Tag: Book Review

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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.

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Website: http://averyflynn.com
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2t4AZfO 
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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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Books On Tour (Review): The Break Up by Tilly Tennant

Happy to be kicking off this blog tour. Sorry for the delay on the review. But here it is!

I actually like the original title for this book (A Cat Called Cupid) better because it highlights who the real star of this book is: Fluffy/Satchmo. As evidenced early on, there is nothing more comforting than a kitty purr. A cat’s nature is what makes this story work as a whole.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08423K71C
Apple: https://apple.co/2G6oZxf
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2RAGGdF
Google: http://bit.ly/37gL9Zt

Oh, there are humans as well, and they are the main story. Lara has a typical rom-com shocker at the beginning, but the author doesn’t waste time with her moping around. In the second chapter, we are already a year later, and Lara has moved on – for the most part.  

She came across as extremely likable and realistic. While she starts a business that seems counter-intuitive (wedding planning), she seems to excel at it. But at the same time, she is not impervious to the feelings that come from her boyfriend/best friend issues. Her reactions were natural.

I had a harder time getting a handle on Theo….until his scene with Great Aunt Emma at Chloe’s wedding (and boy was Chloe a piece of work). That scene grabbed me in a way that few do. All at once, I had everything I needed to know about Theo. Nothing else that he said or did mattered. His treatment of Emma was it for me.

I liked the author’s style of writing. The history of locations and detailed descriptions gave the story depth and made it easier to picture the action. In fact, the best thing about a book like this was feeling like I was “reading a movie.” I especially like that in a rom-com over any other genre. This book definitely wins on that front.

But do yourself a favor and go pick up this new release today; it’s the perfect fix for any blues you may have.

Author Bio:

Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing. She wrote a novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.

Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014 it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her next Tilly Tennant novel. She also writes as Sharon Sant, where she explores the darker side of life, and Poppy Galbraith, where things get a little crazier.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TillyTennant/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/TillyTenWriter
WEBSITE: www.tillytennant.com
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Blog Tour (Review): Sugarcoated by Erin Nicholas

Erin Nicholas is one of my favorite authors, so I was super-excited to see this new series from her. It’s not a spoiler to say that this book has everything that I love about her writing.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bjel3L
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/sugarcoated
Apple Books: https://apple.co/36BvxzB
Nook: http://bit.ly/39UU6t5
Kobo: http://bit.ly/37Lz6Dk
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Wxondp
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2UvGsWr

Feisty Heroine: Check. Zoe is charming, and possibly a little bit naïve, but when faced with some challenges, she rises to the occasion and gives as good as she gets.

Hunky Hero: This is something Ms. Nicholas does exceptionally well. Her male lead characters, in this case, Aiden, are charming, handsome, and love to drive their women crazy with their teasing.

The Chemistry: Always hot. This author does an excellent job of describing a scene so that readers get what I call “the swoop.” It’s that feeling in your belly when there is a hot scene, and you can either apply it to your own experience or just enjoy the scene in the book.

You know which one I’m talking about – where your stomach drops in anticipation of what happens next?  There’s a scene near the beginning in the kitchen that is totally “OMG.”

The Conflict: I loved the premise of this one. Without giving too much away, I thought that the “small-town bakery vs. corporate giant” was a good set up, but the twist of the personal connections to each of the places added another layer of conflict.

Other Characters: Also something this author does well. The secondary characters (friends, family members, co-workers) are all fully-realized. They’re people who are supportive of the main characters, but real enough that you want to know their stories as well.

The Promise of More: Considering that there are four other partners in Fluke Inc., and ample women in town, I think there’s a story for each of them coming. And THAT is the best part of Ms. Nicholas’ books…the desire to keep hanging out with her characters in their world.

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).

Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF 

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2tdTM8e 

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Book Review: Mom Genes by Hilary Grossman

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and I was excited to see this one (and even more excited that there will be at least a third). But now I am getting ahead of myself.

Wait, before I get to the review, one more thing. Go On, Girl is FREE from 3/23-3/27, and you can pre-order Mom Boss (the third book) for $1.99. GO NOW

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08477RPVG
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162943402
Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/mom-genes/id1496573777
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mom-genes
Books2Read – Link to all the books – https://books2read.com/u/bMpaAk
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=csnMDwAAQBAJ

Okay, now to the review. This time, we get to follow Claire as she navigates a new family dynamic (her husband has moved out). Fortunately, the ladies of the Forest River PTA are there to help. Or hurt, as is the case with a couple of them.

I liked how Claire managed to keep her wits about her, even in the face of malicious gossip. I got an especially good laugh from the scene during “Snack with Snowflakes.” And that event in itself gave me a chuckle as it is a wry commentary on today’s pervasive over-sensitivity.

I also appreciated Claire’s journey to realizing who her friends were and how trustworthy they could be. That was some nice character growth from the previous book. Her realizations about relationships (dating) were also realistic.

I do have to say that given the current world situation, I was cringing through the scene where Claire was sick but interviewing for a job. It was amusing, but it is funny how quickly perspectives can change.

If people are not familiar with PTA moms (or other parent groups), the actions of Donna and Mia may verge on too much of a caricature. But I can tell you that they are accurate portrayals. There is always at least one person (and a few henchmen) who try to stir people up. Putting faces I know on the characters made some of the scenes much more enjoyable 😊

If you are looking for a book with wicked gossip, adults that act more immature than their kids, and a lot of heart, look no further. Grab this one today, but consider reading Go On, Girl (remember, it’s FREE for a limited time) first to get the whole backstory.

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Books On Tour (Review): Flowers On Her Grave by Jennifer Chase

I found the last book in this series (Her Last Whisper) entertaining, so I was looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed, and the author keeps getting better as the series continues.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/39a7hVs
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2U7txv9
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2U4MJcP
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2wfPMpC

The first scene is gruesome but sets the tone for what is yet to come. There are also a couple of gut punches along the way.

I like the way Katie and her co-workers, especially her partner in the cold cases (McGaven), relate to each other. There is a natural camaraderie, and their interactions are natural. The relationship between the undersheriff and Katie is also realistic; everybody has had a supervisor like him at one point or another.

I did think that Chad got the short end of the stick in this book, as their relationship didn’t seem to go anywhere. I understand that under the circumstances (and due to events), that isn’t where Katie’s focus was, but it still felt like he was extraneous. At the same time, it seemed as if the relationship between Katie and Nick grew. I’m not sure if that is where the author is going, but it gave me pause.

I also wish that there was more background on the motivations of the killer. I would have liked to had a few more scenes to be able to grasp why they did what they did. Oh, and I realize that this was an ARC (and it doesn’t affect my review at all), but there were an awful lot of grammatical errors that I hope an editor caught.

But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I like Katie as a protagonist, and that the author has her maturing and addressing her PTSD. That shows growth, and I look forward to reading more as Katie progresses.

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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Blog Tour (Review): The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne

I picked to read this book at the right time, as this charming story kept me interested…and distracted.

Buy Links: 
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At the heart of the story are three generations of a family. Olivia heads back home to help take care of her mother, Juliet, and has to also deal with her niece, Caitlin.

There are family secrets and old wounds that have never completely healed. The author does a fantastic job of weaving a story told from all points of view. There is never a jolt when the action shifts between the characters. Everything flows smoothly.

I did have a little bit of an issue with Olivia. I did not entirely buy her being down on herself about not acting differently in the face of a robbery. I understand that it provided significant insight into her character, and was indicative of how she handled her relationships. But it almost made her too “down” for me to be able to support her.

Fortunately, I loved Juliet’s feistiness in light of her diagnosis and subsequent fall. I have known many women in my life who are exactly like her, and I found bits of them throughout the book. I also liked Caitlin more than I expected to. I thought she was going to be a typical annoying teenager, but she had incredible depth, especially in light of her mother’s choices.

There’s a romance in here as well, and it is sweet and realistic. But what I liked better was how Caitlin and Jake’s friendship echoed her mother and Cooper’s. This was illustrative of the close ties that form between families in a small town, while also emphasizing how certain people are just meant to be in each other’s lives.

From looking at some of the other reviews, this was apparently not up to the author’s usual standards. You couldn’t tell that by me because I very much enjoyed this introduction to her work, and I look forward to reading many more.  

Author Bio

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

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Books On Tour (Review): The First Wife by Jill Childs

Not going to beat around the bush.

Hands down, this is one of the best psych thrillers I have read. It had everything a person could want in the genre, and I loved pretty much everything about it.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/33aNiF1
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2vVOe3C
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3cLZm3M
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2IEKy9e

The setting itself is gothic (an old mansion on the cliffs by the sea), which adds to the atmosphere of the opening chapters. That alone drew me in and kept me reading. But it really took off just under half-way through, and I was gobbling up pages to find out what happened next.

The plot is tight and well-written, with enough nuances and hints that I was kept slightly off-balance. I, like Sophie, could sense that something was off but without being able to put my finger on it.

I thought that the characters were realistic. I would only say that I didn’t get a strong feel for Dom, I think mainly because we get to know him mostly through flashbacks. I did think that Sophie’s initial timidity, while unsettling at first, was an excellent catalyst for later events. She needed to have certain personality traits for the rest of the plot to work.

There were twists galore in this book, and I’m not going to give any of them away. Suffice to say that just when you think you have it figured out, you probably don’t. And that goes all the way until the very last word.

If you’re going to be self-distancing, it’s the perfect time to pick up this book.

Author Bio

Jill always loved writing – real and imaginary – and spent thirty years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She’s now made her home in south-west London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does. Although she’s covered everything from earthquakes and floods, wars and riots, she’s decided some of the most extraordinary stories are right here at home – in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets just like yours.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_jill 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17843718.Jill_Childs
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jill-Childs/e/B07BL52SYB/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
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Blog Tour w/Review: Deadly Waters by OMJ Ryan

I loved the first book of this series (Deadly Silence), so I was very excited to see the next one. I was not disappointed.

The author wastes no time in getting right to the heart of the crime and ensuing investigation. I love that the characters are familiar enough that everything just flows. There is not a lot of time wasted in re-introduction and rehashing old plots.

I also enjoyed the setting. That is if a bunch of murders in canals can be considered enjoyable. But my family and I were in Manchester for a soccer trip two years ago, so some of the locations were familiar. Being able to picture certain places makes it easier to get into the story. The juxtaposition of the Christmas holidays and the gruesome murders made an interesting counterpoint to each other as well.

I thought that having a few chapters from the perpetrator’s point of view as a child was also interesting. It gave the story some depth, while even tempting the reader to feel sorry for the murderer. That’s a tricky line to walk, and the author does it well.

Honestly, I sometimes find crime thrillers challenging to review because I do not want to give away plot points in the investigation. Suffice to say that Jane and her team follow the clues and find their killer (that’s not a spoiler…what kind of murder mystery would it be if the murderer was not discovered?!?)

It’s another recommendation from me, and I hope to read many more of Jane’s investigations in the future!

About OMJ Ryan

Hailing from Yorkshire, OMJ Ryan worked in radio and entertainment for over twenty years, collaborating with household names and accumulating a host of international writing and radio awards.

In 2018 he followed his passion to become a full-time novelist, writing stories for people who devour exciting, fast-paced thrillers by the pool, on their commute – or those rare moments of downtime before bed. Owen’s mission is to entertain from the first page to the last. DEADLY WATERS will be his third novel published with Inkubator Books.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OMJRYAN1 @OMJRYAN1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OMJ-Ryan-2449880305025779/
Website: https://www.omjryan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omjryan/
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