Hi guys! In case you haven't noticed, I haven't had a new post up on this blog in a while. I made the decision a while back to move the blog over to another site.
You can now visit my blog here
I hope you'll decide to visit the new site and follow me there. I'll have the same content (book reviews, discussions, etc) as before, just a new look and a new link.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Saturday, August 5, 2017
*Book Tour + Review* Vangie Vale and the Murdered Macaron by R.L Syme
Vangie Vale and the Murdered Macaron by R. L. Syme
Release Date is set for August 1.
Approx - 380 pages
Small towns and gossip go together like flaky crust and sweet pastry cream. Between the police scanners, social media, and the senior center, it's like a zombie apocalypse where the undead consume people's secrets instead of living flesh.But Vangie Vale wants nothing more than to stay under the radar...especially the police radar.So when her new bakery becomes linked to a murder investigation, nothing will stop the gossip mill from connecting her to the dead body. Can't have that.Forced into the role of investigator, this new-in-town bakery owner has to become the very thing she hates--a nosy, small-town gossip--in order to clear her good name, and keep her face off the front page. But when a dating debacle brings her face-to-face with the Sheriff, Vangie can't ignore the fact that one of her macarons was involved in a murder. She has to find the who-dun-it.Book One in a cozy culinary mystery series from USA Today Bestselling Author, R.L. Syme.
My Review:
3 out of 5 stars
I liked Vangie's character. She was definitely pretty unique from any other character that I have read in a book with her background as a part time pastor and then owner of her own bakery. I really enjoyed the Matchbaker part of this book. I thought it was really interesting how Vangie was able to match someone to a treat depending on their personality and other small things that she observed about the person. That takes a pretty high level of observation and was interesting to see.
The mystery behind the murder, even though it didn't hold my attention all the time, surprised me when the killer was revealed.
About The Author
Rebecca Syme writes small town romance as Becca Boyd and cozy mystery as R.L. Syme. She is a long-time foodie and loves fancy cheese. Becca calls the mountains of Montana her home and draws inspiration from the beautiful vistas and heartwarming people. She is the USA Today bestselling author of the Line of Fire series of sweet romances and part of the Chick Tales series set in Somewhere, TX. You can find her on Twitter talking #fancycheese or #Chopped, and on Facebook with her fans in Becca Nation.
- Webpage http://rlsyme.com/
- Blog: same
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bighopesbigheroes/
- Becca Nation Facebook Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeccaNation/
- Twitter @beck_a_tron
- GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6878258.R_L_Syme
- Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2ptfwtp
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Participants
August 1 - Blogger Nicole Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 1 - Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
August 2 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW
August 2 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
August 3 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST
August 3 – Varietats2010 – REVIEW
August 4 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
August 5 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW
August 5 – My Funny View of Life – REVIEW
August 6 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
August 6 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW, INTERVIEW
August 7 – Sleuth Cafe - CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
August 8 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 8 – Teresa Trent Author Site – INTERVIEW
August 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
August 9 – The Power of Words - SPOTLIGHT
August 9 – A Blue Million Books - INTERVIEW
August 10 – Socrates' Book Reviews – REVIEW
August 10 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
August 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, INTERVIEW
August 11 – Book Babble – REVIEW
August 12 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
August 12 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
August 13 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW
August 13 – Girl with Book Lungs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 14 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
August 14 – Jane Reads - REVIEW, GUEST POST
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Friday, August 4, 2017
*Book Tour + Review* Shadow Girl by Gerry Schmidt
SHADOW GIRL by Gerry Schmitt
Suspense/Thriller
2nd in Series
Release Date - August 1, 2017
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425281789
Kindle ASIN: B01MXHV6CL
The brutal murder of a business tycoon leaves Afton Tangler and the Twin Cities reeling, but that’s just the beginning of a gruesome crime spree...Leland Odin made his fortune launching a home shopping network, but his millions can’t save his life. On the list for a transplant, the ailing businessman sees all hope lost when the helicopter carrying his donor heart is shot out of the sky.Now with two pilots dead and dozens injured, Afton Tangler, family liaison officer for the Minneapolis Police Department, is drawn into the case. As she and her partner investigate family members and business associates, whoever wants Leland dead strikes again—and succeeds—in a brazen hospital room attack.The supposedly squeaky clean millionaire has crossed the wrong person—and she’s not finished exacting her revenge. The case explodes into an international conspiracy of unbridled greed and violence. And as Afton gets closer to unearthing the mastermind behind it, she gets closer to becoming collateral damage...
My Review:
3 out of 5 stars
The mystery and suspense aspect of this book was great. This was a definite page turner. Your attention is grabbed from the beginning of the book and you are hanging on the edge of your seat until the end trying to figure everything out.
I enjoyed this book for the most part but found it difficult to connect to the characters at times. I did enjoy the different POVs.
|
About The Author
Gerry Schmitt is the author of the Afton Tangler Thrillers
, and, writing under the pseudonym Laura Childs
, the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels, the Tea Shop
, Scrapbooking
, and Cackleberry Club
Mysteries. She is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won TV and radio awards, and produced two reality TV shows. She and her professor husband enjoy collecting art, travel, and their two Shar-Pei dogs.Author Links - Webpage – Facebook
Purchase Links Amazon B&N BAM
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 31 - Valerie's Musings - REVIEW, INTERVIEW
July 31 - Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT
August 1 - Varietats2010 - REVIEW
August 2 – Mystery Playground – GUEST POST
August 2 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW
August 3 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 3 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
August 4 – Bookworm Cafe - REVIEW
August 5 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW
August 5 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
August 6 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW
August 7 – The Editing Pen – GUEST POST
August 7 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – REVIEW
August 8 – My Reading Journey - REVIEW
August 9 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
August 11 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW
August 12 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
August 12 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
August 13 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 13 – I Read What You Write - REVIEW
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Best of the Bunch - July 2017
I read 8 books in the month of July. Out of all of the books I read, my favorite is definitely Amnesia by Cambria Hebert.
From Goodreads:
I washed ashore in a little lake town.
A place where everyone knows everyone, yet…
No one knows me.
I don’t know me.
If a woman doesn’t know her own name, does she really exist?
I don’t know my natural hair color, my birthdate, or where I live.
I am invisible.
To everyone, to everything, even to myself.
Except to him.
I see the recognition deep in his stare, the way it lingers on my face as if I’m a puzzle he’s desperate to put together.
I just want answers, the truth… knowledge.
His lips are sealed. Still, his eyes beguile me.
I can’t trust anyone, not even myself. Someone wants me dead, the same someone who tried to bury me in a watery grave.
They’ll come for me again… I won’t know their face.
I don’t even know mine.
I am amnesia.
A place where everyone knows everyone, yet…
No one knows me.
I don’t know me.
If a woman doesn’t know her own name, does she really exist?
I don’t know my natural hair color, my birthdate, or where I live.
I am invisible.
To everyone, to everything, even to myself.
Except to him.
I see the recognition deep in his stare, the way it lingers on my face as if I’m a puzzle he’s desperate to put together.
I just want answers, the truth… knowledge.
His lips are sealed. Still, his eyes beguile me.
I can’t trust anyone, not even myself. Someone wants me dead, the same someone who tried to bury me in a watery grave.
They’ll come for me again… I won’t know their face.
I don’t even know mine.
I am amnesia.
My Review:
5 out of 5 stars
★★★★★
Wow! I've got shivers going across my skin right now. The level of mystery, intrigue, and suspense in this book is off the charts! I was drawn in from the very first page and just couldn't turn the pages fast enough to get through to the end. My heart was pounding in anticipation of what was going to happen next. I loved both Eddie and Amnesia's characters. They've both been through a lot and deserve to be happy.
There were several times where I thought I had figured out what happened and how things would turn out, but I was wrong. I absolutely LOVE the mystery and the element of the unknown in this book. It's just amazing. Cambria did an excellent job with this book. I can't wait until the next one comes out! I'm ready to find out who Amnesia really is.
Book Links:
*Cover Reveal* Amnesty by Cambria Hebert
Amnesty
Cambria Hebert
(Amnesia, #2)
Publication date: August 18th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
There’s freedom in remembering.
My past is a double-edged sword.
Damned if I do remember, damned if I don’t.
Remembering beyond the horrors I already have will change me. Change us.
But, what if I’m living a lie? What if everything I thought was wrong, what if who I thought I was is wrong?
If not her, then…
Who am I?
Eddie says it doesn’t matter, but deep down I’m terrified it does.
I’m trapped. Held prisoner by a past I can’t remember and a future that might not belong to me.
There’s a light though, not at the end of the tunnel… But wavering in the distance, calling to me from Rumor Island.
That light, it scares me far more than darkness. Am I brave enough to confront it?
So many questions, so few answers.
I don’t have a choice; the truth always finds a way to the surface. Finally learning who I really am will be a permanent life sentence:
Total punishment or absolute amnesty.
Sequel to:
—
Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.
*Release Blitz* TS901: Anomaly by Stacey Rourke and Tish Thawer
Title: TS901: ANOMALY
Author: Stacey Rourke & Tish Thawer
Genre: NA Dystopian
Cover Designer: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design & Photography
Editor: There for You Editing Services
Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing
Blurb:
Tainted water for the good of the people. Fluoride and vitamins to sustain the health of the human race. Added ingredients to extend and elevate the quality of life. All good things, right?
Wrong.
Thia Kelly has been changed by the TS901 chemical in the world’s water supply. Now, forced into hiding with the other inflicted outcasts, she struggles to survive as her powers emerge.
Evan Daniels hunted for others like himself, and finding Thia suddenly brought meaning back into his life. Love blossomed between the strange couple while they searched for a way to reverse the effects. Unfortunately, the Government had something else in mind.
Super-soldier creation on a mass scale was their end goal, and thanks to an unfortunate family tie, Evan became Patient #1.
Good-guy? Bad-guy? The world isn’t sure, but Thia is left with only one choice––save the ass of the world’s first Anomaly who just happens to be her boyfriend.
RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Adapted for Film. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.
or on Twitter or instagram at Rourkewrites.
Award Winning Author, Tish Thawer, writes paranormal romances for all ages. From her first paranormal cartoon, Isis, to the Twilight phenomenon, myth, magic, and superpowers have always held a special place in her heart.
Tish is known for her detailed world-building and magic-laced stories. Her work has been compared to Nora Roberts, Sam Cheever, and Charlaine Harris. She has received nominations for multiple RONE Awards (Reward of Novel Excellence), and Author of the Year (Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery), as well as nominations and wins for Best Cover, and a Reader’s Choice Award.
Tish has worked as a computer consultant, photographer, and graphic designer, and is a columnist for Gliterary Girl Media and has bylines in RT Magazine and Literary Lunes Magazine. She resides in Colorado with her husband and three wonderful children and is represented by Gandolfo, Helin, and Fountain Literary Management.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.tishthawer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTishThawer/(Fan page)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TishThawersBookCoven/(Book group)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TishThawer/ | @TishThawer
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tishthawer/?hl=en | @TishThawer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/tishthawer
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2rp0q8A
Newsletter: http://www.tishthawer.com/subscribe.html
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tish-thawer
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2uRlunC
Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/2eTfWVQ
Apple - http://apple.co/2v6oFtZ
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/2tPLcf1
Inktera - http://bit.ly/2v48FsJ
Kobo - http://bit.ly/2uF8Z0h
Scribd - http://bit.ly/2u4OHK2
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Weekly Wrap-Up 7-30-17
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
Hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
- Release Blitz - #MomFail Anthology
- Review - Checkmate: This is War by Kennedy Fox
- Sale & Audible Release - Duplicity Duet by Elisabeth Grace
- Get to Know Me - Book Blog Tag
- Review - Cat About Town by Cate Conte
- Review - Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron
THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG
- Cover Reveal - Amnesty by Cambria Hebert
- Review - Shadow Girl by Gerry Schmidt
- Review - Vangie Vale and the Murdered Macaron by RL Syme
- discussion post
- Challenge/TBR review(s)
BOOKS IN MY MAILBOX
Kindle (Freebie)
OFF THE BLOG
Well, this has definitely been an interesting week.
Most of this week I had to share my husband's car since my van has been having problems and we hadn't been able to fix it yet.
Someone from my dad's church was able to figure out what part we needed for the van and said if I bought the part, he'd come put it on for me. So on Friday when we got paid, I went and got the part, and the guy came over and put it on free of charge. I've been driving it around a little and it hasn't shut off on me since then, so I'm hoping that was the problem and it won't do that anymore.
Well, guess what happened as soon as we fixed the van?
My husband's car started acting up. It was trembling, shaking, and shuddering pretty badly. It's done that a few times but it is always a different problem each time so we weren't sure what to think. Well, the guy that fixed my van once again told us what it might be so we went and got that part and he put it on for us as well. I'm happy to say my husband's car is running perfectly now.
Whew! I'm so done with car issues for the moment. We're set back over $100 but I know it could most definitely have been worse, so I'm grateful for that at least.
I'm really excited that I get to go up to the college next week and start getting my books for all of my classes. It's starting to sink in that I'm really doing this. I'm starting to get really anxious. I have a lot of social anxiety.
I'm also glad to say that I think I'm finally out of my reading slump. I've never had one last that long so I was really starting to get frustrated.
My husband is out right now with our sons so I have the house to myself. It's so peaceful and quiet! lol. They are going to go watch the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 movie. I don't have any interest in seeing it, so I decided to stay home and let them have some quality father/son time together. I'm sure they'll have a blast. They've been looking forward to watching it for a while now.
WEEKLY FUNNY
I think we can all relate with this one. Right? ;)
Saturday, July 29, 2017
*Review* Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron
Synopsis:
Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders, the Cajun Country series debut from Ellen Byron.
It's the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family's plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival--elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other--one from very unnatural causes-- Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.
With the help of Bo Durand, the town's handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron's charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.
It's the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family's plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival--elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other--one from very unnatural causes-- Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.
With the help of Bo Durand, the town's handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron's charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.
My Review:
4 out of 5 stars
★★★★☆
I picked this book up to read with a monthly book club discussion group. I'm so glad I decided to give this new to me author and series a try because I enjoyed this book.
Maggie and her family members are all wonderful people and I enjoyed all of their characters. The police chief and his grudge against the Crozat family became a little annoying at times. I liked that both Maggie and Lia have possible love interests and am looking forward to seeing how those relationships develop in future books in this series. Some of the French words and Louisiana-based terms in this book were a little confusing at times or were hard to understand, but I was still able to enjoy the story.
The mystery kept my attention from the beginning of the book until everything was solved at the end. There were several suspects who all had a valid motive for murder, but the killer completely surprised me since it wasn't anyone I suspected. There were a few smaller storylines going on in the background which added some extra intrigue and suspense. Everything was wrapped up/solved so you aren't left with any loose ends or questions when the book is over.
The foods described in this story all sounded amazing and left me with a strong craving for some good Louisiana meals. I will definitely try some of the recipes in the back of the book. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Maggie and her family members are all wonderful people and I enjoyed all of their characters. The police chief and his grudge against the Crozat family became a little annoying at times. I liked that both Maggie and Lia have possible love interests and am looking forward to seeing how those relationships develop in future books in this series. Some of the French words and Louisiana-based terms in this book were a little confusing at times or were hard to understand, but I was still able to enjoy the story.
The mystery kept my attention from the beginning of the book until everything was solved at the end. There were several suspects who all had a valid motive for murder, but the killer completely surprised me since it wasn't anyone I suspected. There were a few smaller storylines going on in the background which added some extra intrigue and suspense. Everything was wrapped up/solved so you aren't left with any loose ends or questions when the book is over.
The foods described in this story all sounded amazing and left me with a strong craving for some good Louisiana meals. I will definitely try some of the recipes in the back of the book. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Book Links:
Author Links:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
