Local Woman Missing (Kubica)-Blog Tour-Psychological Thriller-Available May 18

This book was all kinds of twisty, with time jumps, different points of view, and layers upon layers of occurrences.

In spite of all of that, it was incredibly easy to follow. I will say that it helped to read the chapter headings (I usually skip them for the most part) because it helped keep everything straight both for who was speaking and when.

In fact, it’s a little difficult to write this review, because there were some seemingly disparate parts to the story – at times it felt like there were two different plot lines going on at the same time.

It’s not a spoiler to state that it all becomes clearer the further into the book that you go. So, stick with it.

I actually found Leo to be the most interesting character. I liked how his story was presented, and I thought that in some ways, he was the most astute out of all of them.

I especially appreciated his view of memories, and how they can be skewed by other people’s recollections or become supplanted by other’s versions of them. We’ve had that conversation in my family quite often.

For example, every time we get together with family, different members add their own perspectives to the memories that we talk about. Those then become the full memories, even though they’re not entirely from one person.

Buy Links below Author Info

There were a few times that I thought the red herrings were a bit heavy handed and a few more that didn’t seem to fit. Or rather, they seemed to be completely separate from the main issues.

Things like Marty’s part in the whole thing and Leo’s childhood were interesting, but seemed thrown in to muddy the plot, not for any real points.

I also am unsure if the perpetrator was fully built to be plausible. I will say that it totally took me surprise, so maybe that is a good thing. It certainly made a few other choices of the author to become clearer.

If I’m talking in riddles, it’s because I don’t want to give the plot away. Missing persons are tricky, and when they show back up in one way or another, they can cause great turmoil.

How’s that for cryptic?

All in all, I would recommend this book. As I said, be sure to read the chapter headings so you can keep it all clear.

Facebook: MaryKubicaAuthor
Twitter: @MaryKubica 
Instagram: marykubica 

About the Author:Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of six novels, including THE GOOD GIRL, PRETTY BABY, DON’T YOU CRY, EVERY LAST LIE, WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, and THE OTHER MRS. A former high school history teacher, Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children. Her last novel THE OTHER MRS. was an instant New York Times bestseller; is coming soon to Netflix; was a LibraryReads pick for February 2020; praised by the New York Times; and highly recommended by Entertainment Weekly, People, The Week,Marie Claire, Bustle, HelloGiggles, Goodreads, PopSugar, BookRiot, HuffingtonPost, First for Women, Woman’s World, and more. Mary’s novels have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller,” (Kirkus Reviews) and “a writer of vice-like control,” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (Los Angeles Times).  LOCAL WOMAN MISSING is her seventh novel.

Buy Links

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/local-woman-missing/id1524947457 

Google Play: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Local_Woman_Missing/sKazzQEACAAJ?hl=en 

The Summer Seekers (Morgan)-Blog Tour-Fiction-Available Now

This book was relatable on many different levels.

First, and probably most importantly, it explores the changing relationship of a mother and daughter. What happens when roles are reversed, and the daughter feels that she has to become the caretaker?

And what happens when the mother is in complete opposition to that?

Thoroughly relatable for anyone who has ever had to come to agreements and compromises with an aging parent.

But it’s more than that.

I liked how the author put an emphasis on friendship knowing no age limits. I liked that the sense of adventure spans generations. And I liked the message of “do your own thing for as long as you can.”

All good things that are clearly guiding a well-written and engaging story.

While I did relate to Liza in terms of worrying about an aging mother, I found her to be almost too much of a worrier. There were times that she actually got on my nerves (so I couldn’t blame Kathleen for feeling similar at all).

Liza was obviously concerned about her mom, and rightfully so, but there were times where it seemed like she was too overbearing.

I thought Kathleen was feisty, and she reminded me of my own mom in some ways. I did think that her character got a little bit lost by the end. I couldn’t tell if it was reflective of her being tired from the road trip or if the author lost some steam.

Morgan was a bit of a mess. In some ways I related to her being frazzled and wanting a change, but there was also something about her that bugged me. Not a lot, but just a tad. Not quite sure why.

I do wish that there had been more details about the trip via Route 66. I was expecting more adventures and occurrences, especially since it’s a road that is filled with unique opportunities to have fun scenes.

As it was, it seemed like the build up to the trip took more time than it needed to, and the trip didn’t take enough. That was just my perception. Maybe because I happen to love Americana, so it seemed like a wasted opportunity.

Regardless, this was still a good book with great messages about intergenerational friendships and living your best life. A perfect beach read.

Author Bio: USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy, contemporary romance and women’s fiction, and her trademark humor and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. Described as “a magician with words” by RT Book Reviews, she has sold more than eleven million copies of her books. She was nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America and won the award three times: once in 2012 for Doukakis’s Apprentice, in 2013 for A Night of No Return and in 2017 for Miracle on 5th Avenue. She also won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award in 2012 and has made numerous appearances in their Top Pick slot. As a child, Sarah dreamed of being a writer, and although she took a few interesting detours along the way, she is now living that dream. Sarah lives near London, England, with her husband and children, and when she isn’t reading or writing, she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying.

Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church (Rees)-BoT-Fiction-Available Now

I was completely taken by this book from start to finish. I thought that the plot was interesting, the characters were engaging, and the overall story was unique.

I mean, honestly, who would think that a story hinging on the fundraising for a church roof could be so entertaining? Not to mention the unlikeliest pairing of characters I’ve seen in a long time.

There were parts of it that were a little predictable – Gwen was an odd bird who had suffered a great loss and was forced to live with a mean old aunt. It was no surprise that she would embrace a project such as the one tasked by Vicar Dave.

Jarvis was less obvious. He ended up being more complex than I thought he would be. At the beginning, he was a typical screwup (although a tad old for it), and it took me a while to figure out what his game was (because he obviously had one).

Okay, to be honest, I didn’t figure it out until it was revealed.

And what a surprise it was, because it totally changed the perspective I had of Jarvis. I’m sure that was intentioned, and it was very well done.

I could totally see myself getting wrapped up in a project such as Gwen and Jarvis undertook. I would thrive on something like that. So, I was just as avid as they were to continue the research in the guest book.

I don’t want to say a lot more, because I truly enjoyed not knowing what was coming next.

I will say that in addition to the great story, I really enjoyed watching (reading?) Gwen and Jarvis both grow. It felt good to see two people bring out unique aspects of each other while also recognizing their own strengths.

I guess that’s a good lesson out of this – never let other people define your self-worth. Gwen did with her Aunt Mary and Jarvis did with, well…the whole town. But they got past that to re-discover their strengths.

This was definitely a feel-good novel that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Twitter: @AuthorTracyRees
https://www.tracyrees.com

Author Bio:
Tracy Rees was the winner of the Richard and Judy ‘Search for a Bestseller’ Competition and her books are paperback, ebook and audio bestsellers. A Cambridge graduate, she had a successful eight-year career in nonfiction publishing and a second career practising and teaching humanistic counselling before becoming a writer. She lives in Wales.

The Berlin Zookeeper (Stuart)-Books On Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I learned something interesting about myself while reading this book.

I found that I am much more disturbed by animals being harmed than people. Not quite sure what that says about me.

I would like to think it is because animals put their trust in humans to take care of them and are often put in positions where this is the only path to survival. This is especially true of animals in a zoo.

That responsibility multiplies infinitely when the zoo is in the middle of a war zone.

I found the subject matter and the setting of this book to be fascinating. The author either had some personal connection or did extensive research because everything zoo-related seemed authentic and plausible.

As with other historical fiction novels, there are dual storylines: one historical, one contemporary. I thought this worked in the book because there was not only a connection between the two, but some of the characters spanned both.

I’m not going to give away who, but the revelations were well-done and caught me by surprise.

It was difficult to get through the first few chapters, largely due to the aforementioned feeling about animals being harmed. Those were tough passages, and I wanted to cry right along with the characters.

However, I’m glad I pushed through because I was completely taken by the story of the “Zoofamilie.” Those chapters were especially informative and page-turning.

There are a lot of novels that are set during the Blitz in London, but this is one of the first in my memory where the action takes place in Berlin during the retaliation strikes. It was interesting to read from the German point of view.

Kudos also to the author for addressing how Russia was viewed toward the end of the war and for being brutal in the accurate descriptions of the mentality.

The only thing that felt a little flat for me was Bethan’s relationship with Callum. I get why it was in place, but it was pretty obvious which way it was going to go. I almost wish it wasn’t there at all.

I do think that Bethan’s “mystery” had a great build up, but it almost seemed anti-climactic when it was resolved. After the entire novel, the mystery was solved within a couple of pages. That was a little bit of a let-down.

But those are minor complaints, because everything worked out in the end. I would highly recommend this novel for the unique point of view and setting and for the reminder that humanity can be judged by how we treat others – including animals.

Facebook: @annastuartauthor
Twitter: @annastuartbooks

Author Bio:
Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers.

A Good Mother (Bazelon)-Excerpt-Legal Thriller-Available May 11

Doing something different today.

Check out the description of an exciting new book by Lara Bazelon.

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

A gripping page turner about two young mothers, one grisly murder, and the lengths both women will go in the name of their children.

When young decorated combat veteran Travis Hollis is found stabbed through the heart at a U.S. Army base in Germany, there is no doubt that his wife, Luz, is to blame. But was it an act of self defense? A frenzied attempt to save her infant daughter from domestic abuse? Or the cold blood murder of an innocent man?

As the case heads to trial in Los Angeles, hard-charging attorney Abby Rosenberg is eager to return from maternity leave—and her quickly fracturing home life—to take the case and defend Luz. Abby, a new mother herself, is committed to ensuring Luz avoids prison and retains custody of her daughter. But as the evidence stacks up against Luz, Abby realizes the task proves far more difficult than she suspected – especially when she has to battle for control over the case with her co-counsel, whose dark absorption with Luz only complicates matters further.

As the trial careens toward an outcome no one expects, readers will find themselves in the seat of the jurors, forced to answer the question – what does it mean to be a good mother? A good lawyer? And who is the real monster?

Pretty good, huh? How about the cover?

Buy Links can be found below the excerpt

What do you think so far? How about an excerpt?

“Front desk, Sergeant Jamison.”
“He was too big. I couldn’t get him off me. He told me I was going to die—[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am?”
“[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am, where are you?”
“1074-B Arizona Circle. Call an ambulance. I need—”
“Okay, okay. I’ve got the EMT on the other line and the ambulance en route. Where are you hurt?”
“Not me—”
“Ma’am, is that—is that a baby crying? Is that your baby?”
“[unintelligible]”
“Did he hurt the baby?”
“She’s—[unintelligible]—the other room. He was going to [unintelligible]”
“Okay, I reported the break-in. We are dispatching—security forces have been dispatched. Where is he now?”
“[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am, where is the intruder now?”
“He was stabbed. Oh, Jesus, oh, Jesus—[unintelligible]”
“What is the nature of the injury?”
“There’s so much blood—[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am, I can’t—I’m having trouble understanding you. I need for you to calm down so I can tell these guys what’s going on.”
“[unintelligible]”
“Where is he stabbed?”
“In his chest. He’s losing all of his blood.”
“The EMT is en route now.”
“[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am, could the intruder hurt you or the baby? Are you still in danger?”
“He’s not—[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am—”
“—an intruder. He’s— It’s Staff Sergeant—[unintelligible]”
“I’m having a hard time understanding you, ma’am. Take a breath. Take a breath.”
“Staff Sergeant Travis Hollis—”
“The intruder is—he’s—he’s military?”
“He’s my husband. He was stabbed. I stabbed him—[unintelligible]”
“Ma’am, ma’am, are you still there?”
“Travis, baby, don’t die on me. Please, don’t die.”

Excerpted from A Good Mother by Lara Bazelon, Copyright © 2021 by Lara Bazelon. Published by Hanover Square Press.

New Girl in Little Cove (Monaghan)-Blog Tour-Fiction-Available May 11

I learned a lot of things from this book. including delightful new words and phrases.

I learned that small towns are the same whether they are in Newfoundland or the US or UK, and also that teenagers can be obnoxious regardless of country of residence.

That is what made this book so enjoyable to me. Even though I have never traveled to Newfoundland, I found the attitudes of the townspeople to be similar to a small upstate NY town we used to live in. As a former teacher, I felt the teenage characters were familiar as well.

Rachel was therefore relatable on a couple of different levels. I remember my first day of teaching high school like it was yesterday. That was one of my favorite scenes in the book.

She also handled everything the best she could. She wasn’t perfect and she made mistakes, but she came across as someone genuine who just wanted to fit in and do a good job.

I especially liked how the author wrote phonetically or in the vernacular. I know that’s often a bone of contention when dealing with accents in a book.

But I prefer it because I read those parts out loud (yes, it probably seemed as if I was talking to myself) and it definitely gave me a better feel for the cadence and lilt of the townies’ language. I was also struck by how much it had in common with Irish inflections and contractions.

I really enjoyed all of the characters – quirky doesn’t begin to describe some of them.

But back to the teaching part, I thought the way Rachel figured out how to reach the students was accurately portrayed. Sometimes it’s all about just catching their attention in the smallest way – then you can expand on it to bring them further around.  

I guess if there was a phrase to sum up this book it would be “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The townies got to know Rachel instead of judging her as a mainlander and she got to know the students in spite of being warned about them by others.

This was a charming book and I would recommend it for a light, easy, relaxing read.

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @Downith
Instagram: @Downith1
Facebook: @AuthorDMonaghan
Goodreads

DAMHNAIT MONAGHAN was once a mainlander who taught in a small fishing village in Newfoundland. A former teacher and lawyer, Monaghan has almost sixty publication credits, including flash fiction, creative non-fiction, and short stories. Her short prose has won or placed in various writing competitions and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfictions. New Girl in Little Cove placed in the top six from more than 350 entries in the 2019 International Caledonia Novel Award.

Long Walk Home (Oaksmith)-Books On Tour-Feel Good Romance-Available Now

By now, visiting Chelan feels like a refreshing quick vacation to a memorable location. The Alvarez sisters are still working to save Blue Hills Vineyard, succeeding in little steps.

In this book we get Lola’s story. She’s the youngest, and even though she was in the first two books, this is the first time that I really felt that I got a grasp of who she was.

I’m pretty sure that the author plotted it that way, giving each sister the focus deserved in each of the books. I like how this was done, because it not only gave each of the sisters the spotlight, but it also laid the groundwork for the family drama.

And boy, does that play a part in this one.

Lola has some great ideas to help expand the success of the winery, but as the youngest, she isn’t taken very seriously, especially by Carmen (the oldest).

There’s some typical sibling rivalry here, as well as some stereotypical characterizations. The hard-headed oldest sister, the free spirit younger sister fighting for her voice to be heard…anyone with siblings will recognize the dynamics.

It doesn’t help Lola that her first love, Gus, has come back to town, making it difficult for her to concentrate on her plans to show Carmen how profitable her ideas can be.

As a fan of cooking shows, I especially liked the scenes in the kitchen. Neil was an especially memorable character because he was just like several well-known tv chefs.

Blue Hills Vineyard reminds me of the vineyards in Northern Virginia – I have many fond memories of tastings and overnights there. The descriptions in the book are vivid enough for me to picture the entire layout in spite of being in a different state.

Shout out to Daisy as well. I felt a special affinity for her because I have a dog with one blue eye and one brown eye. So yeah, I related to a dog in the story.

The romance is sweet, the characters are realistic, and the setting is idyllic. Sometimes that’s all you need for the perfect read.

Author bio:
Ellyn Oaksmith is the USA Today and Kindle bestselling author of addictively fun love stories. She has never run a winery, been attacked by drones or nearly drowned someone but she loves putting her characters in challenging situations. Ellyn also enjoys chatting with readers on social media. Especially when she should be writing.

Ellyn began her writing life as a screenwriter in Los Angeles which, outside of writing hours, is exactly as crazy as it seems in the movies. After hightailing it back to her native Seattle, Ellyn began writing comedic romances and never looked back.

Ellyn lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s part of a competitive rowing team. You can often find her on Lake Sammamish rowing in the dark.

Author website: www.EllynOaksmith.com
Facebook: @EllynOaksmith
Instagram: @EllynOaksmith

The Liar’s Daughter (R. Halsall)-Books On Tour-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

I have come to realize that atmosphere plays a big part in my enjoyment of a book. This is the perfect example to explain.

The prologue sets a creepy tone as an ambulance arrives at a remote farm, only to find a woman who is severely injured. There’s howling wind and a sense of abandonment, but the ambulance attendants also hear creaking floors, and there are perceived glimpses of someone else in the house.

It was a truly eerie opening that gave me shivers. It also made me eager to see if the author continued that feeling through the story.

No spoiler alert – it’s there.

The story is told in three parts with Eva’s perspective first, then Nancy’s, then both of them wrap up to the end.

It’s an effective structure and allows the reader to have a clear understanding of the characters’ mindsets as the plot winds its way toward the conclusion.

There are twists and revelations that I don’t want to talk about because I don’t want to give anything away. But each of the main characters is fully fleshed out, and the author ensures that the reader feels and empathizes with them.

I didn’t relate to any of them, but that was okay because in this case I don’t think it was necessary to identify with a character or situation in order to enjoy the book.

Eva’s desire for the truth and Nancy’s perspective on past events are all just there for the reader’s enjoyment. No great messages or particularly deep thoughts. There’s a tendency to look too hard for that sometimes.

This was just plain good, moody plotting. I was so caught up in it that a few times there were loud noises around my house that made me jump.

I really don’t want to talk myself into a corner by discussing further plot points, but the author wraps everything up neatly and believably by the end of the book.

I’d definitely recommend this atmospheric, creepy psych thriller.

Author Bio:

Rona lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and three guinea pigs. She has been a bookworm since she was a child and now she’s actually creating stories of her own, which still feels like a dream come true. 

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she’s plotting how to kill off her next victim. She also makes sure she deletes her Google history on a regular basis, because… well, you can’t be too careful when you spend your life researching new and ingenious ways for people to die.

She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

Only You-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

I’ve been a fan of this author for a while, as you can tell from my past reviews (search this blog with the author’s name and you can see all of them). She usually has an interesting build-up and pretty decent suspense.

The latest release from her is no exception.

I’ll admit that it took me a little while to get into the book. I thought the first few chapters seemed scattered, and I was having a difficult time figuring out who the characters were, who was important, and how they all connected.

But by the time Hadley’s sister shows up (very early on) I had it all straightened out and had formed opinions about the various characters.

Kenny was creepy, Faith was beyond annoying (but obviously for a reason) and Deborah knew more than she was telling (or maybe even more than she thought she knew because of her condition).

But was any of it real, or were they all just artificial fronts? You’d have to read the book to find out.

It took me a couple of chapters, but I caught on to where the intermittent fairy tale chapters fit in pretty quickly. I originally had two guesses but discounted one almost immediately, so it was interesting to see how the author worked it all together.

There were a few moments that required the complete suspension of disbelief, parts that didn’t seem as well fleshed out. They didn’t detract from the overall story, but they were noticeable. And frankly, I didn’t care for the ending too much. But that could very well just be a personal thing.

Overall, I thought this was a good psych thriller with some unique aspects that wrapped up neatly.

About Cathryn Grant:

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels.  

She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.  

When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats. 

Cathryn is the author of The Assistant, The Good Mother and many other psychological thrillers. Only You will be her sixth novel published with Inkubator Books.

Confessions from the Quilting Circle-Blog Tour (Review)-Women’s Fiction-Available May 4

I very much enjoyed this story that wove the history of three generations of women from the same family into one coherent narrative.

Although, I guess with quilting I should maybe say “patched” instead of “wove?” At any rate, I was drawn right into the plot as the sisters arrived at their grandmother’s house.

I did think that there was an awful lot going on in opening chapters, and at times I felt like it was bogged down a bit which made it slow going.

But I’m pretty sure the author plotted that way so that the reader could grasp the backgrounds of the three sisters to understand their current situations and mindsets.

I liked how the author used one word repeatedly to tie both the sisters’ lives and the quilt together. I thought that was illustrative and nice attention to detail.

I also thought that each of the sisters’ personal journeys were realistic and believable but also tailored to each sister. I related to Lark the most, but there were elements in Avery’s and Hannah’s stories that I could also understand on a personal level.

That showed some nice balance by the author, because more often than not there is a singular character to relate to, not a bit in each of them.

I enjoyed the diary entries that started the chapters. It was an effective way to get the past across without jumping back and forth in timelines causing confusion.

One of the only things that kind of bothered me throughout the book was the heavy use of the pronoun “she.” I know that seems nitpicky, and I usually do not mention grammar in my reviews.

However, when the three main characters are female and talking to each other, repeatedly using “she” sometimes confused me as I couldn’t figure out exactly who was speaking. I often had to go back a bit and re-read, parsing out the dialogue so I was sure to understand it.

But that was minor. Otherwise, I thought it was a good read, and I would recommend it.  

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @maiseyyates
Facebook:@MaiseyYates.Author 
Instagram: @maiseyyates
Goodreads

Author Bio: New York Times Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. 

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