Tag: Book Review

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The Lost Apothecary-Blog Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I. Loved. This. Book.

I thought that the author created two stories that although centuries apart from each other, were complimentary to each other. It was cleverly plotted, and it held my attention for the entire book. That’s no easy feat these days.

I related to Caroline. Not because of her marriage situation, but because of how she felt like she had lost herself in the marriage and the drive to become a family. I think many women my age will feel empathy for her situation.

But even more so, I found her choice of educational interest to be personally attractive as well. When I was in college, I found archeology to be fascinating – particularly Egyptian archeology. One of my favorite series (to this day) involves a Victorian woman and her husband who are Egyptian Archeologists.

I always felt it was the best of both worlds…the pushing of societal norms by a female archeologist in Victorian times, mixed with the mysteries of Ancient Egyptian peoples.

But I digress.

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I totally got Caroline’s drive to want to know the nameless people, not just the better-known names and dates.

Her focus is a reason that the historical sections of the book worked so well. Two people who should have been lost to history weren’t – simply because of Caroline’s interest and perseverance to discover more about them.

Frankly, I could see myself taking the same actions as Caroline.

I did also like the historical sections. Sometimes a book falters when moving back and forth between contemporary and historical storylines. Not in this case. I was fully engrossed in Nella and Eliza’s stories as well as Caroline’s.

I will say that I did not make a vital connection until the author smacked me in the face with it towards the end. I REALLY liked that part. So well done.

The author managed to get a feminist point of view across without annoying the heck out of me. Doing this through Nella’s eyes and actions was very effective.

I could go on and on about all of the good things in this book. But just trust me when I say that you will be equal parts charmed and informed, and you will be glad that you picked it up. It should definitely be in your TBR pile.

P.S. This is a debut novel. I certainly will be following in hopes of more to come!

Facebook: @SarahPennerAuthor
Instagram: @sarah_penner_author
Twitter: @sl_penner

About the Author:

Sarah Penner is the debut author of The Lost Apothecary, to be translated in eleven languages worldwide. She works full-time in finance and is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She and her husband live in St. Petersburg, Florida, with their miniature dachshund, Zoe. To learn more, visit slpenner.com.

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The Fragile Ones-Books On Tour (Review)-Mystery/Suspense Series-Available Now

Detective Katie Scott and her trusty sidekick Cisco are back for another case. I can honestly say that while this was the most heartbreaking of the five cases (so far), it was also the one I had the hardest time getting into.

It is altogether possible that it’s solely on me for that (and probably is) but it might also be Katie herself.

I’ve enjoyed this series. However, in re-reading my review of the last one (Last Girls Alive) I see that I mentioned that the plot seemed to meander a bit and wasn’t as tight as the previous book. I would have to say the same about this book.

Katie is still sharp and working hard to keep her PTSD at bay. I would have liked to see a little more progress on this front, but I understand why the author keeps it at the particular level.

It’s a condition that can resurface at any time with any trigger – and for many, it never goes away even if the person thinks it has been combatted.

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I do still like the camaraderie between Katie and McGaven. They work well together. I do get a bit annoyed at how Katie’s reputation seems to be that of being wonderful. Nobody is that perfect.

That being said, I guess it could be because of her PTSD that people are amazed at how well she does? But that doesn’t make a lot of sense in the bigger picture, and certainly doesn’t fit with the characters.

One disappointment for me is that it seemed from the last book that the author was setting up for a good showdown of wills between Katie and the new undersheriff, Dorothy Sullivan. But unless I just plain ol’ missed it, there was virtually nothing involving the two of them.

I had high hopes for that, but even a search of the undersheriff’s name in the book gave one return. So I’m not exactly sure if I misread the interactions in the previous book, or if the author just decided to go a different direction.

I will say that I got a chill when it came to the description of Rock Creek (roughly ¾ of the way through the book). That was a nice bit of atmosphere that added to the mood.

Anyway, I did like the book, although this is the second in a row where I kind of felt something was missing. I’ll still read the series though because I like Cisco and I like the cold case aspect.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

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The Wedding-Books On Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

I’ve been on a good run with psych thrillers lately. This latest from Ruth Heald has all of the hallmarks of a perfect one.

Ambiguous Prologue: check. The reader immediately knows that there is a bride whose wedding day was disrupted. But how, and by whom?

Differing Perspectives: check. We largely get Lauren’s point of view on the events of the story. But we periodically get Adam’s, and those are primarily flashbacks. (More on that in a minute).

Multiple Suspects: check. There are enough characters whose actions are questionable to make the real culprit hard to detect. Is it one person? Two? Is everything connected, or are there separate things going on?

Thriller Ending: check and check. This book had one of the best endings I’ve read in a while. A real page-turner with more than a couple “What the heck/oh no way!” moments. Including one I did not see coming at all (but should have).

The author did a great job of laying out the plot so that I was right along side of Lauren, never knowing exactly who to trust. I didn’t have a lot in common with her character-wise, but her attitude and demeanor were perfect for feeling sympathy towards her and the situation.

This also added to the sense of dread as events start occurring that make her question everyone around her.

I also thought the flashbacks were well-done. Ostensibly, they relate a pivotal trip in Adam and Lauren’s past. But is there more than meets the eye? Yes and no. I had to check the date on an event because I was sure that the trip was during it, but once again, the author outwitted me.

I also thought that the chapters with Adam’s point of view in the present added to the suspense. Is he a heel? Does he love Lauren? When is he telling the truth, if ever? I liked being off-balance when it came to him.

How’s that for a few non-spoilers?

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And those aforementioned multiple suspects? Once again, the author did such a good job with plotting that at one point I suspected a character who had given me absolutely no reason to suspect them – only that I was trying to outguess the author.

There were a couple of loose ends, especially with Adam’s relationships, where people kind of just disappeared. To be honest, the ending was so good that I didn’t even realize that there was no ending for those characters. And it didn’t bother me at all.

As I mentioned at the beginning, this is about as perfect a psych thriller that you can find. I read it in one sitting because it drew me in and kept my attention the entire way through.

You definitely do NOT want to miss out on this one.

TWITTER: @RJ_Heald

Author Bio:

Ruth Heald is a psychological thriller writer from a suburban Buckinghamshire town. She studied Economics at Oxford and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting.

Seeking a more creative environment, she found a role at the BBC and worked there for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She’s married with one daughter and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives.

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The Last Witch-Blog Tour (Review)-Mystery-Available Now

Truth right off the bat – I was left feeling confused by this book.

On the one hand it was a mystery that went skimming along and kept me guessing. That was good.

On the other, it moved so quickly that I never felt like I got too much depth from, well, any of it. The characters were interesting but fairly superficial.

I think maybe I didn’t know exactly what to expect from the book, and that is totally on me.

From the title, I was expecting more supernatural aspects. While there were a few minor ones, they seemed to be more regional (rural Ireland) rather than actual alternative. That’s not a bad thing, and I liked those parts.

It became a bit more police procedural once the bodies started appearing.

Yes, that’s bodies. Plural.

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/3cbvrUZ
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Y6ZFA5 

The beginning really gave no indication of what was to come. In that regard, I think it started a little slowly. I thought the whole book would be based on the opening few chapters, with David’s desire to try to better himself (and failing miserably).

But what should have been a climax actually became more like the kicking off point for the rest of the story.

That wasn’t bad, but (again) it was just unexpected.

I did like how the author kept me guessing as to who was doing what and why. I thought I had a few things figured out, but I was wrong.

I did like the setting and think that the series shows promise. I would certainly give another book by this author a try, especially if it was set in the same location. Maybe some other things will be ironed out in the second installment.

Twitter: @Ortensia74
Facebook: sabina.gabriellicarrara

About Sabina Gabrielli Carrara:

Italian Ireland-based author of murder mysteries with a psychological twist, after a degree in History and Philosophy and some experience in Human resources, Sabina decided to go back to her old passion: writing.

She is a published author in Denmark and currently living in the little village of Balrothery in North Co. Dublin with her husband, their two daughters and three dogs.

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The French House-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Available Now

Filled with lush descriptions, memorable characters, and vivid events, this historical fiction novel about the world-renowned vineyards of France is not to be missed.

You don’t have to be a wine aficionado to understand the nuances of the plot. Anyone who even pays half attention to wine or celebration will recognize the names of Moet and Cliquot right from the start.

(But just in case, those are two of the most famous brands of champagne available to this day).

Set in the late-1700s to 1800s, the story follows Nicole, the headstrong daughter of a vineyard owner in Reims, France. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that she becomes (shall we say) extremely involved in the wine-making process.

Her journey to get there, however, is not without heartache and lots of troubles.

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In fact, from the very beginning in the prologue, the author does a fantastic job of melding fictional and non-fictional events and characters into a seamless, compelling, and emotional narrative.

It actually took me a bit longer to read this book than it normally would because I kept stopping to verify who was a real historical figure and who wasn’t. Some were obvious, some less so.

I liked the message of resilience that was woven through the story. It applied not only to Nicole’s situation, but to the grapes themselves. It’s hard to explain, but it worked for me because I saw the vineyards as an extension of her.

I don’t know if that’s what the author intended, but it’s how I read it.

I also particularly liked Natasha. I’ve mentioned how a Russian history class doomed my History major in college, but I remain fascinated with the historical aspect of the culture and people. I’d never given much thought to Russians living in France, or how they would have been impacted by the Napoleonic Wars.

As I have said before, I love learning new things from historical fiction novels. In this case, not only did I learn more about the above-mentioned national ties, but also more about winemaking in general. Fascinating stuff to me.

I was utterly charmed by this novel. Frankly, it was a nice break from WWII (which makes up much of my historical fiction reading). The author’s research was informative, and her writing talent made the vineyards of France come alive. I can’t wait to read more from her.

NOTE: This book was originally titled The Champagne Widow, so you might still find it listed as such on some sites.

FACEBOOK: hfrippauthor
TWITTER: @helenfripp

Author Bio:

Helen loves historical fiction, and in her writing, she’s fascinated by the women throughout history who have made their mark against all the odds. She finds researching the architecture, art and customs of the time really inspirational, and the tiniest detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. Her female characters rail against the social constraints to which they are subject and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of her characters that she loves to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops – and she will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for her next story.

Her first novel is set in the Champagne region in France, and she is currently working on her next one, set in late eighteenth-century Paris. She spent a lot of time in France as a child, has lived in Paris and spent a year with her family in a fishing village in South West France, so that’s where her books have ended up being set so far. Who knows where next!

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Bright Burning Stars-Blog Tour (Review)-Fiction-Available Now

I was predisposed to be extremely interested in this book. Why?

I did ballet from ages 3-17. If I wasn’t in my own class or rehearsal I was helping with younger classes. I was, it’s fair to say, obsessed.

One of my favorite book series is Maggie Adams, by Karen Strickler Dean. It’s a familiar world, and the events and characters were easily identifiable.

One of my favorite movies to this day is “Center Stage.” Again, characters and situations that are all very familiar. And I remember “The Turning Point” having an impact on me.

I also grew up during an exciting time for American ballet – Baryshnikov was king, I watched Gelsey Kirkland’s Nutcracker year-round, we had season tickets to the San Francisco Ballet, and I was one of 50 dancers chosen in the state of California to attend a summer intensive ballet-school.

In short, I ate, breathed, and lived ballet for a long time. It was central to my growing up. So, I was definitely not going to miss this book.

For a story aimed at young adults, the author hits all of the right notes. She covers the competitiveness, the sense (or lack thereof) of self-worth, the insecurities, and the exhilaration of a well-done performance beautifully.

She also captures the male dancer lothario type perfectly. They’re everywhere in studios and companies. Kudos for the accuracy there.

I can’t say that Kate and Marine’s trajectory was surprising. It was, in fact, reminiscent of some of the fiction that I mentioned above. But I think that’s a good thing, because what happened to them is prevalent throughout the industry.

I really appreciated the attention given to the lengths that the girls would go to so they could maintain their ballet bodies and their ranks on “The Boards.” I remember being a younger dancer, watching the older girls in the company take their breaks, subsisting on cigarettes and black coffee.

Readers not familiar with ballet terminology may have a hard time with some of the scenes, because the author is very accurate with the steps and phrases. I’ll admit, it was strange to see them in writing – I’m very used to hearing them and not seeing them. I found myself muttering the phrase so I could picture what the step was.

Actually, that was kinda the fun part.

Anyway, I think it was a well-written book for anyone, young or old, who has a vested or passing interest in ballet. For parents of hopefuls, it will be an eye-opener to the potential pitfalls.

For me, it was nice to reminisce about my youth for a few hours, as messed up as some of the ballet parts were.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A. K. Small was born in Paris, France. At five years old, she began studying classical dance with the legendary Max Bozzoni, then later with Daniel Franck and Monique Arabian at the famous Académie Chaptal. At thirteen, she moved to the United States, where she danced with the Pacific Northwest Ballet for one summer and with the Richmond Ballet Student Company for several years. She’s a graduate of the College of William and Mary and has an MFA in fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her husband, her puppy, and her three daughters, and practices yoga. Bright Burning Stars is her first novel.

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The Pretty One-Books On Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

This book went in completely different directions than I thought it was going to go. Frankly, even though I enjoyed the whole thing, it left me a little confused.

From the very beginning, I could tell that there was going to be an emphasis on the psychological aspect between Bay and Nell. A situation like theirs is the stuff that psych thrillers are made from.

Add in that they are both teenagers and it multiplies the interest (in my opinion).

As I read further, I could tell that Bay would be the lynchpin in all of it, but I became less certain about who the other part of the equation would be. Would it still be Nell? Anna, the stepmother? Iris, the younger stepsister? Or Dom, the dad who walked out on Bay?

I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say that nobody is really left untouched in this story.

That being said, there is also more to it than just blended family drama. The author relays a searing account of the modeling industry (which, from what I know is pretty accurate). These were extremely interesting passages.

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Less successful were the sections about Anna’s marriage and a past love. I felt like these were thrown in as justification for Anna to not see the bigger picture of what was going on with Bay. But they didn’t all work for me.

There were also parts that seemed to drag for a long time. I know that the author was building the tension and that was mostly successful. But there were times that I wish the action would have kicked in a little bit sooner.

The last third of the book really went fast though. Everything came to a head and each character’s motivations became clear. I did think that the extent of a few things were staggering and would have liked a few more hints to them early on.

But the flashback to when Bay and Nell were younger were well-done and laid enough groundwork for the bigger revelations to be plausible.

It all did seem to wrap up rather quickly – almost as if the author decided it just needed to be finished. The prologue served as a “here’s what happened,” when I would have liked a little bit more of that to be action.

But no matter, it was still an enjoyable book. It certainly kept me guessing as to the extent of the psychological games, and I definitely didn’t guess the ultimate reveal. Jealousy can be a real bitch, that’s for sure.

I’d recommend this one – stick with it, because it’s a good look at how easy it is for people to be irreparably broken.

FACEBOOK: clare.boyd.14
TWITTER: @ClareBoydClark
INSTAGRAM: claresboyd

Author Bio:

Clare lives with her husband and their two daughters in Surrey, where her little green shed at the bottom of the garden provides a haven for her writing life. Before becoming a writer, she enjoyed a career in television, as a researcher in documentaries and then as a script editor in drama at the BBC and Channel Four, where her love of storytelling took hold.

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Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour-Blog Tour (Review)-RomCom-Available Now

How much do I love this series?

How excited am I that we are back in Autre with the Landry family?

We just moved 1000 miles, and I have left ALL of the unpacking until I could finish this story. I don’t even care about not having space for all of our clothes, or where the plunger is, or that we still haven’t found our pots and pans or even have furniture to sit on.

Don’t care one bit. I care about the Paige and Mitch and their story. Period.

I devour these books. I want to live there. Just like Paige realizes, being part of their world would be amazing.

While I greatly enjoy other books and series, I cannot think of a single other setting or characters that I want to be real and be able to be a part of…weird, right?

I really enjoyed Paige’s journey in this one. As we are reminded a few times, she’s only 22, and she definitely exhibits a self-centered vibe through the beginning chapters. It may make me sound old, but I think that’s pretty typical of any person in their early 20s.

But as she spends time with Mitch and the Landrys, she comes to some deep realizations that make her re-evaluate her own perspectives on family and how they support each other.

For a rom-com, I thought her growth was particularly interesting and heartfelt. I could literally see her maturing throughout the book. That made me want to root for her.

I think that (maybe…just maybe) she also reminded me of, well…me. I was older than 22, but I also took off across the country, leaving my family (and everything I’d ever known) on a whim for a guy I’d met only a few times.

That was 18 years ago. We’ll be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this May.

Didn’t realize how much I identified with Paige while I was reading the story, but now it makes more sense to me.

But I digress.

Of course, it being Autre and the Bayou, there’s a healthy dose of Landry crazy, although not as wild as some of the past stories. And Mitch truly is one of the good guys….one of the most swoon-worthy heroes of the series.

And that’s saying a lot with this bunch.

My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that I wish more attention had been given to the weddings. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I would have loved some details about each of the weddings in question (readers will know what I am talking about).

There were some perfect opportunities to explore the things that made these couples who they were, and I wish they had gotten a little bit of extra detail – just to spend some time with them celebrating.

That being said, I am truly beyond excited that we got to meet the next group of Bayou Boys and that it seems as if there a few stories yet to come. I can’t wait to return and visit with this crazy clan.

Many thanks to Ms. Nicholas for creating a world that engulfs me and reminds me that there are still many things to be thankful for in this world, even if they’re fictional.

About Erin Nicholas 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

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Be Mine Forever-Books On Tour (Review)-Serial Killer Thriller Series-Available Now

I don’t know how she does it!

This is becoming a common refrain, because DK Hood just keeps churning out the Kane and Alton series. BUT (and I can’t stress this enough), the series still manages to feel fresh and exciting.

You’d think that at book 11 (holy moly) that things would be stale, or run-of-the-mill.

You’d be so wrong.

This time around, cheerleaders are disappearing and meeting terrible ends. It would be easy to insert a joke in here about easy targets or something, but it would be too flippant. The author manages to take a cliché and turn it into a serious case.

If you’ve read any of the books, you already have a feeling for how Kane and Alton work together, and this case is no exception. There’s something to be said for familiarity.

But again, that doesn’t mean it’s boring. I found myself confident in the characters enough that I was actually able to see other things that I might have missed if these were “new-to-me” characters.

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Does that make sense? I guess I was able to pay attention to smaller details because I wasn’t hyper-focused on the main characters. Maybe other readers will understand what I’m trying to say.

I really enjoy the relationship that they have built with each other. I will say as with any male/female partnership, there is some push-pull as to whether the female can “hang” with the guys. This might irritate some readers.

At this point Jenna has more than proved herself, however, and I feel strongly that any “male dominance” is tempered by her wit, her ability, and her savviness.

Plus, you know, there’s that ending.

Anyway, it’s another solid entry in the Kane and Alton series. I’m sure it will continue just as strongly.

Oh, and yes, it can be read as a stand-alone. But with this number of books in the series, you’d certainly do yourself a load of favors by starting at the beginning. There’s a lot of backstory, and some attitudes/conversations will make more sense if you have a history of the characters.

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One Perfect Grave-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

One of many kick-ass heroines on the pages these days, Nikki Hunt manages to stand out. I thought the first book (The Girls in the Snow) was a good introduction and was happy to see the same commitment to character in this second book.

I thought the introduction of how the bodies were found was unique and chilling (literally – given the location and time of year). Once identifications were made though…that’s when the story really took off.

I liked how the author wove a couple of narratives together to form the bigger picture. I thought that kept it true to investigative form.

I also find Nikki to be a reliable and likeable heroine. She’s tough when she needs to be, but the cases she takes in this one (missing children) allows her to show her vulnerable side as well.

That’s not to say that she can’t kick a little ass when she needs to.

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She doesn’t take things at face value all of the time, but she isn’t overly suspicious either. She’s just smart and tries to look for connections.

The ones she finds in this book are largely unexpected. No spoilers, but I totally didn’t see the end coming. The author did a great job of relaying plot points to keep the reader engaged without giving away huge hints that made it too easy to figure out.

I will say that there might need to be a trigger warning for some readers, as some of the actions of the perpetrator are disturbing. But (again) the author does a very good job of showing the evil side of people without getting salacious or overdoing it.

I like Nikki. She’s tenacious, and she knows her stuff. This is definitely a series I will continue to follow.

TWITTER: @stacygreen26
FACEBOOK: StacyGreenAuthor

Author Bio:

Stacy Green is the author of the Lucy Kendall thriller series and the Delta Crossroads mystery trilogy. ALL GOOD DEEDS (Lucy Kendall #1) won a bronze medal for mystery and thriller at the 2015 IPPY Awards. TIN GOD (Delta Crossroads #1) was runner-up for best mystery/thriller at the 2013 Kindle Book Awards. Stacy has a love of thrillers and crime fiction, and she is always looking for the next dark and twisted novel to enjoy. She started her career in journalism before becoming a stay-at-home mother and rediscovering her love of writing. She lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter and their three spoiled fur babies.

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