Posts

Posted on

Blog Tour (Review): Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr

I was excited to read this book because I grew up near Half Moon Bay, and it’s still one of my favorite areas to visit. I hoped that the author would be able to capture the quirkiness and beauty of the town. I’d say that it ended up being a mixed bag.

I thought the plot had promise. Two sisters who were far apart in age and life experiences are forced to rely on each other to rebuild their lives. Each sister had distinct personalities and their way of looking at things. I liked the interplay between the two as they got to know each other and learned from each other. I also thought the twist on Scott’s situation was bold. It’s something that occurs but isn’t often talked about, so kudos on addressing it.

I also got glimpses of the town, and I could picture the neighborhoods and areas (which was cool), but I think there were missed opportunities. How can there be a book set in Half Moon Bay that doesn’t mention the Pumpkin Festival? Or any one of the historic restaurants? And the author does not do justice to the drive between Half Moon Bay and San Jose. (That’s probably just a personal nitpick since I am so familiar with the area).

I also thought that the second part of the book was better than the first half. It felt like the author was trying to throw in too much at the beginning. There was just one thing piling on top of another. I understand that the author needed to set the stage, but honestly, it was just too much. More straightforward would have been better and would have gotten to the heart of the plot faster.

Overall, I think it was a good book, but there were a few missteps. I am new to this author and will certainly give her another chance, but I hope it is more direct to the point without extra angst to play on emotions.

Author Bio

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women’s fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at www.RobynCarr.com.

Posted on

Books On Tour (Review): In Darkness Look For Stars by Clara Benson

It’s been a while since I read a historical fiction novel, so I was pleased to see that this one was next up on my list. There was a lot to like about it, and I very much enjoyed it from start to finish.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3cfvKe3
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3bckT4k
Kobo: https://bit.ly/34COWQ8
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3aa9b9g

Very often, a book has a contemporary plot-line that then dovetails with the historical one in some fashion. One thing I liked about this story is that the “contemporary” line is only 7-8 years after the initial action, which works for two reasons. One is that the characters are primarily involved in both storylines (so obviously the times need to be close).

It also allows for the characters to be still carrying the weight of the war on their shoulders. There hasn’t been time to recover fully from the war itself, not to mention the aftermath. This closeness of storylines makes the switching back and forth more seamless than some others that have a more distant time difference.

I thought the characters were also well-crafted. Each one of them was flawed and trying to find their way in their new situations. Ambition, guilt, betrayal, family loyalty, and even love play significant parts in each of the character’s journeys. Harriet was the anchor for all of it, even as she struggled to find her footing in her new life.

Sebastien was the only character I had a difficult time pinning down. On the one hand, he was a temperamental teenager who had experienced significant personal tragedies. On the other, it seemed as if there was something off with him even as a young child. There is an allusion to a schoolmaster and his pupils that is briefly mentioned and then never addressed again. It makes me wonder if that was to be a reason for Sebastien’s temperament.

I did like Cecilia’s journey. She was the embodiment of how guilt could destroy a person from the inside. Even though she made her choices and had to live with them, I found her story to be satisfying and was glad the author gave her the arc that she did.  I especially liked the connections of music as colors; that is something that has always fascinated me, and I was interested in Cecilia and Emil’s descriptions.

Ultimately, this is an epic story spanning roughly a decade that showcases how ambition and desire can drive people to fatal decisions, and how families don’t always do best by each other. It was a great read, and I would highly recommend it.

Find her at clarabenson.com
Facebook at ClaraBensonBooks
Twitter:  @ClaraBooks

AUTHOR BIO

Clara Benson is the author of traditional English whodunits and other historical fiction. Over the years she’s lived in London, Milan and Florence, and can still speak a bit of Italian if pressed. Now she lives with her family in the north of England, where she spends her days writing and trying to ignore an ever-lengthening to-do list.

Posted on

Books On Tour (Review): Find Her Alive by Lisa Regan

The author has created quite the world for Josie, and this eighth book in the series is more personal than many of the others. It’s still a page-turner from start to finish.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0844S7ZKTSocial
Apple: https://apple.co/2NRArRC
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2vhFaFJ
Google: http://bit.ly/2NSn2Zj

One thing I enjoy about Ms. Regan’s books is the research and detail that goes into her plots. I always learn something new, whether it is an investigative technique or something to do with forensic science. This time I learned an awful lot about bone growth and ornithology.

I also like how easy it is to read her books. Everything flows together seamlessly, from scene to scene and even between perspectives. The action primarily belongs to Josie, but there are some scenes from an alternate character (no spoilers) that give the reader background on motives for crimes. Those were very well-done. Even though I figured out part of the twist early on, I was satisfied to see how it all played out.

As I mentioned, this one is personal to Josie, because her twin sister Trinity figures heavily in the plot. This gives the reader more insight into Josie’s family situation and highlights just how far she has come, yet how far there still is to go in reconciling her past.

The author also does just enough to make the reader care about the characters. There is no angst or playing on feelings (and that could certainly be the case for Josie), nor are the characters remote or unlikeable. Josie (as the protagonist) is flawed and human. I also like how the villain(s) have their own backstory. They are rarely bad for the sake of being bad, but often have at least semi-legit reasons for their evilness. It just makes the story as a whole more interesting.

As with other books, this one can be read as a standalone, but as Josie’s story comes more to light, it will become more and more difficult to read them without knowing the backstory. Do yourself a favor, and if you haven’t already, grab this series from the beginning. You’ll be entertained and learn something new with each book.

Author Bio

Lisa Regan is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and Amazon bestselling crime novelist.  She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University.  She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan
WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan
Posted on

Cover Reveal: Somebody’s Daughter by Carol Wyer

OMG, OMG, OMG…..I am SOOOOOO hooked on this series. Check out this cover!

Stunning, right? Now look at the description:

Somebody’s Daughter: A gripping crime thriller packed with mystery and suspense (Detective Natalie Ward Book 7)

One by one the girls disappeared…

When the frail body of a teenage girl is discovered strangled in a parking lot, shards of ice form in Detective Natalie Ward’s veins. As Natalie looks at the freckles scattered on her cheeks and the pale pink lips tinged with blue, she remembers that this innocent girl is somebody’s daughter…

The girl is identified as missing teenager Amelia Saunders, who has run away from home and her controlling father. Natalie’s heart sinks further when it becomes clear that Amelia has been working on the streets, manipulated by her violent new boyfriend Tommy.

A day later, another vulnerable girl is found strangled on a park bench. Like Amelia, Katie Bray was a runaway with connections to Tommy, and Natalie is determined to find him and track down the monster attacking these scared and lonely girls.

But when a wealthy young woman is found murdered the next morning, the word ‘guilty’ scrawled on her forehead, Natalie realises that the case is more complex than she first thought. Determined to establish a connection between her three victims, Natalie wastes no time in chasing down the evidence, tracing everyone who crossed their paths. Then, a key suspect’s body turns up in the canal, a mole in Natalie’s department leaks vital information and everything seems to be against her. Can Natalie stop this clever and manipulative killer before they strike again?

An unputdownable crime thriller from an Amazon bestselling author that will have you sleeping with the light on. This gripping rollercoaster ride is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Rachel Caine. Prepare to be totally hooked!

THAT’S ME! I’M HOOKED!!!

Here is your Pre-order link:  AMZ: https://geni.us/B08737LQR5Cover 

Posted on

Blog Tour (Review): Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer

I’m not going to beat around the bush. This was one of the most challenging books I have ever read. Oddly enough, that’s because it was so poignant and so relevant that I felt almost every page as if I was experiencing it myself.

I think part of that is because my father experienced a slow decline in cognitive awareness that ended with a complete inability to communicate. Those sections with Beth’s father were extremely emotional for me. They were well-written and accurate to what I (and I’m sure many others) have experienced.

I also found similarities between the four siblings and my mother’s side of the family. They, too, had similar conversations about what to do with my grandmother’s house after she passed away. Like Beth, the baby of the family (ironically, named Ruthe) was left with the brunt of the family history because the other’s had gotten “out.”

I know that this “review” hasn’t been much about the book itself.  But for me, it is because there were so many parallels. I think that authors ultimately hope to reach readers with stories that can touch them and make them feel, and this author absolutely succeeded in that regard.

Simply put, this book was extremely well-written with realistic characters in recognizable situations. It is heartfelt, emotional, and packs a wallop (have tissues handy). It’s also one of the best books I have read this year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelly Rimmer is the worldwide and USA TODAY bestselling author of Before I Let You Go, Me Without You, and The Secret Daughter. She lives in rural Australia with her husband, two children and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages. Please visit her at www.Kelly.Rimmer.com

SOCIAL LINKS

  • Facebook: @Kellymrimmer
  • Twitter: @KelRimmerWrites
  • Instagram: @kelrimmerwrites

Posted on

Blog Tour (Review): The Invitation by Rachel Abbott

Wow. Just…wow.

This is one of the most tightly crafted plots I have ever read. It read like a mash-up of Ten Little Indians and The Mousetrap, and just about everything about this story brought to mind the great Agatha Christie.

I liked how the characters’ relationships were clear but, at the same time, not entirely truthful. Every single one of the childhood/teenage friends was hiding something from the others, and it took the tragedy at the center of the book for everything to come out into the open. The addition of Jemma, Chandra, and Nina, relative newcomers to the group, add an insightful perspective.

The setting is also a big part of why the story works. I mean, where else could a mystery take place but in an imposing mansion on the cliffs by the ocean. It is a favorite location of many mystery writers because of the versatility it offers. But nothing in this book seems like a retread, or “same ol’ setting.” The claustrophobia experienced by some of the characters is palpable and pours off the pages.

I pride myself on often being able to solve mysteries and figure out clues ahead of an investigation in a book. My notes in books are filled with my thoughts and ideas, and I enjoy seeing if I was right. I am thrilled to say that I had virtually no notes until about ¾ of the way through; that’s how off-balance the author kept me.

The way the information was revealed was also smart. Sometimes it was through the police investigation, sometimes through conversations between characters, often from Jemma’s point of view as an outsider. These change-ups allowed readers to be privy to information only when the author was ready for them to be – another way to keep them guessing. Loved it!

I did have a few fleeting thoughts that turned out to be accurate, but it took me most of the book (89%) to figure it all out. At that point, I kind of felt like some of the air went out of the investigation. It seemed as if there were maybe a few loose ends (as in “we’ll never know for sure”), but I think that it ultimately works because so much of the plot is nebulous that some questions being left unanswered fits the story.

This was a page-turner in the most accurate definition of the term, and it is absolutely one that you should grab right away. It will definitely take your mind off of real-life for a while.

About Rachel Abbott

Rachel Abbott’s debut thriller, Only the Innocent, was an international bestseller, reaching the number one position in the Amazon charts both in the UK and US. This was followed by the number one bestselling novels The Back Road, Sleep Tight and Stranger Child,Nowhere Child (a short novel based on the characters from Stranger Child), Kill Me Again, and her latest thriller, launched in 2017 – The Sixth Window.

Rachel’s novels have now been translated into over 20 languages.

In 2015 Amazon celebrated the first five years of the Kindle in the UK, and announced that Rachel was the number one bestselling independent author over the five-year period. She was also placed fourteenth in the chart of all authors. Stranger Child was the most borrowed novel for the Kindle in the first half of 2015.

Rachel now lives in Alderney – a beautiful island off the coast of France – and spends a few months of each year in the Le Marche regions of Italy, where she devotes her time to her love of writing fiction. For more information, see Rachel’s website, or follow her on Twitter.

Posted on

Books On Tour (Review): Fearless Girl by Emma Tallon

I absolutely devoured this book but will admit that I felt like I was coming in halfway through the story. Turns out, that feeling was not unfounded.

Memo to me: check before starting a series in the middle.

Buy Link: https://geni.us/B083WCYPWLSocial

First, the good parts (and there were a lot of them). I loved the grittiness of the world that the author created. The atmosphere was apparent from the very beginning, and the characters matched the world in which they lived. The author has established a fully-realized setting where everything and everyone fits in their place.

From the central players down to the minions of the “family,” the characters were realistic.  I got an excellent sense of Anna’s sorrow and determination, of Freddie’s tension, even of Ethan’s uncertainty as he seems to understand more than adults give him credit for noticing.

The plot itself is good for this installment, and this is totally my fault, but it is also where I bogged down a little bit. It is gripping (two brothers get out of prison and return to their “family business”). But not having read the first books, I was missing all of the set up that really would have brought everything together.

It’s a strange thing because I “got it.” I mean, I understood the characters’ motivations, and I wasn’t lost in the plot at all – the story for this book is clear. But without the backstory, it was simply a story instead of the continuation of an epic family story. I found myself debating whether or not I should stop reading and go back to start at the beginning of the series, which pulled me out of the story. I hope that makes sense.

I think it’s a testament to the author to be able to create this kind of conundrum.

It’s aI want to be clear that this is totally on me – as mentioned, the author has created a gritty and hard-hitting world filled with unique characters, and this was a great read. I would definitely recommend picking it up – but learn from my mistake, and 100% read the others in the series first. You will enjoy it so much more.

P.S. It can be read as a stand-alone (I did it) but would be much more enjoyable with the other stories under your belt first.

Author Bio:

Emma Tallon is a British, gritty crime writer, adventurer, Londoner and mother to a young son. Starting her career a few years ago as a ghostwriter, Emma crafted some of the most adventurous, edgy and heart-wrenching stories you can find on the shelves today.

In March 2017 Emma stepped out of the literary shadows and self-published her first book, Life Game. The book was an instant success, the results far exceeding anything she had expected. As news of Life Games popularity spread, she joined forces with W.F.Howes and the audiobook was launched in October 2017.

In December 2017, Emma signed a book deal with publishers Bookouture. This included Life Game which was changed, re-edited and re-released as Runaway Girl.

Drawing inspiration for her books from a mixture of her own observations and an active imagination, the characters Emma paints are colourful and larger than life. Her story lines are an interesting recipe of deep emotion and violent grit, that keep her readers engrossed.

With more books in the works for this series already, Emma has many more stories planned out for the future.

For more information on Emma or to join her mailing list, please go to: www.emmatallon.com or alternatively, follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/emmatallonofficial or on Twitter: @EmmaEsj
Posted on

Book Review: The School Mistress of Emerson Pass by Tess Thompson

I am a huge fan of this author’s Cliffside Bay series, so I was very excited to see that she was branching out into a new series with a historical setting. I am happy to say that all of the trademarks of her writing are still present.

The premise (young, pretty, schoolmistress shows up in a wild west town) is one that is familiar and dear to me. I grew up in Northern California, whose modern history is built on the Gold Rush of 1848-49. I quite literally grew up on stories about people who came from the East to make money to send back home, intending to return but winding up staying.

Field trips were to Sutter’s Mill and ghost towns, and vacations were spent in the Sierra Nevadas, where some mining towns have modernized, but retained their history. The author’s descriptions of Emerson Pass, therefore, felt familiar and allowed me to be comfortable in the setting. She did a great job of bringing the town (warts and all) to life.

I also liked how she had a cross-section of characters filling the town. None of them were caricatures, and they seemed like they could have been built on real people (pretty sure this author does a LOT of research to get things just right). Everything about the characters and situations rang true.

I have to give a special shout out to the Barnes children. I liked how each one had their own personality and weren’t just lumpy children. There is sometimes the tendency of authors to focus on adult characters at the expense of children, but that’s not the case here. This is good, especially considering that Quinn is a schoolmistress – the individuality of all of the children is essential.

I very much enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more visits to Emerson Pass.

Posted on

Books On Tour (Review): Daughters of Wild Rose Bay by Susanne O’Leary

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I can safely say that it wasn’t a purple-haired Irish mother on a raw food diet who is into yoga and meditating. And that’s just one reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B082FGJ97WSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2E0WUWP
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YxxZDQ
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/38hq9Tg

It is filled with quirky characters, some of whom may be familiar to readers of this series (it’s the fourth out of five books). As I am new to the series, I found joy in each new introduction from Sally to Mad Brendan and all of the other inhabitants of Sandy Cove. And yes, Aiden is an absolutely swoon-worthy Irish suitor. 🙂

I thought that the author painted a lovely picture of an Irish seaside town. Her writing is almost lyrical at times, effortless to read, and it drew me in, nearly lulling me the way lapping waves on a beach would. I know that might sound a little corny, but I had that same feeling of contentment as I read.

I also like Jasmine as the “heroine.” I thought her background was unique, and I enjoyed her journey. I also appreciated how the author didn’t hit the reader with a great big sob story from the start. That sometimes seems manipulative, like we’re being forced to feel pity for the character.

But Ms. O’Leary allows us to get to know Jasmine gradually so that when her reasons for leaving France are revealed, we have a greater understanding of her and, therefore, my reactions and feelings towards Jasmine were more real and heartfelt.

As I mentioned, this is the fourth book in the Sandy Cove series. If Daughters of Wild Rose Bay is any indication, I will absolutely be going back and grabbing the first four to catch up while I wait for the fifth one. This is a place I will be happy to revisit.

Author Bio

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

Visit Susanne at her website, http://www.susanne-oleary.co.uk  or her blog, http://bit.ly/11F4e4S 
Find her on Facebook, http://on.fb.me/1A2NAbr and on Twitter, http://bit.ly/1rH67dK
Posted on

Books On Tour (Review): Buried Deep by Susan Wilkins

I always look at the first book in a new series like the pilot of a television show. The author has to introduce all of the characters, give them at least a little bit of backstory, and write a plot that grabs the reader and hooks them for however long the series lasts. I would think that would be a challenging task. Fortunately, the new Detective Megan Thomas series mostly delivers.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B083JLJ8WTSocial
Apple: https://apple.co/2QAaFTL
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2QRPL1m
Google: http://bit.ly/2R0Dibs

I liked Megan. She suffers from almost crippling self-doubt due to past trauma (more on that later). As a result, she has to find her footing personally and in her new assignment. She’s feisty and tenacious, which sometimes leads to conflict with her superiors. Although, it was difficult to determine if that was due to Megan’s personality or for some other reason.

The members of her unit are unique individuals, and I could see the beginnings of a good working relationship between all of them. I did think a couple of them got short shrift; one did not have much to do, and another made some pivotal discoveries but then seemed to get sidelined a bit. Regardless of that, the chemistry is there to build upon in later books.

The plot is twisty, with two different cases running concurrently. The reader is led through both, wondering if they ever converge (I’m not tellin’). But both are fully realized, and the investigations are well-described and thorough.

The only thing that felt stilted was Megan’s past trauma. It seemed to exist in a vacuum, and its sole purpose was to give her a reason to be broken. There was no other tie to anything, which made it seem contrived. I would have liked to have seen it play more of a part, or come full circle somehow.

But that’s trivial. I liked the author’s writing style, and the plot did have me guessing more than a few times. I will undoubtedly be looking to read more of Detective Megan Thomas’s investigations.

Author Bio:

Susan Wilkins also writes as S.J. Wilkins. Susan worked for years in television drama, wrote for shows including Casualty, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Eastenders and created the London-based detective drama South of the Border.

Her gritty, Essex-based gangster trilogy – THE INFORMANT, THE MOURNER and THE KILLER – has been compared to Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers and described as “blazingly brilliant” (Sunday Mirror). IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME, her fourth book, is a twisty psychological thriller, featuring police detective Jo Boden, an ambitious cop still grieving for a murdered sister.

For 2020 a completely gripping new series from Susan introduces the tough and determined Detective Megan Thomas. For fans of Ann Cleeves, LJ Ross and Mari Hannah, this will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. Writing as S.J. Wilkins, A KILLER’S HEART – a tense and timely political thriller, is now available on Kindle.

Website:  https://susanwilkins.co.uk
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/susanwilkinsauthor/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SusanWilkins32

close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)