Tag: Series

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Blog Tour (Review): Forking Around by Erin Nicholas

YAY! It’s the second book in the Hot Cakes series from Erin Nicholas, and it’s every bit as yummy as the first one (Sugarcoated). This time, we get the story of Dax and Jane, and, as always, the characters are realistic and likable.

I loved that Jane was curvy and proud of it (and also that she wasn’t afraid to start her day with a strawberry-cream cheese bar instead of coffee. A girl after my own heart). But what I particularly liked is that her size didn’t become a “thing.” She was who she was, and that’s what Dax liked. Period.

Dax was fun. Known as the member of the group who keeps it light (bean bag chairs and ping pong), he showed remarkable depth when it came to Jane’s family. THAT is what ultimately made him swoon-worthy in my eyes.

Secondary characters never get short shrift in Ms. Nicholas’ books, and this one is no exception. Cassie and Aspen were the awfulest of steps, straight out of Cinderella. (I know “awfulest” isn’t a real word, but they don’t deserve proper grammar). I adored Piper, and I’m pretty sure she is my spirit animal.

And even though we know that each of the guys will get their chance at love, their “background” status still allows them to interact with the banter that the author is so good at. I always end up laughing out loud multiple times (this time, the “sexual harassment” conversation about killed me).

Another thing the author does well is timeliness and current trends, but she does it without being obvious. The scene with the coloring books of swear words comes instantly to mind. That’s something everyone can relate to, especially these days.

On a personal note, I was also drawn in by Jane’s father. My dad was diagnosed with a little-known neural disease (under the Parkinson’s umbrella, but a separate disease) that was so unknown, the doctors could pretty much do nothing. This story ends before Jack progresses to the worst part of that kind of disease. The descriptions of him before the disease, and his mannerisms during, reminded me a LOT of my dad.  

I think that’s part of the reason that Dax is currently my favorite. He just “got” it, and he knew that he wanted to be there to help Jane. I know it’s only book two, but the other guys of Fluke are going to have to work hard to knock Dax out of the top spot for me. Can’t wait to see how they do!

AUTHOR BIO

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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Books on Tour (Review): Her Last Mistake by Clara Kovach

Detective Gina Harte is back, and this time the investigation hits a little closer to home than she would like.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B084PCXX53Cover Apple: https://apple.co/2SCUzIF
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2uv50pR Google: http://bit.ly/2HfEzHh

One thing this author does well is setting incredibly detailed scenes. But Ms. Kovach goes a step beyond several other authors and sets active scenes. Not only are static details enumerated, but dynamic moments are as well (the flash of a camera at a crime scene, the sounds of the squad room, etc.). It gives a whole different dimension to reading.

I also like how the people involved in the investigation proceed, especially how they talk things out before an official statement is made, spitballing ideas or general thoughts on the case. This type of discussion is something that happens in real-life investigations, and the author captures it perfectly.  

As to the investigation itself, it’s more personal because aspects of it remind Gina of her own past trauma. These moments do serve to catalyze Gina and drive her to find the killer while adding depth to her character.  However, there were a few times I felt that Gina’s memories bogged the plot down. I wanted to get back to the action of the story.

The crime(s) are pretty gruesome, but not gory. The close proximity of the killer and victims proves that it mostly involves the power the killer feels, and that is detailed in sporadic chapters from the killer’s point of view.

As always, the author does a fantastic job of throwing red herrings and twists in that mimic a real investigation (thinking that it’s suspect A, but maybe it’s suspect B, what does suspect C have to do with it all, anyway?). And just when you think you have it all figured out, you don’t. This author is a master at partial guilt. And that’s all I am going to say about that.

Even though this is part of a series, the sixth to be exact, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. You will just have a better sense of Gina’s (and her team’s) backgrounds if you have read the others.

Author Bio:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama ‘Flame,’ psychological thriller ‘To Let,’ crime thriller ‘Whispers Beneath the Pines,’ and holiday comedy, ‘Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.’ Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area. Her feature film ‘Penny for the Guy’ is being made and is set for release in 2019.

Her latest book, Her Last Mistake is the sixth book in the DI Gina Harte crime series.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaKovachAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKovachAuthor
Website: https://griffbuck.wordpress.com/
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Books On Tour (Review): Fearless Girl by Emma Tallon

I absolutely devoured this book but will admit that I felt like I was coming in halfway through the story. Turns out, that feeling was not unfounded.

Memo to me: check before starting a series in the middle.

Buy Link: https://geni.us/B083WCYPWLSocial

First, the good parts (and there were a lot of them). I loved the grittiness of the world that the author created. The atmosphere was apparent from the very beginning, and the characters matched the world in which they lived. The author has established a fully-realized setting where everything and everyone fits in their place.

From the central players down to the minions of the “family,” the characters were realistic.  I got an excellent sense of Anna’s sorrow and determination, of Freddie’s tension, even of Ethan’s uncertainty as he seems to understand more than adults give him credit for noticing.

The plot itself is good for this installment, and this is totally my fault, but it is also where I bogged down a little bit. It is gripping (two brothers get out of prison and return to their “family business”). But not having read the first books, I was missing all of the set up that really would have brought everything together.

It’s a strange thing because I “got it.” I mean, I understood the characters’ motivations, and I wasn’t lost in the plot at all – the story for this book is clear. But without the backstory, it was simply a story instead of the continuation of an epic family story. I found myself debating whether or not I should stop reading and go back to start at the beginning of the series, which pulled me out of the story. I hope that makes sense.

I think it’s a testament to the author to be able to create this kind of conundrum.

It’s aI want to be clear that this is totally on me – as mentioned, the author has created a gritty and hard-hitting world filled with unique characters, and this was a great read. I would definitely recommend picking it up – but learn from my mistake, and 100% read the others in the series first. You will enjoy it so much more.

P.S. It can be read as a stand-alone (I did it) but would be much more enjoyable with the other stories under your belt first.

Author Bio:

Emma Tallon is a British, gritty crime writer, adventurer, Londoner and mother to a young son. Starting her career a few years ago as a ghostwriter, Emma crafted some of the most adventurous, edgy and heart-wrenching stories you can find on the shelves today.

In March 2017 Emma stepped out of the literary shadows and self-published her first book, Life Game. The book was an instant success, the results far exceeding anything she had expected. As news of Life Games popularity spread, she joined forces with W.F.Howes and the audiobook was launched in October 2017.

In December 2017, Emma signed a book deal with publishers Bookouture. This included Life Game which was changed, re-edited and re-released as Runaway Girl.

Drawing inspiration for her books from a mixture of her own observations and an active imagination, the characters Emma paints are colourful and larger than life. Her story lines are an interesting recipe of deep emotion and violent grit, that keep her readers engrossed.

With more books in the works for this series already, Emma has many more stories planned out for the future.

For more information on Emma or to join her mailing list, please go to: www.emmatallon.com or alternatively, follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/emmatallonofficial or on Twitter: @EmmaEsj
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Books On Tour (Review): Daughters of Wild Rose Bay by Susanne O’Leary

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I can safely say that it wasn’t a purple-haired Irish mother on a raw food diet who is into yoga and meditating. And that’s just one reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B082FGJ97WSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2E0WUWP
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YxxZDQ
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/38hq9Tg

It is filled with quirky characters, some of whom may be familiar to readers of this series (it’s the fourth out of five books). As I am new to the series, I found joy in each new introduction from Sally to Mad Brendan and all of the other inhabitants of Sandy Cove. And yes, Aiden is an absolutely swoon-worthy Irish suitor. 🙂

I thought that the author painted a lovely picture of an Irish seaside town. Her writing is almost lyrical at times, effortless to read, and it drew me in, nearly lulling me the way lapping waves on a beach would. I know that might sound a little corny, but I had that same feeling of contentment as I read.

I also like Jasmine as the “heroine.” I thought her background was unique, and I enjoyed her journey. I also appreciated how the author didn’t hit the reader with a great big sob story from the start. That sometimes seems manipulative, like we’re being forced to feel pity for the character.

But Ms. O’Leary allows us to get to know Jasmine gradually so that when her reasons for leaving France are revealed, we have a greater understanding of her and, therefore, my reactions and feelings towards Jasmine were more real and heartfelt.

As I mentioned, this is the fourth book in the Sandy Cove series. If Daughters of Wild Rose Bay is any indication, I will absolutely be going back and grabbing the first four to catch up while I wait for the fifth one. This is a place I will be happy to revisit.

Author Bio

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

Visit Susanne at her website, http://www.susanne-oleary.co.uk  or her blog, http://bit.ly/11F4e4S 
Find her on Facebook, http://on.fb.me/1A2NAbr and on Twitter, http://bit.ly/1rH67dK
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Blog Tour (Review): The Terror Within by Linda Regan

Some books have intriguing plots that wind their way to the end, hooking you with just enough information to keep you interested. And some books take off like a rocket, shooting you into the action that continues at such a rapid pace it is nearly impossible to turn pages fast enough to keep up.

The Terror Within is squarely and solidly in the latter category. It quite literally left me breathless.

The author chose to start the story with a happy event before things went south, and that happened very quickly. Almost immediately, the reader is catapulted into the middle of riots that morph into something much more insidious and dangerous. And watch out for the twists (mini-spoiler?)

I thought that the author did an incredible job of keeping the plot moving with action flipping between three different locations. It was so seamless I felt like I was watching a movie – the cuts to each character or location happened that quickly.

I was also impressed with the level of detail the author had regarding the subject matter. Not just about police-work and hostage negotiation but about the perpetrators’ motivations as well.

And that is what I think stood out to me the most about this book. Aside from the pulse-pounding action, the bravery of the author to choose this topic in today’s overly-PC world was bold and unforgettable. The details of the perps’ past crimes and their reasons for their actions were both well-researched and accurate. I commend the author for daring to anger the “righteous indignation” crowd.

Brutality exists in the world. Better to shine a light on it and be aware than be afraid of offending someone. And these guys are brutal. Be forewarned, there is graphic detail of injuries and harming of other people. But for me, this made it all the more realistic and gritty and put it into my top reads of the year.

About Linda Regan

Linda is a successful actress, still best known for her portrayal of April, the sweet yellow-coat, in the BBC award winning comedy Hi-De-Hi. Other programmes she has appeared in include: The Bafta nominated Channel five series: Harry and Cosh, The Bill, London’s Burning, Minder, Gentle Touch, The Knock, a Lynda La Plante series: Framed, to name but a few. Also many films, a season with the RSC, and many good theatre roles. To date she has appeared in nearly a hundred commercials.

She has been writing all her life: short stories, radio, fact and fiction. Her first crime novel was published in 2006, and her subsequent novels have all received excellent reviews.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Linda_Regan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaReganAuthor/
Website: https://lindareganonline.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linda.regan.01/
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Books On Tour (Review): The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer

I have a confession to make.

After the bombshell events of The Blossom Twins, I was a little bit concerned as to where the author would go with Detective Natalie Ward. Ms. Wyer set a high bar, and it was difficult to see where she would be able to go with the narrative.

Spoiler alert: I shouldn’t have worried.

Not only did the author meet expectations set from the previous book, but she also exceeded them.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3bCi78y

The tension begins in the very first chapter with a vicious attack and never lets up. The reader knows that Natalie will be on the case. However, as she is still reeling from personal tragedy, there is a natural curiosity as to whether she will give the investigation her full attention.

Again, no need to worry. Natalie is a consummate professional.

One of the strengths of this series, as I have mentioned in past reviews, is how well the author balances Natalies personal and professional lives. The transitions between the two are seamless and allow the reader to glimpse insights into the thought process of a woman struggling with a significant loss. As you know from the blurb, these two storylines converge, which leads to even more personal turmoil for Natalie.

Another strength is the accuracy of the investigation undertaken by Natalie and her team. Finding clues, following leads, and taking nothing for granted, this is one of the most realistic portrayals of police work I have ever come across. I especially liked how the focus of the investigation changed as new evidence came to light.

I also thought that the author’s portrayal of college students was especially astute. She captured that lack of self-responsibility that some millennials exhibit – nothing is ever their fault, it’s always somebody else’s. This just added to the realism of the plot and its characters.

I absolutely tore through this book! Just know that Ms. Wyer has outdone herself once again, and I can’t wait for the next Detective Natalie Ward investigation.

Author Bio

Carol Wyer garnered a loyal following as an author of romantic comedies, and won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015). In 2017 she stepped from comedy to the “dark side” and embarked on a series of thrillers, featuring the popular DI Robyn Carter, which earned her recognition as a crime writer.

The Staffordshire-based writer now has more crime novels in the pipeline, although she can still sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

Website: https://www.carolwyer.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEWyer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolewyer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14925467.Carol_Wyer

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Book Review: The Darkness We Hide by Debra Webb

Here is a somewhat different kind of review because it was a unique situation.

Most of the time, when I pick up a book in a series, I can usually get the gist of what has happened previously and enjoy the current case at hand (because they’re almost always crime thrillers). This was the first time that I have felt utterly lost in a series and wished I had read the other books first.

So, take the rest of this review with that in mind – you don’t want to miss this one, but absolutely positively read the previous books first.

The main character is interesting, as being an undertaker is an unusual vocation for a protagonist. The author has either researched well or has a background in the business. There were numerous details about the process, as well as insights into the perspective of an undertaker. I found those parts very informative.

As to the overall plot, as I mentioned, it is quite apparent that it is a continuation of previous events. It almost felt as if it is the culmination of a series (not sure if more are planned or not), but things came to a head in this installment. There is some dark stuff (serial killers always are), and it was interesting to see how the author related it all together.

There are plenty of twists and revelations, and people who have read the first books in the series will most likely be satisfied. I just can’t repeat enough: READ THEM IN ORDER.

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Blog Tour w/ Review: Rage and Retribution by Lorraine Mace

Reading this book (the fourth in the DI Sterling series) was like coming into the fourth episode of crime procedural on television. The case itself is stand-alone, but you know you are missing some background to the main characters. Fortunately, the author does a great job of focusing on the matter at hand. And boy, is it a good one.

It hardly needs to be said that you can get plot points from blurbs and other reviews. Suffice to say that this story has everything you can want in a crime novel: blackmail, torture, revenge, vigilantism – it’s all there. The opening scene alone is not for the faint of heart.

I wouldn’t say that this is a page-turner as much as it is a steady investigation with lots of twists that seem natural to the arc of a story. I thought the author did an admirable job of relating accurate info in terms of the investigation.

I also liked the balance between Sterling’s homelife and job. The offer that gets thrown at him about midway through was realistic, and I appreciated how he didn’t let it overtake his focus but thought about it when he could. That may sound weird, but it just seemed very…human.

I will say that for some people, the topics addressed and the activities of some characters might be unsavory. They didn’t bother me, because I’ve read worse, but as I mentioned earlier, this gets gritty and dark in places.

As for me, I liked the characters, and the plot was engaging. I will definitely be looking for DI Sterling books in the future.

About Lorraine Mace

Born and raised in South East London, Lorraine lived and worked in South Africa, on the Island of Gozo and in France before settling on the Costa del Sol in Spain. She lives with her partner in a traditional Spanish village inland from the coast and enjoys sampling the regional dishes and ever-changing tapas in the local bars. Her knowledge of Spanish is expanding. To stop her waistline from doing the same, she runs five times a week. 

When not working on the D.I. Sterling series of crime novels, Lorraine is engaged in many writing-related activities. She is a columnist for both Writing Magazine and Writers’ Forum and is head judge for Writers’ Forum monthly fiction competitions. A tutor for Writers Bureau, she also runs her own private critique and author mentoring service.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lomace 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.mace.52 
Website: www.lorrainemace.com 
Blog: http://thewritersabcchecklist.blogspot.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mace_lorraine/
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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 

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QLd1Pr 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3a3rnm4 

Instagram: http://bit.ly/36NqV9y

Website: http://bit.ly/2FM3Doo

Stay up to date with Erin Nicholas by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/38a5Fv5

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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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