Blog Tour Archives

July 28, 2022July 28, 2022

Great Sexpectations-Bailey-RomCom-Available Now

Kristen Bailey is an author who will shock you when you read her books. No topic is off-limits or taboo. But you may also be surprised at how much you find yourself laughing. That becomes clear early on in her new romantic comedy Great Sexpectations.

First of all, I have to say that I absolutely love her Callaghan Sisters series. So, I was predisposed to like this one. But she had me hooked from the opening scenes at a Halloween party.

Who wouldn’t love a girl who wears a Ghostbusters costume in the midst of everyone else in sexy gear? Right there, I could tell that Josie would be an ordinary gal trying to find her way in a sex-filled world.

Once her family history and business are revealed, that becomes even more apparent.

Honestly, this is definitely an NSFW book – do NOT try and sneak a couple of chapters on a break or something like that.

For one thing, you’ll find yourself laughing way too much – literally out loud – which will lead to questions about why you’re laughing which will in turn lead to all kinds of awkwardness.

Nobody needs workmates butting in on this.

Second, there are parts that will probably make even the most open-minded person blush. Again, that would lead to questions, yada, yada, yada.

Just snuggle yourself down on your couch or in bed and dive into Josie’s world. Trust me, you will not want to put this book down.

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As much as people may think that the author writes to shock, I think it is more to open people’s eyes to pertinent societal issues. And she mostly does so with humor.

It does seem that she is dismissive of concerns as voiced by Cameron’s family. I hope that they are written especially “large” to make a point. When it comes to certain discussions (as at Josie’s first encounter with them) there are legitimate points on both sides. I don’t think it’s right to dismiss either one out of hand entirely.

But this review is more about the way Ms. Bailey writes things that most people wouldn’t consider talking about even with their closest friends. And she writes whole books about these topics.

And oh, are there topics in this one! As I said before, NOTHING is taboo in Kristen Bailey’s literary world. Not giving anything away though, because you definitely need to experience each new layer to fully appreciate how the author approaches it all.

Another thing about that world? Look carefully, and you’ll find references to the Callaghan sisters throughout. I’m happy that the author hasn’t entirely abandoned them. But I’m equally happy to add Josie and her family to it.

I loved Great Sexpectations, and I really hope that there are more to come (no pun intended – a nod to the author) with these characters.

website: www.kristenbaileywrites.com.

Author Bio:

Mother-of-four, gin-drinker, binge-watcher, receipt hoarder, enthusiastic but terrible cook. Kristen also writes. She has had short fiction published in several publications including Mslexia & Riptide. She writes women’s fiction and she hopes her novels have fresh and funny things to say about modern life, love and family.

July 27, 2022July 28, 2022

The Secret Keeper-Curham-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I am a fan of Siobhan Curham. Her approach to historical fiction is interesting as she always manages to find a unique approach. The Secret Keeper is no exception.

I was immediately drawn in by the name-dropping in the first chapter. It told me that a tone was being set that would draw me in even further.

I wasn’t wrong.

Elena comes from a different background than is usual in historical fiction novels. This plays perfectly into what lies ahead for her. This is one of the reasons the book resonates.

Yes, it still would have been interesting with someone from, say, New York. But Elena’s heritage allows the author to put her in positions that others would not have succeeded in. Yes, I’m being cagey because I don’t want to give those aspects away.

Aside from that, however, Elena’s path to helping the war effort is fascinating. Wisely, the author introduces characters along the way who are interesting enough in their own right.

For example, the people she meets in training; you know they will cross paths again one way or another.

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As for the plot – who doesn’t like a story of an unassuming person being chosen to become a spy and being thrown into dangerous situations?

Elena is intelligent and resourceful. Fortunately, this serves her well as she navigates the clandestine world she is inhabits.

The chapters involving Elena’s experiences in 1942-1944 alternate with letters written by her grandmother in 1940, as she dealt with Nazis occupying Paris. The reader learns a lot from these letters, but does Elena?

But I kept thinking there was more to the letters than met the eye, that they must help Elena somehow. Or play a bigger part in the plot.

And, no, I’m not going to tell you if I was right or not.

I loved The Paris Network and Beyond This Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham. I am happy to add her to my “one-click” historical fiction novels. The Secret Keeper is another winner.

Instagram: SiobhanCurham
Twitter: SiobhanCurham

Author Bio:

Siobhan Curham is an award-winning author, ghost writer, editor and writing coach. She has also written for many newspapers, magazines and websites. Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world.

July 27, 2022July 23, 2022

Unforgivable-Barelli-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Unforgivable by Natalie Barelli is one gonzo of a psych thriller. It starts out as one thing and morphs into another before ending with a touch of “what the heck did I just read.”

It’s all mostly good.

If you’ve read a psych thriller, you know that a common writing technique is to start with a prologue containing an event either A) in the past or B) during the action of the book.

Then it is up to the reader to find out either A) how the event shapes the current situation or B) where exactly the event takes place and why.

In the case of Unforgiveable, the author does something a bit unique. There is no prologue. The book starts with Chapter One, where the narrator talks about something and then says, “but we’re not there yet.”

It’s a clever way to do a non-prologue while allowing the narrator to control the story from the beginning. This is important because later in the book (no spoiler) the reliability of both the victim at the beginning and the narrator are called into question.

But we’re not there yet 😉

The book can be seen as a three-act story: the first lays the groundwork of a soon-to-be-family who has to deal with an obnoxious ex-wife. This actually takes up more than half of the book.

Again, it’s clever, because by the time the author starts throwing some twists around, the reader is invested in the crazy ex-wife thread.

I don’t want to give anything away. So, just quickly, the second act is where the main character (Laura) starts to question everything she thought to be true and the third is…well, where everything else happens.

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The author did a great job of making the villain especially toxic. There were times that I wanted to punch her. I thought the male in the middle was a wimp. He didn’t do anything for me. And the narrator was a bit weak as well.

In the “second act,” the author draws out a history between two characters that seemed to essentially come out of nowhere. It could have used a bit more backstory.

And that’s even before the reveals and twists start to appear – THAT is when it really goes gonzo. Additionally, once we get to the event mentioned in the first chapter, the book is essentially over, and it becomes a non-event.

Oh, and just an aside. I noticed this in the author’s previous book Unfaithful. The story takes place in Seattle. But there’s very little that actually identifies the city as such. Additionally, there are too many wrong words.

Americans don’t “ring” people, they “call” them. It’s not “potato mash” it’s mashed potatoes. One doesn’t eat “crisps” at a bar – they eat “chips.” It’s not that hard to do some searches to find the right word for something set in America.

But that’s a personal pet peeve.

The last chapter serves as a prologue, which also only quickly skims over the climax. I wanted that ALL to be much bigger – only because I really hated the villain that much. The character deserved much more to happen, and the reader needed that catharsis.

Unforgivable is still a good psych thriller. You’ll be questioning the reliability of Laura and the other characters. Natalie Barelli has done it again.

Facebook: NatalieBarelliBooks
Website: http://nataliebarelli.com/

Author Bio

Natalie lives with her family in Australia, where she is forever thinking about new ways of killing people and getting away with it. Before writing full time, Natalie was an IT consultant. Favorite past time? Reading fabulous thrillers, otherwise known as research. And when she’s not absorbed in the latest gripping page-turner, Natalie loves to cook, knits very badly and spends far too much time at her computer.

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022

Five Down-Sibson-Crime Thriller-Available Now

What could be a run-of-the-mill crime thriller is made unique by an interesting twist in Five Down, a debut novel from Tom Sibson.

I picked this up because I am a big fan of crosswords and acrostics. Actually, just about any kind of puzzle, especially those involving wordplay. You know from the blurb how the plot plays out. It’s a fantastic hook into the investigation.

I could go on and on about the plot, but where would the fun be in that? You’ll have to read it for yourself to see how the author lays everything out.

Let’s just say that there is a killer on the loose. And they’re trying to make things difficult for the police. It’s not enough to have to investigate crimes that already occurred.

But because of the killer’s taunts and riddles, the police also have to try to solve the next murder before it happens. To do that, they need to unravel clues sent to them by the killer.

It makes for a clever cat and mouse game where the mouse is taunting the cat with every step. In some ways, it also turns the hunters (the police) into the hunted, as the killer seems to anticipate their movements.

Or at least they think they know what the police will do.

The author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing while also laying out the clues in a way that allows the reader to try to solve the mystery of who the killer is before the police do. Every person comes under suspicion.

It all reminds me of the Zodiac. He was a serial killer who sent cryptic clues and weird puzzles to the San Francisco Police Department in the late 1960s. He was never caught, and only recently have some of his puzzles been (possibly)solved.

Fortunately for the reader, the killer in this book isn’t as elusive. Even if the reader doesn’t figure it out before the police, Five Down is still an engaging crime thriller. I certainly look forward to reading more from Tom Sibson.

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Author Bio

Born in Yorkshire, Tom Sibson spent his earlier career in a variety of scientific research and engineering roles. Now in middle age hopes to share his love of the city of York with his readers — albeit via somewhat dark, intriguing, and mind-teasing scenarios.

When not writing crime novels, Tom loves researching true crime, modern history, running, playing the guitar, listening to all genres of rock and solving cryptic crosswords with a particular penchant for the one in Private Eye.

July 25, 2022July 23, 2022

Point Last Seen-Dodd-Thriller-Available Now

I like it when an author creates a location that is as much a character as the people. That is certainly the case with the town of Gothic in Point Last Seen, a new thriller by Christina Dodd.

Nestled between the Coastal Range and the Pacific Ocean somewhere along the California coast, Gothic is difficult to get to. Perfect for the inhabitants of the town, who all seem to be seeking isolation for one reason or another.

There’s a tortured artist, a former movie star, a transgender psychic (more on that later), and a whole host of other quirky characters. At times they verge on being cartoonish, but once I realized how the author was crafting the story, it didn’t really bother me.

The plot is pretty straightforward. as much as it tries to be a thriller, there is too much given away near the beginning to make it too enthralling. There are some moments of “what will happen” but not as many as expected.

In fact, the whole book reads more like a romance with some suspense instead of a straight-out thriller. I think if you go into the book with that perspective, you will enjoy it more. As a thriller, it is a little disappointing.

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However, the romance is not that strong either. It is difficult to believe that a person with amnesia who was dead for all intents and purposes is suddenly more focused on her rescuer’s body and what she can do with it.

There are more than a few parts that are jarring like that. They left me thinking, “sheesh, this woman must be really frustrated.” If you know the publisher is Harlequin, I guess readers can just expect it?

The villains are not very evil. So, there is no suspense from them. And as to the transgender psychic, it appears as if there is some misgendering along the way. It seems to be an odd choice anyway because it really doesn’t add anything to the story itself.

I suppose if you’re going to try to be timely and include a character to show diversity, you should probably make sure you’re correct in all aspects of that character’s beliefs. I couldn’t care less about it, but I know that it is important to a portion of society.

Anyway, as I said at the outset, the town is atmospheric on its own, and that’s not because of the characters. It just seems like a cool place to visit. Point Last Seen is a good story, and I’ll definitely read more from Christina Dodd.

Twitter: @ChristinaDodd
Facebook: Christina Dodd
Instagram: @christinadoddbooks

Author Bio:

New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd writes “edge-of-the-seat suspense” (Iris Johansen) with “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (ALA Booklist). Her fifty-eight books have been called “scary, sexy, and smartly written” by Booklist and, much to her mother’s delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list at www.christinadodd.com.

July 24, 2022August 1, 2022

The Librarian Spy-Martin-Historical Fiction-Available Now

The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin is the type of historical fiction novel that grabs the reader with an interesting premise, hooks them with compelling characters, and finished them off with a dose of reality.

In other words, it is everything a historical fiction novel should be.

I absolutely loved The Last Bookshop in London, so I was very excited to see her new release. I’m happy to say that this one is just as good!

The story unfolds in two parallel narratives: Ava’s in Lisbon, Portugal, and Elaine’s in Lyon, France. It is a unique approach, because, unlike other historical fiction novels, both women are in the same year, 1943.

Usually, there are contemporary and historical timelines that have a connection. That’s not the case here, and it adds a bit of mystery to the story.

What is the significance of each woman’s story and how do they relate to each other? The author takes great care to build the plot lines independently but with enough action in each to further draw in the reader.

I was never disappointed when the chapters switched from one to the other; it felt natural to want to know what was going on at the same time.

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I don’t want to give away the major plot point, but the two stories do eventually intertwine, even if it is relatively briefly in the overarching story. It’s enough to be a satisfactory connection.

Because really, it is a story about two women, each doing their part to fight against fascism during WWII. Ava’s is more intriguing due to her eventual position and duties. But Elaine’s is more compelling due to the urgency of her work.

As with any novel set during WWII, there is loss – some of it quite heartbreaking – but there is also a good dash of hope and resilience. The importance of never giving up and believing in a cause is vital for both women.

It is always difficult to say that I enjoy a historical fiction novel. Especially one set during one of the darkest periods of history. But The Librarian Spy kept me up most of the night to find out the fates of Ava and Elaine.

I highly recommend this book.

Twitter: @MadelineMMartin
Facebook: @MadelineMartinAuthor
Instagram: @madelinemmartin

AUTHOR BIO

Madeline Martin is a New York Times and international bestselling author of historical fiction novels and historical romance. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters, two incredibly spoiled cats, and a wonderful husband. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she’s not writing, researching or ‘moming’, you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos.

July 22, 2022July 21, 2022

Liar, Liar-Davis-Psych Thriller-Available Now

In the new psych thriller from L. G. Davis you’ll find yourself wondering who is telling the truth while pretty much calling everyone Liar, Liar.

From the very beginning, I was positive that I knew what was going on in the neighborhood.

I was not correct.

But the truth of the characters is better than what I was imagining.

Side note: I know Lumberton well, as we used to stop there when were driving back and forth between NY and FL. But that is just a neat little realization of mine.

The story belongs to Tess. I like how the story is all hers, because it gives the reader the opportunity to get into her head and see things more clearly. While jumping between multiple perspectives can make a book interesting, it sometimes gets confusing.

In Liar, Liar, we get everything from her, both in the past and the present. Well, except for a few small instances.

It is apparent from early on that Tess has a dark secret and that Oliver helps her hide it from their neighbors.

Is Tess lying? Is Oliver? And what is up with the bookclub with members who don’t want to talk about books?

It is brilliant plotting, because it makes every character a suspect. But a suspect of what?

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Slowly, in flashbacks, we learn how Tess and Oliver came to be where they are. We also learn that neither of them is completely innocent in the events of both the past and the present.

I don’t want to give anything away, but I suppose it could be boiled down to “men are liars, women are liars, both manipulate each other, kids end up in the middle.”

I will say that the ending is a bit gonzo, and I am not exactly sure I buy it all. But it is unique, so I’ll give the author that.

And – just an aside – I wish that authors who set their stories in America would take the time to research American terms for items. A person living in North Carolina would have a hoodie, not a hooded jumper.

But that is just a personal pet peeve.

Liar, Liar is a solid psych thriller that I can certainly recommend. I look forward to reading more books from her!

Twitter: @LGDavisAuthor
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Website: author-lgdavis.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz’s story began in a refugee camp in Angola, where she spent the first eight years of her life. After that, she spent some years in Namibia (her home country), South Africa, and Germany. She now lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and two children. Liz wrote her first full-length novel at eighteen and hid it in a box under her bed. Several others soon followed it. Her passion lies in writing edge-of-the-seat psychological thrillers that give readers the same rush they would get on a rollercoaster.

July 21, 2022July 21, 2022

Truly, Madly, Amy-Wilkinson-Fiction-Available Now

I’m a huge Kerry Wilkinson fan. A one-click psych thriller author for me. Therefore, I was equally excited and intrigued to see Truly, Madly, Amy listed as a general fiction/romance novel.

First, I have to commend the author for taking a step outside of the psych thriller genre. I imagine that it might get boring to write the same thing all the time. Or it might be challenging to come up with delicious plot twists that keep the reader guessing.

At any rate, Truly, Madly, Amy is a definite departure. And while I like the premise as a whole, I didn’t think it was entirely successful.

Now, let me preface the rest of this by saying simply because of the era in which the book is set, I had a hard time relating to the characters.

The action, aside from the last chapter or two, takes place in 1999. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the Prince song of the same title, by the time the actual year rolled around, I was approaching 30 years old. I was teaching high school, engaged for the first time, and going through many personal life changes.

Actually, now that I think about it, that’s probably one of the things that saved the book for me. My students at the time would have been the same age as Joe and Amy. I didn’t think about it during reading.

But it is probable that I understood them in a detached way – in relation to my students but not me. Anyway, that made it difficult for me to understand the characters’ points of view on things.

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The story is not heavy with 1999 references either. There was no atmospheric nostalgia of pop culture that could have re-created that era. Good fiction set in the past usually has that aspect.

What the book does have, however, is an exquisite look at how much one person can impact your life. One person who is there at a pivotal moment, who understands enough to know exactly what needs to be done.

That’s what Amy does for Joe. It isn’t a big, sweeping gesture, it is more just a good person being in the right place at the right time.

I am still not sure how I feel about the ending. It reads as if the author is trying to work out the past few years via the characters in the story. I get it, I think. But it seemed almost too reflective and cynical for the rest of the story.

If you go into Truly, Madly, Amy with the understanding that it is more character-driven, you will certainly enjoy it. The author successfully captures the feeling of a summer of endless possibilities. I’ll be interested if the author jumps into plain fiction again.

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Twitter: kerrywk
Web: https://kerrywilkinson.com/

Author Bio:

Kerry Wilkinson is from the English county of Somerset but has spent far too long living in the north. It’s there that he’s picked up possibly made-up regional words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’. He pretends to know what they mean.

He’s also been busy since turning thirty: his Jessica Daniel crime series has sold more than a million copies in the UK; he has written a fantasy-adventure trilogy for young adults; a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter and the standalone thriller, Down Among The Dead Men.

July 20, 2022July 20, 2022

The Lost Boy-Renshaw-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Lost Boy by Jane Renshaw is a solid psych thriller that is a mostly good read with some really good twists.

It is obvious right from the start that something is not right with Anna. Sure, she says it flat out at the end of the very first chapter.

But even in the introduction of her character, it was apparent that there is an oddness about her. That is good foreshadowing by the author because it is solid groundwork for the revelations that come later in the book.

I thought that Penny and Rod were a little more difficult to understand. Sometimes I got their dynamic, and then something would occur that made me question myself.

They also seemed very mismatched. Penny’s description brings to mind a high-maintenance socialite while Rod likes hiking and birding. Not to say that opposites can’t attract, but it was jarring to me at times.

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The author excels in two places throughout the story: the description of obnoxious children and location/scenery.

Honestly, the two boys are so well written that one has to think that the author knows an annoying kid or two. And, knowing that these are fictional characters, I found myself rooting more for Anna than I probably should have.

As to scenery, it creates a brooding atmosphere that adds to the danger lurking on the island.

And about that island? I get why the author made it so remote, but it took a little bit of suspension of disbelief that Rod and Penny would accept a trip based on an invitation from a virtual stranger.

That being said, the book does pick up in the second half as the truth about Anna’s background and motivations come to light. And there are still a few twists at the end.

The Lost Boy is a different kind of island adventure. Jane Renshaw has created a moody psych thriller that will keep you turning pages.

Author Bio

As a child, Jane spent a lot of time in elaborate Lego worlds populated by tiny plastic animals
and people. Crime levels were high, especially after the Dragon brothers set themselves up as
vets and started murdering the animals in their ‘care’. (They got away with it by propping the
victims up with Plasticine and pretending they were still alive…). As an adult, she is still playing in imaginary worlds and putting her characters through hell – but now she can call it ‘writing’ and convince herself that she is doing something sensible. In real life, she has a PhD in genetics and copy-edits scientific and medical journals.

July 19, 2022July 19, 2022

Do I Really Know You?-Browne-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Do I Really Know You? by Sheryl Browne is a psych thriller that keeps the suspense building. The reader has to guess who is telling the truth, who is lying, and who can be trusted.

Turns out that none of the characters are really easy to know. That goes for the characters knowing each other as well as the reader figuring everything out.

As is usual with a psych thriller, the story starts with a prologue that features an event. But it is impossible to tell who the victim is and who is the perpetrator.

That continues into the present-day action. But first, there is a brief flashback to fifteen years prior that provides backstory to the relationships between the four main characters: Kiara, Dave, Maddie, and Nathan.

We then enter present time. It quickly becomes apparent that none of them really know each other at all. And that goes for the married couples as well as the long-time friendships.

Maddie begins to question everything when a tragic “accident” involving Kiara throws the remaining three friends into turmoil, especially as their disbelief of each other is strengthened during the police investigation.

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Who is lying? Why are people hiding secrets? Who is the victim in all of this? Are additional people pulling the strings, or is it a coincidence?

The author wisely keeps the answers to these questions mostly hidden until the end, which leaves the reader guessing right along with Maddie. As a result, she’s the one who becomes pivotal in the whole scheme of things.

I did guess one of the twists from the beginning, but as I have mentioned before, it’s more because I like to try to outguess the author. However, other readers will find the reveal of the culprit to be a surprise.

There are other twists and surprises that I did not guess. I liked the balance of obvious (to me) and not knowing something until the author revealed it.

I’m a big fan of Sheryl Browne (see also The Invite), and Do I Really Know You? is another solid psych thriller from her.

Website: www.sherylbrowne.com
Twitter: sherylbrowne
Instagram: sheryl.browne

Author Bio:

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taut, twisty psychological thriller. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ 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 DO I REALLY KNOW YOU? 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.