Tag: Blog Tour

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Blog Tour (Review): Summer Storms by Brittainy Cherry

I first introduced to this author’s work with Eleanor & Grey, which to me, is still her best work. Summer Storms comes close, though.

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I love how Ms. Cherry’s characters have a way of seeming familiar as if they’re people that you already know. It’s not because all of her characters are the same (far from it). I think that it is more because they are so relatable and down to earth. They are never caricatures.

What they are, however, is flawed, and that is what makes them human. None of her characters are ever perfect. I mean, even the therapist and his wife have a “moment” that makes them more than “just” a therapist. And that’s not to say that their moment is flawed…I’m getting tangled up. Anyway, the characters always just seem to have an extra something that makes them easier to get to know.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to when Jax and Kennedy were children. I thought those scenes were very well done and gave great insight into the events that further shaped their lives.

I did feel like the editing got lax about two-thirds of the way through. There seemed to be an increase in the number of repeated phrases and paragraphs that seemed to ramble. But that could be because it was an ARC and not fully edited yet.

The one thing I was a little disappointed in was how lackluster the “big reveal” for Jax was. It was something that he had built his whole life upon, and then all of a sudden, it was different, and he raged, but then he was sort of like, “what can I do?” I felt like that should have been a much bigger deal for them to deal with, maybe as a couple.

But I did love the way they found each other again, and how they “knew” what was right. That’s the kind of hope and love that will keep me coming back to her books.

About Brittainy

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

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

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

Connect with Brittainy
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Fc8izo
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Oe1m8V
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Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Fk2jKg
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2ThAciJ

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Blog Tour (Review): Blood on the Tyne-Body Parts

What a departure from my usual genres this book was!

The description caught my eye, so I thought I would give it a go. I’ve always enjoyed “older” mysteries from Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. I love the whole “noir” genre. Imagine my surprise to find that Blood on the Tyne fits right in with them.

I loved the setting from the time period to the location. The mid-50s is a ripe playground for exciting characters, and the author gets them all in there: the chanteuse, the homebody sister, the gangster, the bad boy ex…it’s a great gallery of personalities.

The premise is good also. Rosie has returned home from London for her mam’s funeral. While she is there, she gets embroiled in a police investigation. Young ladies are missing and then found murdered. And they all have a connection to the very places and people Rosie is around. (Don’t want to give too much detail and give anything away).

One thing I especially appreciated was the way the author wrote dialectically. I think it takes great talent to portray an accent or lexicon accurately. When an author takes the time to do so, it adds a whole new layer to the story for me. It also usually takes me longer to read because I read all of it as written to get the full effect. (Plus, the theater-geek in me still likes to work on accents).

I was pleased to see that this is the first in what might be a series, or at least there will be a book two. I enjoyed this one very much, and I look forward to the further adventures of Rosie Robson.

About Colin Garrow

True-born Geordie Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland and has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. Colin has published three stage plays, six adventures for middle grade readers, two books of short stories, the Watson Letters series and the Terry Bell Mysteries. His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, The Grind, A3 Review, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. These days he lives in a humble cottage in North East Scotland where he writes novels, stories. poems and the occasional song.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer

I have a confession to make.

After the bombshell events of The Blossom Twins, I was a little bit concerned as to where the author would go with Detective Natalie Ward. Ms. Wyer set a high bar, and it was difficult to see where she would be able to go with the narrative.

Spoiler alert: I shouldn’t have worried.

Not only did the author meet expectations set from the previous book, but she also exceeded them.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3bCi78y

The tension begins in the very first chapter with a vicious attack and never lets up. The reader knows that Natalie will be on the case. However, as she is still reeling from personal tragedy, there is a natural curiosity as to whether she will give the investigation her full attention.

Again, no need to worry. Natalie is a consummate professional.

One of the strengths of this series, as I have mentioned in past reviews, is how well the author balances Natalies personal and professional lives. The transitions between the two are seamless and allow the reader to glimpse insights into the thought process of a woman struggling with a significant loss. As you know from the blurb, these two storylines converge, which leads to even more personal turmoil for Natalie.

Another strength is the accuracy of the investigation undertaken by Natalie and her team. Finding clues, following leads, and taking nothing for granted, this is one of the most realistic portrayals of police work I have ever come across. I especially liked how the focus of the investigation changed as new evidence came to light.

I also thought that the author’s portrayal of college students was especially astute. She captured that lack of self-responsibility that some millennials exhibit – nothing is ever their fault, it’s always somebody else’s. This just added to the realism of the plot and its characters.

I absolutely tore through this book! Just know that Ms. Wyer has outdone herself once again, and I can’t wait for the next Detective Natalie Ward investigation.

Author Bio

Carol Wyer garnered a loyal following as an author of romantic comedies, and won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015). In 2017 she stepped from comedy to the “dark side” and embarked on a series of thrillers, featuring the popular DI Robyn Carter, which earned her recognition as a crime writer.

The Staffordshire-based writer now has more crime novels in the pipeline, although she can still sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

Website: https://www.carolwyer.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEWyer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolewyer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14925467.Carol_Wyer

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Books On Tour (Review): The Garden of Lost Memories by Ruby Hummingbird

I absolutely loved this author’s first novel, The Wish List of Albie Young, so I was very excited to see this new one. No sophomore slump here. Once again, the author tugs at the heartstrings while emphasizing the importance of living life while you can.

I instantly related to Elsie. Although I have not lost my mom, I am far away from her, and I often think of all of the memories that we have shared. And yes, I do talk to her even when she is not here. I can see myself being more like Elsie as I get older as well. Not to the extent of sticking to rigid schedules like her (that would never happen here). But I could easily get caught up in the past more than looking at the present or future.

I also liked Billy more than I expected. It is difficult to make a ten-year-old boy a likable and relatable character, but the author succeeds. I think it is because Billy has his challenges, between being uprooted to a new home and the bullies at school (where he doesn’t fit in). Those are events that many people have experienced.

Secondary and even bit characters are also well-developed. I got a good feel for Billy’s mom, and June reminded me of Mrs. Tishell from Doc Martin (one of my favorite shows). This type of detail gives depth to the story.

I particularly like the author’s writing style in that nothing is “hit you over the head” obvious. Instead, clues to the causes of events are more subtle. For example, Billy remembers his dad promising to take him fun places. But in the morning, Dad had slept on the couch, smells funny, and takes paracetamol. Couple that with why Billy and his mom moved, and the reasons become crystal clear. I appreciate the careful attention this type of reveal requires.

Ultimately this story is about the mutual respect that grows between Billy and Elsie as he helps her learn how to live again, while she helps him navigate his new life. And it proves that the best, and possibly most helpful, friendships can pop up in the strangest of ways. No fooling around, it’s another winner from this author.

Author Bio

Ruby Hummingbird is a novelist based in the English countryside. She loves nothing more than writing uplifting and heartwarming fiction that gets her readers reaching for the tissues. When she isn’t storytelling, she can be found tending to her beloved sunflowers or sipping on hazelnut lattes.  

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Books On Tour: After the Accident by Kerry Wilkinson

I am a fan of this author, so I was excited to see the announcement of the latest release. I was quite surprised by what I found.

Buy Links:   
Amazon: https://geni.us/B083Y2P7SZSocial 
Apple: https://apple.co/2R162SI
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2FUjtO6
Google: http://bit.ly/2NwDPkr

I absolutely loved the writing style of this book. It is not a traditional novel. Instead, the story unfolds via “interviews” of the main characters. It was fascinating to read the words of each character instead of having a “narrator” or one point of view.

I think this allowed the author to write an overwhelmingly personal story, as we got to “deep dive” into each character. Their traits and personalities were evident through their own words, as opposed to what someone else thought about them. However, we do get each character’s perspectives on the others as well.

I also enjoyed how this style made it easier to follow the plot (no jumping back and forth) and – for me, at least – gave me a better idea of who I believed and who I didn’t believe. And there is a lot to unpack in that regard.

(As always, no plot reveals here). It is quite apparent that certain characters have it out for others. Whether it is just a personality thing or if it is more nefarious, well, that’s up to the individual reader. I found myself wavering in whose story I believed more.

Does someone’s history automatically make them less believable? What about their actions after the fact; does that cast doubt on what they initially said? It’s all addressed here.

For example, most of the time, I believed Emma’s version. However, there were times that I thought she gave so much information in her “interview” that it seemed like she was trying too hard. Other times, it appeared that she was deliberately vague. That being said, Daniel (for one) had very deflective comments and seemed to rely on the premise of “I’m rich, and, therefore, you have to believe whatever I say.”

Who is telling the truth and who is lying is anybody’s guess. That continues right up until the very last page. The only thing I could complain about (and this is nitpicking)  is that I don’t feel like I got a clear idea of what actually happened on the island. But, I also recognize that this is the aim of the author – to leave it ambiguous, allowing the reader to determine where the truth of the matter lies.

It’s a bold gambit, as people generally prefer their mysteries to be wrapped up tidily by the end. I, for one, enjoyed it and found it one of the more thought-provoking reads I have had in a long time.

Author Bio

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 bestsellers in the UK, Canada, South Africa and Singapore, as well as top-five books in Australia. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy – a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults – a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry has spent far too long living in the north of England, picking up words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’.

When he’s short of ideas, he rides his bike or bakes cakes. When he’s not, he writes it all down.

Author Social Media Links:
http://kerrywilkinson.com
http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
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Blog Tour (Review): I May Kill You by Keith Dixon

Warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. And I loved every minute of it.

The author begins with “The Note.” You don’t know quite what it is, other than a lot of personal information. But by the end of the note, you see the purpose. And then we’re off and running.

I loved how this story rolled out. After the introduction of the note, the author switches focus to the hero, Ben, and we take some time getting to know him. I liked that he was flawed and not a super-hero. He was just an average guy who tried to do right, was good at his job, and made some bad choices. We’ve all been there.

Shortly, we learn more about the person who sent the note. And then the killings begin. And some are brutal. I found the killer’s choices to be interesting, and thought the author did a great job of giving us hints into the motivations while also allowing to see the killer as they went about their everyday business. This illustrated how even psychopaths can appear normal.

I thought it was also smart to make the hunt for the killer personal for Ben. It would have still been interesting if he had been helping Serena out, but that personal connection added a layer of desperation and determination to Ben’s investigation.

The whole book was well-paced and held my attention. In today’s atmosphere, that’s sometimes difficult to do. I would definitely recommend picking this one up.

About Keith Dixon

Keith Dixon was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the Midlands. He’s been writing since he was thirteen years old in a number of different genres: thriller, espionage, science fiction, literary. Two-time winner of the Chanticleer Reviews CLUE First in Category award for Private Eye/Noir novel, he’s the author of ten books in the Sam Dyke Investigations series and two other non-crime works, as well as two collections of blog posts on the craft of writing. His new series of Paul Storey Thrillers began in 2016.

When he’s not writing he enjoys reading, learning the guitar, watching movies and binge-inhaling great TV series. He’s currently a resident in France.

Social Media:
Website: www.keithdixonnovels.com
Blog: www.cwconfidential.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IMayKillYou
Twitter: https://twitter.com/keithyd6
Email: keith@keithdixonnovels.com
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Blog Tour w/ Review: Rage and Retribution by Lorraine Mace

Reading this book (the fourth in the DI Sterling series) was like coming into the fourth episode of crime procedural on television. The case itself is stand-alone, but you know you are missing some background to the main characters. Fortunately, the author does a great job of focusing on the matter at hand. And boy, is it a good one.

It hardly needs to be said that you can get plot points from blurbs and other reviews. Suffice to say that this story has everything you can want in a crime novel: blackmail, torture, revenge, vigilantism – it’s all there. The opening scene alone is not for the faint of heart.

I wouldn’t say that this is a page-turner as much as it is a steady investigation with lots of twists that seem natural to the arc of a story. I thought the author did an admirable job of relating accurate info in terms of the investigation.

I also liked the balance between Sterling’s homelife and job. The offer that gets thrown at him about midway through was realistic, and I appreciated how he didn’t let it overtake his focus but thought about it when he could. That may sound weird, but it just seemed very…human.

I will say that for some people, the topics addressed and the activities of some characters might be unsavory. They didn’t bother me, because I’ve read worse, but as I mentioned earlier, this gets gritty and dark in places.

As for me, I liked the characters, and the plot was engaging. I will definitely be looking for DI Sterling books in the future.

About Lorraine Mace

Born and raised in South East London, Lorraine lived and worked in South Africa, on the Island of Gozo and in France before settling on the Costa del Sol in Spain. She lives with her partner in a traditional Spanish village inland from the coast and enjoys sampling the regional dishes and ever-changing tapas in the local bars. Her knowledge of Spanish is expanding. To stop her waistline from doing the same, she runs five times a week. 

When not working on the D.I. Sterling series of crime novels, Lorraine is engaged in many writing-related activities. She is a columnist for both Writing Magazine and Writers’ Forum and is head judge for Writers’ Forum monthly fiction competitions. A tutor for Writers Bureau, she also runs her own private critique and author mentoring service.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lomace 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.mace.52 
Website: www.lorrainemace.com 
Blog: http://thewritersabcchecklist.blogspot.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mace_lorraine/
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Books On Tour (Review): The Daughter She Lost by Lauren Westwood

This book went a completely different way than I thought it would, and I couldn’t be happier about that. I do love it when a book surprises me like that. Although, now that I think about it, even if the book had been more straightforward without the intrigue (more on that later), I still would have enjoyed it.

The author set the scene perfectly in the opening chapter with Amanda’s drive through the fog on her way to Avalon Springs. Aside from being well-described and atmospheric, it also illustrated the mental fog that Amanda was in personally.

As always, I know that sounds cryptic, but I don’t want to spoil anything in this review. Suffice to say that the fog that Amanda encounters on the California Coast can hide many secrets. And that is another thing the author gets absolutely right: small-towns and their hidden stories.

(On a side note, the descriptions of the location, the redwood groves, in particular, reminded me of growing up in the SF Bay Area and our cabin in the Sierra Nevada that was surrounded by giant redwoods. Good memories.)

In an isolated area, there are not always options for…well, almost anything. It is effortless for people to grow up and stay in the area because it is comfortable or because something is holding them to it. Both are true in Avalon Springs. Add in the recession or the diminishment of industry, and you can get more of a ghost town.

It also applies to the people of such a town. Their lives are often inextricably woven together, whether by choice or by circumstance. That is what Amanda finds herself in the middle of as she tries to uncover her past. The characters’ interactions weave together naturally, and nothing feels forced or trite. I liked how even Amanda’s kids were fully-realized characters and not just “props.”

The intrigue of who knew what, or who did what, had me second-guessing what I thought I knew. It also kept me turning pages, but not in a roller coaster “what’s going to happen next” way. Rather, it was the slow revealing of secrets and unraveling of lies that made this an entertaining and thought-provoking read.

Author Bio

Lauren Westwood writes dark and romantic women’s fiction and is also an award-winning children’s writer. Originally from California, she now lives in England in a persnickety old house built in 1602, with her partner and three daughters.

Lauren loves hearing from readers, so if you wish to get in touch, please visit her here:

  1. Website: https://www.laurenwestwoodwriter.com/
  2. Twitter: @lwestwoodwriter  https://twitter.com/lwestwoodwriter
  3. Facebook: @Lwestwoodbooks https://www.facebook.com/Lwestwoodbooks/
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Blog Tour (Review): Attracting Aubrey by Avery Flynn

I read a lot of different genres, but I realized that it had been a while since I read some lighthearted romances. This book, along with its companions (more on that later), was a perfect choice.

Download your copy today! 
Amazon: https://amzn.to/36wbySJ 
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2FuY4KW 
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/AttractingAubrey 
Nook: http://bit.ly/2tK1GWM 
Kobo: http://bit.ly/306Q3FQ 
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2UfZQYS

Aubrey and her four best friends from college go on a singles cruise together. For her, it’s a chance to get away from the bakery she runs. Little did she know that she would be wrapped up in some deceit and romance so quickly into the cruise.

Carter is a movie star who is taking the cruise as proof that he can disappear into his character and become unrecognizable. What happens when he gets pulled into Aubrey’s prank on her friend before the ship even sets sail?

I’m not going to give away the answer to that question. But I will say it is a simple set up in a fun location, with likable characters.

I liked Aubrey’s sass. She’s obviously the “bad girl” of the group, but she seemed like fun. I liked the interplay between her and Carter. The dialogue was snappy, and the chemistry was off the charts hot.

As someone who cruises a lot, I could nitpick quite a few details about the cruise itself, but that’s not the focus of the book. I understand that’s the situation that the characters were put in, and the authors had to make the best of it.

Note that I said authors (plural). There are five books in this…I am not sure what to call it. Not exactly an anthology, but not a series either. Different authors wrote each book, and each one focuses on one of the friends. As I read and review, I will link to each of them here: Kissing Kendall, Gaming Grace, Loving Liv. (Blog tours on differing dates, so links may take a while – there will be no review on Beguiling Benjamin).

If you’re looking for something for a brain break, give these books a try.

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tQuAFa
Website: http://averyflynn.com
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2t4AZfO 
Facebook: http://bit.ly/36mEonK
Twitter: https://twitter.com/averyflynn
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Stay up to date with Avery by joining her mailing list:
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About Avery Flynn

USA Today bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staff knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Girl I Thought I Knew by Kelly Heard

I love it when a book title has multiple meanings, and this one is no exception.

Is the girl Daisy, as the person she thought she was growing up? Is it Daisy as others have seen her? Or is it Stella, her best friend from childhood? Or is it somebody else altogether?

A lot is going on in this story, but it all hinges on one event at the beginning of Daisy and Stella’s senior year of high school. Repercussions follow both girls over the years, ultimately bringing Daisy back to the small town she grew up in to confront the past.

I thought the author did an excellent job of setting the scene and laying out the details of Daisy’s life. The interspersal of “Before” chapters dovetailed nicely with the “Now” chapters without seeming choppy or taking me out of the flow of current events.

I liked Daisy as a character and as a person. Although it seemed as if there were times that she tended towards the melodramatic, once her entire story was revealed, it became obvious as to why she acted the way she did.

Stella did not play as big of a part as I expected her to, given the taglines and descriptions. But I did like her choices that were the catalyst for the journey into the past undertaken by Daisy. (It sounds convoluted, but it makes sense in the course of the book).

I also thought that the whole reveal was a little bit of a throwaway, given the build-up through the entire book to that point. After everything Daisy had endured over 17 years, it was all explained away in just a few pages. I wish there had been just a little bit more depth to that.

That being said, I did like Daisy’s overall journey, especially as she realizes that she is stronger than she (or anyone) has ever given her credit for being. She had the courage to stick to her convictions, even as everyone else ridiculed or diminished her abilities. On that note, although I initially thought that Anderson’s part in the story was contrived, I found the chapter from his perspective to be ultimately satisfying.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and was turning pages late into the night to finish. (I also love that the author isn’t too far from me, so the world she describes was familiar). I would definitely recommend it.

Author Bio

Originally from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Kelly Heard now lives in Richmond with her husband, spoiled house cat, and two-year-old daughter. She writes poetry, adult fiction, and creative nonfiction. When she is not writing or reading, Kelly enjoys spending her time gardening, cooking, and playing the ukulele for her toddler.

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