who practically leaped off the page. Alice was quite the opposite. But I loved this pairing because he was money-minded and a planner, and she was artistic and more go-with-the-flow. Opposites really do attract.

I don’t want to say any more about the plot, because I think it should be experienced. But I enjoyed how both Alice and Max resolved their issues by the end of the story. I felt that their actions and reactions were natural. Nothing felt forced. It all just felt real.

The author did a fantastic job of creating the atmosphere and conveying the beauty of Greece. I could almost feel the sun and see the beautiful blues of the ocean. I always want to go back, but this book made me really want to be able to visit there again. Since travel is impossible for the foreseeable future, I look forward to being able to revisit Greece in the author’s new book. I hope it’s soon!

Author Bio
I live in Lancashire with my long term partner Derek and have had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11. I always assumed that ‘one day’ I would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten. The inspiration for my first novel came to me on a holiday to a Greek village. My daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!  Twitter: @SueRobertsautho

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Books on Tour (Review): Winter Rising by Alex Callister

If you thought the first book was action-packed, you ain’t seen nothing yet! The author pretty much picks up where Winter Dark left off and keeps the high-octane plot going.

This time, Winter and other members of GCHQ are after a notorious hitman, the Guardsman. But is Winter off her game after her close encounter with Alek Konstantin? She certainly can’t shake him from her thoughts even as she knows he could be manipulating everything while on the run.

The author does a fantastic job of not letting up on the action, even in the “quiet” moments. There is always a feeling of…not exactly dread…but more of that you just know something big could happen at any second. To me, that’s the very definition of a page-turner.

I liked how Winter has become a more “full” character. She seemed to have more depth this time around. I loved her interactions with members of the CIA and her own team. I especially enjoyed her “mentorship” of Leon and Xiu. I think it made Winter realize a side of her personality she didn’t know she had.

That being said, she is still her caustic, cautious self. I enjoy reading about her messing with people because they never know if she is serious or not (the “Coming to America” reference comes to mind). She keeps people off-balance naturally, which is almost like a suit of protection for her.

As for the Konstantin, he is like a looming specter in both Winter’s mind and the overall plot. He is enigmatic (and apparently charismatic) which makes it difficult to decide whether to hate him for his evilness or appreciate his deceit.

I also thought it was fascinating and a little disconcerting to read about a world in chaos. There’s a different reason for it in the book (obviously), but the current global situation gave an added layer of tension. It’s not that much of a reach to think of looming possibilities. (That’s a tad bit dramatic, but the emotion is definitely there.

I’m pretty sure that I didn’t breathe much through the last third of the book. But that’s okay because now I’m primed for the next one!

Author Bio
Alex Callister is the pseudonym of an industry expert on media, telecoms and internet stocks. She studied history at Oxford and the British School at Rome and was set for a career in academia until the beginning of the tech boom woke a lifelong interest in internet shares. Alex has spent her career visiting high-security web hosting sites and speculating on what might go wrong. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CallisterAuthor
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Blog Tour (Review): The Summer Set by Aimee Agresti

I loved this book about first acts and second chances. Honestly, I was predisposed to love it because it is set at a summer Shakespeare camp, where I could happily live in real life. The rest is just gravy. There are so many things I enjoyed about this book.

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I attended and worked at camps just like this through college, so everything seemed familiar. I liked that the camp had a history that involved the characters. The familiarity of returning to a place that was so influential in their backstory added dimension to their interactions. Memories clashed with the present. The challenges of camps like this were also well-described and accurate.

I instantly related to the awkward meeting of roommates, the nerves of auditioning, and the competitive nature of “friends” that occurs at these camps. All of the characters were realistic and recognizable. I’m 99% sure I worked with Nick more than a few times. 😊

I especially appreciated that the author was so matter-of-fact about the people who worked with the theater. The author didn’t feel the need to hammer alternate lifestyles or preach about tolerance and acceptance. They were just characters like everyone else. This was refreshing, as sometimes authors can be heavy-handed around this subject. It’s exactly how I remember my theater days. People didn’t need to announce or lecture; they just…were who they were and were accepted as such.   

I loved the parallel story Nick/Charlie and Ethan/Sierra plot lines. The author captured the uncertainty that actors feel at all points of their careers. It illustrated that even the best actors (in this case, Charlie, who could be a stand-in for any real-life actresses) are often insecure and worry about being appreciated. This drive for recognition often clouds their judgment when it comes to actual relationships, which was certainly the case with Nick and Charlie.  

I also enjoyed the little Easter Eggs that were hidden in the story. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but from Charlie’s balcony to the lark tattoos (and several other instances), I loved the little nods to Shakespeare throughout.

I do wish a bit more attention had been given to wrapping up Sierra and Ethan’s story. I felt they got a little bit shortchanged at the end. I suppose that’s not surprising considering the way it DID end. But I did enjoy the way the author summarized Charlie (and Nick’s) story as a kind of postscript.

As I said at the beginning, I was predisposed to like this book regardless. Given the author’s background, an E! version could have been expected. But I was heartened to see that the author took the time to do some real character exploration and draw the parallels between Shakespeare and real life. I highly recommend this for a fun summer read.  

Author Bio
Aimee Agresti is the author of Campaign Widows and The Gilded Wings trilogy for young adults. A former staff writer for Us Weekly, she penned the magazine’s coffee table book Inside Hollywood. Aimee’s work has also appeared in People, Premiere, DC magazine, Capitol File, the Washington Post, Washingtonian, the Washington City Paper, Boston magazine, Women’s Health and the New York Observer, and she has made countless TV and radio appearances, dishing about celebrities on the likes of Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, E!, The Insider, Extra, VH1, MSNBC, Fox News Channel and HLN. Aimee graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and lives with her husband and two sons in the Washington, DC, area.

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @AimeeAgresti
Instagram: @aimeeagresti
Facebook: @AimeeAgrestiAuthor
Goodreads
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Blog Tour (Review): This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf

I’m not exactly sure how to classify this book. It’s not exactly a psychological thriller, but it’s not really a crime/mystery either. It’s twisted and has a LOT going on. It seems as if everyone is lying at one point or another, and as the story progresses, it becomes more difficult to tell who is telling the truth and when.

What I found especially interesting about this book was that none of the characters particularly grabbed me. I didn’t relate to any of them, but I think it actually worked better that way because I was able to read it with a detachment. This enabled me to have a more critical eye in looking for clues to the truth. It was a different experience in reading (and I always like new things like this).

I will say that I found Nora to be one of the most unpredictable characters I have ever “met.” I flip-flopped on whether she was just brilliant and misunderstood or a complete psychopath. There were several aspects to her character that could be interpreted in many ways. To be honest, I’m still not entirely sure about her.

The writer tackles multiple issues in this book, some of which may be difficult for some readers. Dating violence is one example, but the author does handle it tactfully. It’s not graphic and does not last through the whole book. There is another situation that could be disturbing to some, but to mention it would give away the plot. I know that’s unhelpful, and I’m sorry for it. But I’m sure you can find it in other reviews.

There is a mystery to be solved, and there are several possible suspects. At any given point, any of them could be guilty. There was a lot of build-up to the big reveal, which occurred in an extremely intense confrontation.

But then, it seemed like the end was very rushed. For example, one plotline was tossed off with an “I’ll never know who did this” when the action in question played a fairly significant part in one character’s story arc. There were also a few other summary sentences about important points that just seemed to fizzle. It was almost as if the writer wanted the story to be wrapped up quickly.

Ultimately, it was a story about an event in a small-town (the author did capture the claustrophobia of small-town living quite well), and how the impact of that event carries on over the years. Then it becomes a matter of revenge. How far would you go to enact revenge on an old wrong?  I recommend this book, but just know that this is only one of the questions you may find unanswered.

Author Bio

Heather Gudenkauf is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many books, including The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden. Heather graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages. She lives in Iowa with her husband, three children, and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Lolo. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking, and running.

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Books On Tour (Review): Into the Darkest Day by Kate Hewitt

Epic in every sense of the word, this book is one of the finest examples of historical fiction I have read. There is so much that I liked about it that I don’t know if I can cover it all, but I’ll try.

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One thing I noticed right from the start was the attention to detail in both the contemporary and historical storylines. It is always easiest to picture something familiar, so getting an image of Abby’s apple orchard and the farmhouse was simple to imagine. The author was so descriptive with the WWII scenes that I could picture them almost as completely.

The author hits the other senses with her descriptions as well. From the pigeon coops to events during the war, I felt like I could smell and hear what the characters were; that’s how good they were. It must be said that with that depth of detail also comes the emotion that goes along with it, and I felt gut-punched by a few of them (no spoilers).

I liked how the story started out being about one thing but then took off a different direction. This felt realistic and added to the intrigue of the WWII portion of the plot. I did think that a few of the contemporary plot points were extraneous, but I understand how the conflicts were needed to give more depth to Abby and Simon. I think it was because the WWII sections were so compelling, I just wanted to get back to them.

I also liked how some of the questions propelling the plot were not answered until close to the end. That was effective because 1) it kept me reading to find out the resolution, and 2) the author was able to take the story in different directions to get to the final point (instead of just reaching it directly).

A word must be said about the history. I have often mentioned that I like historical fiction because I usually learn something new. This time I learned several things via Matthew’s experiences (again, no spoilers). His arc led me to a fascinating documentary, and also served as a reminder that even after D-Day, there was still a lot of war left to fight.

The author has spun a masterful story. If you are a fan of historical fiction, you definitely should have this on your TBR list.

Author Bio

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 

Website: https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1269244.Kate_Hewitt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katehewitt1  
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Blog Tour (Review): Forking Around by Erin Nicholas

YAY! It’s the second book in the Hot Cakes series from Erin Nicholas, and it’s every bit as yummy as the first one (Sugarcoated). This time, we get the story of Dax and Jane, and, as always, the characters are realistic and likable.

I loved that Jane was curvy and proud of it (and also that she wasn’t afraid to start her day with a strawberry-cream cheese bar instead of coffee. A girl after my own heart). But what I particularly liked is that her size didn’t become a “thing.” She was who she was, and that’s what Dax liked. Period.

Dax was fun. Known as the member of the group who keeps it light (bean bag chairs and ping pong), he showed remarkable depth when it came to Jane’s family. THAT is what ultimately made him swoon-worthy in my eyes.

Secondary characters never get short shrift in Ms. Nicholas’ books, and this one is no exception. Cassie and Aspen were the awfulest of steps, straight out of Cinderella. (I know “awfulest” isn’t a real word, but they don’t deserve proper grammar). I adored Piper, and I’m pretty sure she is my spirit animal.

And even though we know that each of the guys will get their chance at love, their “background” status still allows them to interact with the banter that the author is so good at. I always end up laughing out loud multiple times (this time, the “sexual harassment” conversation about killed me).

Another thing the author does well is timeliness and current trends, but she does it without being obvious. The scene with the coloring books of swear words comes instantly to mind. That’s something everyone can relate to, especially these days.

On a personal note, I was also drawn in by Jane’s father. My dad was diagnosed with a little-known neural disease (under the Parkinson’s umbrella, but a separate disease) that was so unknown, the doctors could pretty much do nothing. This story ends before Jack progresses to the worst part of that kind of disease. The descriptions of him before the disease, and his mannerisms during, reminded me a LOT of my dad.  

I think that’s part of the reason that Dax is currently my favorite. He just “got” it, and he knew that he wanted to be there to help Jane. I know it’s only book two, but the other guys of Fluke are going to have to work hard to knock Dax out of the top spot for me. Can’t wait to see how they do!

AUTHOR BIO

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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