Tag: Damp Pebbles

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Blog Tour w/Review: The Blood Acre

This book started with a bang (quite literally) and didn’t let up. It was gritty and pulled no punches.

It was obvious from the start that the author had a background in law enforcement (either that or as a criminal) because the descriptions of both the crimes and the investigations were realistic and interesting. Nothing felt made up or forced. From the tension between partners to the multi-faceted crimes, everything was full of enough detail to paint vivid pictures.

I thought The Creepers were especially colorful. While they reminded me of street gangs in general, there was also something uniquely Scottish about them.

The setting was interesting for me to read about because I find it fascinating to compare crime and law enforcement between countries.

The only thing that I had a love/hate relationship with was the style of writing. I appreciated that the author wrote in a way that I could get a sense of the Scottish brogue/burr. I do love when I can get a sense of how someone actually “sounds.”  However, the extensive use of it made for very slow reading which took me out of the story a few times.

Ultimately, however, the atmosphere created by the writing won out, and I enjoyed this book.

AUTHOR BIO

Robert James Mitchell was brought up in Stirling. Mitchell was initially detailed beat duties out of the former Blackhill Police Office and then Baird Street Police Office in the former ‘D’ Division, or the North, as it was known to all the men who served in the division. In January, 2007, while recovering from an appendicitis, Mitchell decided to write the first draft of ‘Parallel Lines: The Glasgow Supremacy‘, drawing heavily on his own experiences and featuring the characters of Detective Sergeant Gus Thoroughgood and DC Kenny Hardie.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Feather and Claw

This book was not what I expected it to be. I don’t think I have ever read a cozy mystery set in the Mediterranean, but that’s how it felt to me. The juxtaposition of location and investigation was interesting.

I will admit to feeling a little bit lost at the beginning of the book. The scenes were well-described, but it took me a while to figure out where the author was going with the plot. Once the dead body appeared, it became easier (isn’t that the way 😉).

I liked the California references (being a California girl myself) but thought that there could have been more parallels to make the connection stronger. I also liked that Cat was on vacation and out of her natural element because that caused her to be creative in her investigation.

I think that was a strength of the plot. An investigator/detective will always have the desire to solve a crime wherever they are. So, how does one go about doing so without stepping on the toes of local law enforcement? Not that Cat always succeeds in that, but the author did a good job of allowing Cat to be creative in her investigating because she was freed from her normal parameters.

The plot itself was good. I especially liked the intermittent chapters that hinted at something deeper and possibly more nefarious. Those added another level of mystery.

I am usually not a fan of cozy mysteries, but the unique setting of this one sold me. I would definitely look for others in this series.

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Blog Tour w/Review: You Are Mine

If you have read any of my reviews, you know that I read a lot of psychological thrillers.

I have read about loathsome villains, misunderstood villains, and those who weren’t villains at all and were actually the good ones in the story.  

But never in recent memory was there one who was so insidiously creepy as Sir Rupert.

Honestly, I can’t even begin to explain the levels of creepiness to this guy. You have to read it to experience it.

The story is told from multiple points of view. They mostly alternate between Sir Rupert (of course) and Charlotte (a painter commissioned by Sir Rupert to do a portrait of him), but there are a few chapters from Simone (from when Rupert was a teenager) and Jodi (Charlotte’s sister). There is never any confusion from the changing points of view. Simone’s story is especially interesting, given her ultimate impact on the characters.

There were some good twists along the way. I guessed one of the major ones but did not think it through, so when the characters realized it, I was as shocked as they were. That was a moment where I realized just how twisted a person can become.

I thought the author did an especially good job of building the suspense and allowing the story to unfold naturally. Nothing felt forced, and the sense of dread that developed over time caused me to turn pages quickly (albeit with a sense of foreboding and wondering if I really wanted to know how bad it was going to get).

I highly recommend this book. But you may feel like you want to take a shower when you’re done if only just to get rid of the slime left by Sir Rupert.

About Miranda Rijks:

Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels, and YOU ARE MINE will be her sixth novel published with Inkubator Books. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MirandaRijks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MirandaRijksAuthor/
Website: https://mirandarijks.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mirandarijksauthor/
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Blog Tour w/Review: The Bowery Slugger

Having read a few of this author’s books, and finding some to be better than others, I had a little bit of trepidation when approaching The Bowery Slugger. Turn of the last century America is one of my favorite periods in history, and I am always wary of accuracy in historical novels.

I am happy to report that Mr. Borstinski does an admirable job of creating the atmosphere of the NYC Bowery in the early 1900s. This gritty look at the immigrant experience should not be missed.

I was drawn into the story almost immediately, as I thought the immigrant experience and the tenements of the Bowery were especially well-described. The whole story had a “Gangs of New York” feel to it, and it kept me turning pages. Some people may find the brutality to be a bit much, but it is definitely realistic to the time and place of the story.

I particularly liked the balance that Alex tried to achieve. Even as he was working his way up in the organization, and brutally so, he still had a bit of his “Old World” self that he tried to embrace as he became more interested in his neighbor, Rebecca.

I also found the author’s treatment of the rise of unions, exploitation of immigrants, and the corruption of Tammany Hall to be well-done. I appreciated the way that he wove historical facts into his narrative. His research for this novel is admirable.

This was by far the best of his books that I have read, and I look forward to the next installment in the Alex Cohen series, out in the spring of 2020 (hopefully!)

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Blog Tour w/Review: A Proclivity to Prurience

I have read a lot of erotica and books that claim to be erotica. Some are tantalizing and keep things subtle until a big moment when everything becomes overt. Others are more “in your face” from the beginning. Both types have their place within the genre and can be significant in their rights.

The one thing that makes an erotic novel really work, however, is a plot that provides a reason for all of the sex the characters have.  That, unfortunately, is where this novel seems to be lacking.

There was a decent set-up, as the wedding that led off the story was the perfect situation to explore several different relationships and experiences. Unfortunately, there were a lot of characters that were introduced in short order and with very little detail, so it was difficult to get a full grasp of relationships right from the beginning.

While the scenes moved quickly from one to another, I had a difficult time keeping the thread of the plot as it seemed rather thin. Joe has a devil-may-care attitude towards life, which Abbie appears to be fascinated with, but events take some odd turns, and everything gets out of control.

This is the best that I can describe the plot because while there were times that the characters reacted realistically, there were others where it seemed like events were just in the story to move from one sex scene to another.

Joe, as the catalyst, was an unlikeable character, as he did not seem to have any compass or direction other than moving from one pleasurable experience to another. I will give the author points for creativity because Joe certainly experienced the gamut of sexual choices.

The author had a high command of the language, and her word choices were different from many other erotic novels. This kept the reading interesting, at least because it did not devolve into the more familiar gutter language of other erotic books.

Honestly, I’m not quite sure what to think of this one. There were hints of a really good erotic story, but the cohesiveness left something to be desired. So, if you’re looking for a lot of well-described, quickie scenes, you should give this one a try. But if you prefer a plot with erotic scenes interspersed, you would be best to look elsewhere.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Deadly Silence

As anyone who follows my reviews knows that I read a lot of crime thrillers, and most of them are from the UK. I have mentioned how much I enjoy the structure of these, as it reminds me of the BBC shows we watch on Acorn TV. We’ve binge-watched several over the past few years. Deadly Silence ranks right up there with some of the better books I have read.

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Silence-gripping-thriller-Detective-ebook/dp/B07Z2R84T9/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=deadly+silence&qid=1571140575&sr=8-5
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Silence-gripping-thriller-Detective-ebook/dp/B07Z2R84T9/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=deadly+silence+OMJ+Ryan&qid=1571140710&sr=8-1

One thing I particularly liked about this book was that the main character was not the typical put-together, straight-arrow protagonist. Early on, there are references to previous events which have impacted Jane Phillips’ life. It would probably help to read that book first if only to understand all of those moments, and to gain some insight into Jane’s background. However, this book can be read as a standalone. The author does an excellent job of clearly stating where Jane’s mind is throughout this investigation.

I also liked the interaction between Jane and her team. It was evident that they were a tight-knit group who had worked together for a long time, and no asshole of a boss was going to change that. And speaking of asshole bosses, I have to say that DCI Fraser Brown really takes the cake. His Napoleon Complex was quite apparent.

The investigation itself was also interesting. I thought the author laid out the clues and plotted the investigation in a manner that was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages. I did figure out who the culprit was, and the person’s motivation, reasonably early on, but that is only because I read a lot of crime thrillers and I have learned a lot about investigations and reading clues from my husband’s profession.

It was still a terrific novel, and I highly recommend it.  

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.

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Blog Tour w/Review: The Death and Life of Penny Pitstop

I enjoyed this author’s Lagotti Family series, so I had high hopes for this stand-alone. And the first chapter did draw me in with an unexpected twist. Unfortunately, the plot did not follow through, and (in all) this one does not live up to the other series.

There were some interesting concepts in the plot – high finance, market trading, corporate lawyers, and international business around the time of 9/11 are all great bases that would make for an intriguing novel. There are so many ways the author could have gone with any of these threads.

What there was of a plot just seemed like filler to get to the next sex scene instead of the other way around. I read a lot of romances, and some of them get pretty raunchy. But there is usually at least a semi-coherent plot that keeps the action moving. Not the case here.

I never really got a feel for any of the characters, except for Penny, and she was unlikeable, if only for the way she treated Ray (not that he was infallible either). But, again, it was difficult to get a firm grasp on their relationship because there was not a lot of detail provided, other than how they pleasured each other.

In all, the whole novel felt disjointed. There were a few interesting parts, but they became lost in the multiple sex scenes. I wish the author had put more thought into developing the overall plot.

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Blog Tour w/Review: The Lagotti Family (The Heist)

The Lagotti Family series reads a little like a Sam Spade novel and a lot like “The Sopranos” (more on that in a minute). This review focuses on book one in the series, The Heist.

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There was a lot to like about this book. First, I appreciated the tone. I could hear the voice of a narrator of an “old-time” gangster movie in my head as I read, which was pretty cool. The plot itself was intricate and tight. There were no loose ends.

I liked the character development. At first, it was a little tricky to keep all of the character relationships straight, but it became apparent early enough in the story that there was a purpose to the tightly woven interactions and connections. The character introductions were such that I could tell who would be a long-term player and who might not be around for long. This method made me think of the first season of “The Sopranos,” when the family relations were complicated but apparent. That took some writing skills on the part of the author.

The plot itself was also well-done (as always, no spoilers – especially since it is a crime family saga). As it is the first of four books, it spent some time laying the foundation for the rest of the series. In that regard, the details about Frank and Mary Lou (in particular) were essential to get straight. I liked the situation that Mary Lou found herself in and found her choices to be entertaining.

Another Soprano allusion: Mary Lou reminded me of Carmela. She understood the family rules and took part in everything (sometimes complicit, sometimes unwittingly), but she also saw that there could be another life for her if only she made different choices. I felt some sympathy for her as she made her choices.

For those who are faint of heart, be warned: these books are gritty and (at times) quite graphic. There is no sugar-coating the attitudes of some of the characters, which sometimes results in language and scenes that may seem shocking.

I think that this aspect added to the story. In today’s society, there is so much that is sanitized and “politically correct.” People are offended at just about everything, which often results in entertainment that is watered down and bland. These books do NOT do that; the author makes no apologies and does not take the easy road, which results in a more realistic and authentic story.

I recognize this might mean that the series isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you are missing “The Sopranos,” be sure to give the Lagotti Family box set a try.

About Leopold Borstinksi:

Leopold Borstinski is an independent author whose past careers have included financial journalism, business management of financial software companies, consulting and product sales and marketing, as well as teaching.

There is nothing he likes better so he does as much nothing as he possibly can. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the US and has visited Asia on several occasions. Leopold holds a Philosophy degree and tries not to drop it too often.

He lives near London and is married with one wife, one child and no pets.

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Blog Tour w/Review: The Good Neighbor by Cathryn Grant

I picked this book up expecting it to be a decent psychological thriller with the ever-popular “shocking twist.” What I got was a lot more than that.

On the surface, The Good Neighbor is about a missing girl and how the community (one neighbor in particular) comes together to help find her. On another level, however, there are astute observations about homeschooling, social media, and society as a whole that gave this book tremendous depth.

Being a homeschooling mom myself, I am always a little suspicious when I see it as a plot point. Is the author going to do it justice, or go with a stereotype? I was pleased to find that this author knows her stuff. Whether she homeschools herself or spoke with homeschooling families, she perfectly captured so many aspects of the experience.

Brittany’s observations about her homeschooled peers were especially true-to-life. While they may be more advanced in book knowledge, there is a large number of students who falter at social situations and lack common sense knowledge gained through peers.

She also described a significant attraction of homeschooling – the ability to focus on what interests a student and complete guided learning instead of having to do rote memorization or be distracted by 30 other students.

Obviously, I was impressed with how the author handled this sometimes controversial topic. But I digress from the actual plot.

I thought the author also had some accurate reflections on social media and its impact on society, which was illustrated by Taylor’s obsession with her Facebook page. I found it interesting that the more Taylor wanted to build community within her neighborhood, the more she seemed to bastardize it for her purposes, which brought her motives into question.

As with all of my reviews, you will not find any reveals or spoilers here. But I will say that the book went in a different direction than I expected it to more than a few times. And the shocking twist? Yeah, it’s in there. And that is what ultimately made it an excellent read.

The Good Neighbor

The Good Neighbor by Cathryn Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
You will find everything from commentary on social media to accurate descriptions of homeschooling in this psychological thriller. The characters are realistic, the action is plausible, and the author gives the story depth by weaving the topics mentioned above into what could be a run-of-the-mill basic plot. It was definitely a page-turner, and I highly recommend it. For a full review, 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.
View all my reviews

About Cathryn Grant:

When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.  Cathryn’s fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines, The Shroud Quarterly Journal, and The Best of Every Day Fiction. Her story “I Was Young Once” received an honorable mention in the 2007 Zoetrope Fiction contest. She’s the author of the Alexandra Mallory Psychological Suspense series, Psychological Thrillers, Suburban Noir novels, The Haunted Ship Trilogy, and the Madison Keith Ghost Story series.

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Blog Tour w/Review: What Goes Around by Rachel Ellyn

I was happy to find this short book because it was the perfect piece of escapism. There were not a lot of deep thoughts or plot twists to complicate matters. I was able just to read and enjoy the ride.

Alice was a character that many people could relate to – a scorned woman who wanted to get on with her life but still had enough anger left for some revenge (even though it’s not exactly what she thought she needed).

The author did move things right along, so there was not a lot of time to dig deep into motivation or reasoning. Events happened, and repercussions that led to more decisions.

(I know this all sounds a little vague, but because the story is brief and the action moves quickly, I don’t want to give away any of the plot points)

I thought the author did a great job of tracing the indecisiveness of Alice. There were times when she seemed thoroughly happy with where she was, yet in an instant was insecure and doubting the trajectory of her new life. There were moments that it was hard to tell if Alice was relying on what she thought was happening with her trinkets, or if she was finding the strength within herself to move on. I liked this dual focus. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

About Rachel Ellyn:

Life and loves after the career.

With degrees in Finance and Economics, Rachel found wonderful success in the business world, which took her I.T. and financial process consulting international. However, with her mind focused on business, and with the lack of training and mentoring in her personal life, marriage success eluded her.

After foraging on a path of self-awareness and exploration with a determination to avoid repeating patterns again, she found the key to relationship bliss. Now, combining her passion for writing and storytelling with her skills, knowledge, and drive that led to her business acclaim, Rachel shares her off beat take on the world, and her findings where life, love, divorce, and children are concerned.

Rachel is determined to be a publicist’s nightmare by writing in multiple genres including children’s fiction, flash fiction, romance, and suspense/thriller.

After multiple divorces, she is now happily married and lives in the Kansas City Metropolitan area enjoying the household noise of her soon-to-be empty nest.

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