Blog Tour (Review): When Love Lies Bleeding by Candy Denman

The timeliness of this book is uncanny, as it was published at the end of February. You can see from the blurb what the plot is, but reading it is like reliving the last three months, although in noir form.

I’m a big fan of film noir, so as I was reading, I could hear Humphrey Bogart doing the voice over in my head. The author did a fantastic job of creating that type of atmosphere. It made for an interesting juxtaposition, because the plot itself is all modern.

I actually think this happened to work in favor of the book. It softened the reality of the topic. If the book had been written straightforward, I don’t think it would have been nearly as enjoyable, because it would have felt too real, too much like reading a post on Facebook or a news article turned into a story. For me, the sense of noir made it more palatable.

I did also like the setting, because I’m a born and raised San Francisco Bay Area gal. I grew up just south of Oakland, so the locations were all familiar. Plus, where better to set a foggy noir story than in Fog City, right? I only wish that the author had been a little more detailed, though, as there are a lot of buildings and businesses that could have added to the mood.

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Love-Lies-Bleeding-Nostalgia/dp/1910040347/ref=sr_1_1?crid=G9YQOKD5IIT7&dchild=1&keywords=when+love+lies+bleeding&qid=1590231983&sprefix=when+love+lies+bl%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/When-Love-Lies-Bleeding-Nostalgia-ebook/dp/B084Z691L5/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=when+love+lies+bleeding&qid=1590232057&sr=8-1

And back to that noir style; I’m glad that it was a novella. Because even though I loved it, I think that a full-length novel in that tone might have been a tad much. I would have needed to give Humphrey a break somewhere along the way.

As it was, it was a timely topic written into a story that was told in a unique way and it was the perfect length. I would definitely recommend this quick read. Maybe I’ll start listening to the news and imagining it in Humphrey’s voice as well. It’s a thought.

About Candy Denman:

Candy Denman spent most of her life as an NHS nurse but now concentrates on writing full time. She has written extensively for television programmes such as The Bill, Doctors and Heartbeat but now writes novels. She lives in Hertfordshire with her large extended family and a football crazy Cockapoo called Dennis. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrimeCandy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrimeCandy/
Website: https://www.candydenman.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candydenman/

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.

Blog Tour w/Review: Heat Stroke by Skye Turner

Sometimes novellas are fully realized, and you get a whole story packed into a short amount of time. Others skate over points of the story to get to the end. Heat Stroke by Skye Turner started as the former but unfortunately ended up more like the latter.

I was intrigued at the beginning. I mean, how can you not get behind a gal who works at a lumber mill and isn’t afraid to jump in to get dirty work done? That was one of my favorite aspects of the entire plot. It was a unique setting, and Wren was comfortable in it. It seemed as if the lumber mill gave Wren a lot of confidence and strength.

She needs that strength when the bane of her high school existence, Blaze Carrington, shows up in the mill and the two get thrown together to work on a project. And herein lies the main issue I had with the book.

The fact that Blaze and his friends made Wren’s life a living hell in high school is a significant point, and both characters refer to this several times. However, there is never a lot of detail given as to what exactly they did (except make her feel bad). I would have liked some more specific examples to provide the animosity with some depth.  

As it was, Wren mentions it quite a few times but says in chapter four that she is over it. She sure mentions it a lot of times if she is actually over it.

I also made notes that there seemed to be a bizarre obsession with Wren’s hair – she refers to the weight and thickness of it often. It was weird. All that aside, the chemistry between Blaze and Wren is palpable, and their HEA is enjoyable. I do just wish that there had been a more in-depth backstory to give their reconciliation a boost. But if you know that it’s a quick read, you should like this book.

Cover Reveal: Heart Pranked



Title: Heart Pranked
Author: B.L. Olson

Series: An Applewood Manor Novella
Genre: Romantic Comedy




My only goal this weekend is to ensure my sister’s wedding stays on track. As if keeping my family in line isn’t enough to turn me into an alcoholic, the best man has decided I’m rigid and argues that I’m using my job as a crutch to avoid love. Now he has pulled me into his chaotic world, and devised pranks to prove to me he’s right.

At first, I fail to see how such childish antics will hep me escape myself, but I quickly realize there might just be a method to his madness and Ethan Wiley may just pull off his biggest prank yet.

The one that wins my heart.


Follow the Author


About the Author

Author B.L. Olson, or Brit to those she’s not in trouble with, is a self-proclaimed hot mess who survives off a steady stream of coffee and pizza. She is a land mermaid forever swimming in the PNW rain, where she balances writing, some semblance of a social life, and psych courses for her degree.



Hosted by RRR PROMOTION

close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)