Tag: Book Review

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Blog Tour w/Review: The Sleepover

When you find a series that catches your attention, you can’t help but be excited each time a new release comes out. That is how I feel about the Detective Natalie Ward series. I came to this one late (book three) but you can consider me thoroughly hooked now!

This time out, Natalie and her co-workers have a multi-faceted investigation on their hands. A young girl has died in a mysterious fire. Her best friend seems to be hiding something, her brothers all react strangely, and neighbors and acquaintances paint a conflicting picture of the girl. Then her mother disappears.

As the web of connections between the characters grows, the author keeps a deft hand in leading the reader through the details and intricacies of the investigation. And this is one place where Ms. Wyer shines.

She has obviously done her homework when it comes to the ins and outs of an investigation, as her details are spot on. I liked how Natalie is using her training to read the body language of the people she interviews. It’s an essential tactic used by law enforcement, and so often overlooked. The specific tells Natalie notices pair with her gut feelings and the evidence to crack the case(s) and find the guilty person (or is it people? No spoilers here! 😉 )

Natalie is less successful, however, when it comes to recognizing what is happening in her own family. This is an ongoing thread in the series, and it seems to now be coming to a head. With two teenagers and an out-of-work husband who has been caught lying more than a few times, Natalie has her hands full on that front as well.

As part of a law enforcement family, I especially appreciate the way the author treats the members of Natalie’s unit and their attitudes towards both their professional and personal lives. People who are dedicated to their jobs very often become consumed with the cases they work on, sometimes to the detriment of their family life.

For some, it is easier to work methodically on a job where one can produce results. For others, it’s a way to bury their heads in the sand and focus on other people’s problems instead of their own. It’s fair to say that the author does an excellent all-around job of showing the reader how complicated it truly all it is by having each of the members of the unit a deal with a different issue on the homefront. I find these sections often to be the most interesting.

There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but the action flows smoothly. The “ah-ha!” moments are well-placed. The brief glimpses into the personal lives are often triggered by an event in the investigation, so everything is natural.

Really, there is nothing to complain about here. Even if you haven’t read the first three books in the series (and why haven’t you?!?), you will enjoy this crime thriller. Do yourself a favor and grab the others while you’re at it as well!

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Book Review: One Hot Summer (The Summer of Us)

I am a huge fan of anthologies, and one that focuses on the summer is obviously going to be great! One of my favorite authors, Melanie Moreland, contributed “The Story of Us” to this anthology. Sunny and Lincoln (Linc) have a sweet romance, even though he has a horrible father and she is from the wrong side of the tracks. Their romance advances during the summer, until all of a sudden, Linc disappears, leaving Sunny bereft. As always, I’m not going to spoil anything, but suffice to say that even this short story is signature Melanie Moreland: it has humor, emotion, a little anguish, and a happy ending. With many of her novels, you can guess the end, but the ride to get there is always entertaining. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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Books-On-Tour: Her Rough Ride

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorheathervanfleet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HLVanFleet Website: http://www.heathervanfleet.com/  

I am traditionally not a reader of MC romances, but I am always looking to broaden my genre base and read new things. I am so delighted that I took a chance with Her Rough Ride because it was an excellent read.

Right from the prologue, the story pulled me in. The mythology stories that Sebastian told at the beginning were an interesting way to introduce the main characters and laid the groundwork for the soul-searching that both Maya and Sebastian/Slade engage in throughout the book.

The details the MC life were fascinating. I know next to nothing about it, but everything the author describes seems very real. So, either she has first-hand knowledge, or she did a helluva job with her research!

I thought that both characters were complex, which added to the depth of the story. At one point, Maya observes that people respond to events in a variety of ways, which means that there is no right or wrong way to react. The insight she has was eye-opening on a personal level.

I particularly liked how the author let the tension build between Maya and Slade. I also appreciated how Slade thought that he held all of the cards when, in reality, he was missing vital pieces of the story – just as Maya was; this made their relationship more tenuous than either of them knew. But when they finally got together? Holy hotness, was it steamy and oh, so good.

I also thought that the “suspense” side of the story was well done. I look forward to future books to see what happens between the RDs and the Forsaken (and I hope that the RDs do something with the MC in Texas as well).

One of the best things about this book is that it can be read as a standalone because the author did a terrific job of filling in the details from the first book without losing the thread of the plot in this book. That is sometimes a challenge in later entries of a series.

I do wish that the tattoos on the cover had been accurate to the character – I think that would have been an excellent tease for those points in the story. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed Her Rough Ride, and I definitely will be looking for the next in the series.

Her Rough Ride (Red Dragon MC Series, #2)Her Rough Ride by Heather Van Fleet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book in the Red Dragon MC series does NOT disappoint. More in-depth than the average MC story, you will get caught up in the relationship between Maya and Sebastian/Slade while trying to figure out the motives of Pops and other MCs. The author does a fantastic job of balancing the suspense and the romance. You can also read this book as a standalone – but it will make you want to go back and read the first one if you do! For more thoughts on Her Rough Ride, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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AUTHOR BIO
Heather Van Fleet is a stay-at-home-mom turned book boyfriend connoisseur. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, a mom to three girls, and in her spare time you can find her with her head buried in her Kindle, guzzling down copious amounts of coffee.

Heather graduated from Black Hawk College in 2003 and currently writes New Adult and Adult Contemporary Romance.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

My name was Sebastian. But now they call me Slade. I’ve reinvented myself, become a man, been sworn into the Red Dragon MC. I’ve got tattooed and ripped to hell, I’ve cut my hair and my face now bears the scars of all the fights I’ve seen. The last thing I need is to face her again…

It’s been eight years since Maya ran away from the club. Sweet, beautiful Maya. My first love.

Why do I have to ride halfway across the country to pick her up? Because the club is at war, she’s the niece of our President and I’m the only brother who can be trusted to protecther.

She broke my heart, but I still want her. Do I ever. This woman is my goddess. She’s also my curse.

I need to focus on getting her home. But as soon as our eyes lock, she’s looking at me all kinds of ways. Like I’m the sexiest, most perfect stranger she’s ever seen.

And then I realise, I look completely different to the boy she once knew and she doesn’t even recognise me. I could tell her who I am. Or I could have a little fun with her first…

This sexy second novel in the Red Dragon MC series can also be read as a standalone. Fans of Kristen Ashley, Joanna Wylde and Madeline Sheehan will love the heart-stopping tension. Guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers and no cheating.

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Quick Review: No More Bad Dates

No More Bad DatesNo More Bad Dates by Kate O’Keeffe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of this author’s “Last First Dates” series, so I was very excited to see the characters return in this series. In this one, we get Sophie (the barista at the Cozy Cottage Café). Sophie and her friends are tired of horrible boyfriends, so they create a system where the group has to vet potential dates before an actual date occurs (it sounds a little complicated, but it really isn’t). As with previous books, there are several likable (and some not so much) secondary characters (Sophie’s family is a good mixture of both). And her potential “dates” are hysterical; the second one had me laughing out loud! Oh, and any book that has a “Friends” reference in it is a winner for me 😉. The HEA is apparent, but the ride to get there is fun. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and look forward to the rest of the series. This book was written based on a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Kiss Me Not by Emma Hart

I have been a fan of Emma Hart for quite a while, and I was very excited to see this new release. The cover grabbed my attention (I love the style), but the story was even better.

I especially liked the setting of the kissing booth. It conveyed small-town romance, but also served as a unique way for Preston and Halley to realize their feelings for each other. That’s not to say that it happens immediately, because the two of them are stubborn – even though everyone around them knows it, they deny the attraction.

Their verbal sparring throughout the book was entertaining and added to the tension that was growing between the two of them. I thought that the focus on kissing would feel overdone after a while, but the author did a fantastic job differentiating the different types of kisses (and there were a lot of different types, thanks to the kissing booth). The descriptions of a couple, however, really allowed the reader to understand the characters’ point of view – especially Halley’s.

There were so many fun aspects to the story. My particular favorite involved Halley’s love for animals (no spoilers – you have to read it to understand). But I could see myself doing what she did. The fuzzy creatures were indirectly responsible for one of the best apology scenes I have ever read.

As far as “grand gestures” go, Preston wins in both the apology and romantic categories. But, what made them both special was that he was willing to take advice from Halley’s friends along the way (instead of being a usual guy who tried to do things on his own). I appreciated the depth that came with him being able to listen and understand a problem.

Kiss Me Not is the first in a new series (although a character from a previous novel does show up) and I cannot wait to see what is in store for Halley’s friends. Hopefully, we also get a little more of Halley and Preston along the way as well.

Kiss Me Not (Kiss Me, #1)Kiss Me Not by Emma Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You do not want to miss the latest from Emma Hart! From the unique setting at the county fair to the quirkiness of both Halley and Preston, this book is a winner. I love how the author manages to create characters who are thoroughly real – their idiosyncrasies add to their attraction. I also liked how the whole book was a slow burn, both for the characters and the reader, which made the inevitable that much sweeter. For more thoughts on this 5-star book, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of the book.

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Books On Tour: The Golden Oldies Guesthouse

Sometimes amid all of the psychological thrillers and romances, I come across a diamond of a read. One that is pure entertainment, with settings and characters I want to get to know better. The Golden Oldies Guesthouse is that kind of book.

Simon and Tess Sparrow are in their golden years, but while on vacation in Cornwall, they impulsively buy an old house with thoughts of renting out rooms to vacationers. That simple set up leads to the introduction of a multitude of characters, from the residents of the village to the guests who eventually come to stay at The Sparrows’ Nest (a very clever name).

There were several times that I felt like I was reading an episode of “Doc Martin” (one of my favorite shows), especially when there were scenes involving the townfolk. The author created characters that one might find in a small town anywhere, complete with amusing quirks and complicated relationships.

I especially liked how each of the guests had their reasons for wanting to spend long periods in an isolated area. I could relate to several of them. Sometimes, it is enough to get away from it all and focus on oneself. If you can do so in a picturesque area with gorgeous views of the ocean, all the better.

I also appreciated how the author moved the plot along. Instead of belaboring points, or drawing out incidents, there were often events mentioned in passing as the action continued. This was excellent because backstory was filled in without losing the main thread

I had not read the first book that these characters appeared in, but I found that I didn’t need to because the author did an excellent job of filling in gaps. This book can absolutely be read as a standalone – but I will be going back and finding the first one 😊

If you want to take a nice vacation to Cornwall, I highly recommend grabbing The Golden Oldies Guesthouse “dreckly.” You will definitely enjoy your visit!

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse: The perfect feel good novel about second chances!The Golden Oldies Guesthouse: The perfect feel good novel about second chances! by Dee MacDonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I got into this book right from the very beginning. I loved that the main characters (Simon and Tess) were older and trying to find their “second life.” There seriously are not enough books with that theme – there is life after 40 (and even 50)! I liked how the story was in three parts: the first was the set-up, part two was the introduction of the renters and the third dealt with all of the relationships and events at The Sparrows’ Nest. It was like reading a play in three acts with delightful characters and amusing, but realistic events. For a more in-depth review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of the book.

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AMZ: https://geni.us/B07V6N839XSocial Apple Books: https://tinyurl.com/y4pzy5sk Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y2d6m6kx Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/yxs4djt8

From the bestselling author of The Runaway Wife and The Silver Ladies of Penny Lane, this is a completely uplifting page-turner about embracing new friendships, finding love and making each day count. Perfect for fans of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village.

Dee wrote her very first book – at around seven years of age! This was a love story which she duly illustrated before sewing all the pages together up one side. Writing was what she ‘was good at’ in school and she won several essay competitions, but then life got in the way and she didn’t pick up a pen again until after retirement.

Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep., and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.

She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.

You can find Dee on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeeMacDonald/
and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DMacDonaldAuth

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Books On Tour: Silent Night by Geraldine Hogan

A good crime thriller should give the reader the feeling that they are solving the crime right along with the police. There should be ties between characters, and conflict that impacts the effectiveness of the officers/detectives (because that is true to real life). Clues should only come to light as characters discover them, but it’s okay to give the readers a few red herrings along the way to keep them off balance.

Given these parameters, I am pleased to say that Silent Night by Geraldine Hogan qualifies as a terrific crime thriller!

I will admit, the beginning was very slow, and I did sometimes feel like there was too much exposition. But I quickly realized that the author was setting a complete and detailed scene for the reader because once the action picked up, it was vital to have the information from the beginning.

As always, you will not find any significant plot points or spoilers here. I will say that I got the definite feeling that the author either was personally familiar with law enforcement or did a bang-up job researching because she hit the nail on the head with her descriptions of both methods and relationships between members of the squad, as well as investigative techniques.

Every reviewer has their pet peeves, and this is one of mine. I get frustrated at crime novels that don’t get those aspects correct; it ruins the book for me. Not the case here.

I also particularly enjoyed the way the author crafted the plot. There were times that I thought, “Oh, it must be this” (not revealing anything here, sorry) or “Aha, I thought so!” I love it when I am right sometimes and wrong others. Being kept off-balance keeps me engaged. There is little that is more annoying than a predictable crime thriller. Again, you won’t find that problem here; instead, you will find twists and surprises throughout the book.

Silent Night is the first in the new Detective Iris Locke series, and it is a stellar read. Just make sure that you have time to devote to this one because reading carefully is a must. If you skim, you will miss important information. I do hope that future books move a little bit faster, now that we have been introduced to many of the characters (or have we?), but I will be looking forward to the next in the series.  

SILENT NIGHT 

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About the author
Geraldine Hogan was born in Ireland. She gained an Honors Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree in Training and Management from University College, Galway. She is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of four contemporary fiction novels under the pen name Faith Hogan.
Silent Night is her first crime novel, her second is due out in December 2019.
She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children, and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She’s a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker, and reluctant jogger – except of course when it is raining!

You can find out more about Geraldine here:
www.Facebook/GeraldineHoganAuthor.com
Twitter @gerhogan 
https://www.instagram.com/faithhoganauthor/
Silent Night (Detective Iris Locke, #1)Silent Night by Geraldine Hogan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many crime thrillers claim to be “absolutely gripping,” but sometimes don’t live up to the hype. I’m happy to say that Silent Night by Geraldine Hogan does live up to the phrase. There is a lot to wade through at the beginning, but once the characters and setting are established, the action takes off. The reader is taken on quite a ride through the twists and turns of the murder investigation. I thought the author did a great job of keeping the action taut because it kept me hooked to the end. For more thoughts on what was so right about this five-star read, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of this book.

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Book Review: Tangled Threat

I have to add to this one. Two of the main characters are Donald and Maria Glass. Donald is described as a wealthy man who owns a lavish Florida resort who has multiple affairs while his wife ignores it. Throw in a totally random reference to Nazis and the desire to “make America great” and what could have been an intriguing mystery seemed to turn into just another opportunity to take unnecessary barbs.

If this was not the author’s intent, the editor should have seen where this could be an issue and fixed it. If it was her intent, shame on her for trying to score cheap political points when it had no bearing on the rest of the plot. There were other choices that could have been made.

Tangled ThreatTangled Threat by Heather Graham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book started out with an interesting concept. I liked the Florida lore, and how there was a parallel between what happened in the past and what was happening in the present. I also like how the author brought the characters back to the “scene of the crime,” albeit in different positions, 12 years after the fact. There were definite bones of a good story here (no pun intended). Unfortunately, the plot wandered about 2/3 of the way through, with the introduction of a strange piece of lore, a few seemingly pointed references that didn’t need to be included, and a muddled ending that is not as clear as it could have been. I ended with more questions than I had as I was reading the story. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Intrigue, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of this book.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Beauty and the Bayou

Time for another visit to Autre, Louisiana, and I could not be happier!

This has fast become one of my favorite series. The setting is intriguing, the characters are realistic and likable, and the interactions are honest and humorous.

In Beauty in the Bayou, we get Sawyer and Juliet. Readers of the first two books (particularly Sweet Home Louisiana) will remember Juliet as the sister of Chase, the frat boy who stole an airboat and crashed into the dock.

I particularly liked how Maddie, Josh, and Owen (who met her in the last book) seemed to have already sensed that she would be perfect for Sawyer. This kind of intuition about family is one of the things that make the Landry clan so appealing.

My notes in the book consist of “love this moment,” and “this is a great scene,” so I won’t bore you with the details. You can read it yourself and find your favorites. But there are a few things that I would like to highlight.

I love how the author’s heroes always surprise both the women they fall for and, in turn, the reader. So often, heroes can be one-dimensional. They are brooding, or cold, or a playboy until they meet “the one.”

Ms. Nicholas’ heroes are multi-dimensional. Just as Josh surprised Tori in My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding, Sawyer surprises Juliet when he offers to braid her hair to keep it out of the way. There is no big announcement about it; it’s just a matter-of-fact part of his character. And, honestly, it makes him that much more attractive.

I liked the way Chase’s development paralleled Sawyer’s. It illustrated how much a loving, supportive family could influence a person’s path. That’s an important point, especially in today’s day and age.

But my favorite moment came near the end when Cooper stated that everyone needed someone to balance them out. Not only did that make Juliet realize her total feelings for Sawyer, but it was also an excellent commentary on relationships in general. People often talk about a “perfect match” when it really should be a “perfect complement.”

There are other character observations that give Ms. Nicholas’ books added depth, such as when Sawyer realizes that he both loves and hates the bayou; that can apply to anything that is important in one’s life, I think.

My only complaint was that a plot point towards the end involving Gus seemed to be very rushed. The build-up made the issue seem vital, and then it was over in a sentence. I would have liked to have seen that in more detail because it could have been a “big moment.” But that’s being nitpicky. I still loved everything else about this book.

As each member of the Landry family has met their match, I get a little bit sadder, because I am afraid that the author will run out of people surrounding this fantastic group. I’m hoping she keeps finding ways to revisit them.

Beauty and the Bayou (Boys of the Bayou, #3)Beauty and the Bayou by Erin Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always excited to revisit the Landry family in Autre. They are currently my favorite group of recurring characters across the many series I read. This time out, it’s Sawyer who meets his match in the form of Juliet. You can read the synopsis for the plot line. Personally, I really appreciated how Juliet and Sawyer understood each other. They didn’t try to fix each other, they just “were” with each other. I did feel like the end was a little rushed, but that’s a minor point. I will read anything with these characters, and I can’t wait for Kennedy’s story. This review was written based on a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Dare Me Tonight

The premise of this book is a familiar trope (accidental pregnancy), but what sets it apart is the complicated family connections that in turn complicate the relationship between Sienna and Ethan.

As I mention in my Goodreads review (see below), someone who has read the other books involving the Dare and Knight families will no doubt find this entry to be intriguing.

Even though I haven’t read any of the others, I did find a few things interesting. I liked that Sienna had a childhood past that made her more vulnerable than the average person. I thought that added to the “opposites attract” aspect because Ethan was such a strong character. Not to say that Sienna was weak in any way, she certainly knew how to tell off her brothers (which I thoroughly enjoyed).

The connections were both a blessing and a curse to this book. On the one hand, they were intricate and gave a lot of depth to the story. On the other, it made understanding the impact of events a little more challenging to follow. And it’s nitpicky but naming two characters so similarly (Sierra and Sienna) was very confusing.

All in all, the book seemed not to know what it wanted to be. Was it a “losing virginity,” an “opposites attract,” “accidental pregnancy,” “rival families”…there were several genres that would fit. The result is that it all felt a bit muddled at times.

I don’t mean to repeat myself, but someone familiar with the families and backstories would enjoy this; I thought it was just okay.  

Dare Me Tonight (The Knight Brothers, #3)Dare Me Tonight by Carly Phillips
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The latest installment of the “Knight Brothers” series focuses on Ethan Knight and Sienna Dare. Fans of the series who have read the past books will probably enjoy this book. Not having read any of the others, I felt a little bit lost. The book itself is essentially a standalone, but there were a lot of references and relationships that I was unclear on; knowing those backgrounds would have made the book more enjoyable. As it was, however, it was a fairly typical “one-night stand turns into accidental pregnancy.” A decent read, but nothing earth-shattering. This review was written based on a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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