Posted in 4 paws, excerpt, mystery, Sale on July 31, 2017

Title: As the Liquor Flows
Author: Angela Christina Archer
Publisher: Long Valley Press
Genre: Historical Romance (Sweeter/Lower Heat Level)
Pages: 256
Publication Date: March 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-0692660546

Synopsis

Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed, and the day Evelyn Ford will never forget.

With the untimely death of her parents and the loss of their only income, Evelyn, and her brother, Frank flee to a make-shift hovel built in Central Park.

After Frank mysteriously goes missing, bare cupboards force Evelyn to seek employment anywhere she can find work, even if that means working at a burlesque theater.

Catching the attention of Don Vincent Giovanni, a Kingpin in the New York mafia, Evelyn discovers that Frank is serving time in prison for running hooch and he owes Vincent a lot of money. In order to pay off her brother’s debt, Evelyn is thrown into the world of mobsters and bootlegging.

Between running hooch all over the city of New York and trying to save her brother, Evelyn finds herself drawn to Max Catalano, Vincent’s Consigliere. Even with secrets of his own, he’s the only one she can trust when she entangles herself in the middle of the New York mafia crime wars.

The book is on Sale for $0.99 from July 31 – August 4

Read my 4 paw review here

Excerpt

“Does it matter if I am doing all right or not?”

“It matters to me.”

Nervous energy itched through my skin.

It mattered to him?

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to stay here,” I said, ignoring his admission. “Any one of those bullets could have hit me by accident and a . . . a young man lost his . . . the three of you murdered him.”

“I never hit him. I never hit any of them. I shot in his direction, but it wasn’t my bullet that killed him.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I know. I’m trained to know.”

“Well, I don’t care. All I care about is getting out of here. I’ve to get out of here. I’ve got to get away from Vincent and this house and whatever business that he’s involved in.”

I shoved past him and his arms wrapped around my waist. His shoulders towered over mine with an intense strength, and yet, a concerned passion and honesty that left me gasping for breath, He drew me into him. My heart thumped hard. My body trembled in his arms.

“You know you can’t leave.”

“How am I supposed to just pretend that nothing is wrong?”

“You pretend for Frank’s sake. You pretend to keep him alive and to keep you alive.”

Two truths I already knew, and yet, didn’t want to admit to myself. I wanted Vincent to pay for what he’d done to my family. I wanted him to sit in a prison cell behind iron bars like Frank, whose crime wasn’t even one-tenth as horrific as the crime he committed yesterday. I wanted him to squirm as he sat in a courtroom and listened as a judge sentenced him for murder.

Yet, no matter how much I wanted it, I knew the Kingpin, the boss of bosses, the powerful Vincent Giovanni would never see one ounce of punishment.

“I don’t know how I can,” I whispered.

Without any ounce of hesitation, his hands slid up my neck, cradling my cheeks. His body so close to mine, he pressed into me, weakening my knees. His lips brushed against my forehead for a moment, giving me a soft kiss before they traced down the side of my temple. His hot breath warmed my skin.

I closed my eyes and held my breath.

He jerked away from me, shaking his head as though someone had slapped him.

“I’m sorry, Evelyn. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s all right,” I whispered, fighting my disappointment.

 

About the Author

Angela lives on a ranch with her husband, two daughters, and many farm animals. She was born and raised in Nevada, and grew up riding and showing horses from hunter jumper, English equitation, western pleasure, trail, and halter. While she doesn’t show anymore, she still loves to trail ride her paint horse, Honky. In December of 2007, she and her husband moved to Oklahoma.

From a young age, she always wanted to write a novel. However, she never believed she could write anything well enough for a publisher to even consider her. Every time the desire flickered, she shoved the thought from my mind until one morning, in 2009, she awoke with the determination to follow her dream.

In December 2014, Angela launched Long Valley Press.

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Posted in Spotlight on July 31, 2017

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Schedule of events

Monday, 7/31:

  • Cosplay Contest semi-finalists are announced
  • On Outside Blog: Q&A with Sam Maggs on SuperSpaceChick
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Fred Van Lente

Tuesday, 8/1:

  • Online Event: Facebook Live with Fred Van Lente and Grady Hendrix at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Q&A with Paul Krueger on Hollywood News Source
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Sam Maggs

Wednesday, 8/2:

  • Online Event: Twitter Takeover with Sam Maggs at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Hope Nicholson on Panel Patter
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Kim Smith

Thursday, 8/3:

  • Online Event: Instagram Live with Kim Smith at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Ashley Poston on Forever Young Adult
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Grady Hendrix

Friday, 8/4:

  • Online Event: Facebook Live with Rick and Blair at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Q&A with Bonnie Burton on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Ashley Poston

 

Week Two

Monday, 8/7:

  • Online Event: Instagram Live with Ashley Poston at 2:00pm ET
    • Ashley will announce cosplay contest finalists; voting opens up to fans, closes Friday at 12:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Q&A with Fred Van Lente on Doom Rocket
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Jon Morris

Tuesday, 8/8:

  • Online Event: Twitter Takeover with Jon Morris at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Guest post by Tania Del Rio for Nerdy Book Club
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Ian Doescher

Wednesday, 8/9:

  • Online Event: Facebook Live with Ian Doescher at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog: Q&A with Jon Morris on The Beat
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Hope Nicholson

Thursday, 8/10:

  • Twitter Party with Quirk authors! at 2:00pm ET
  • On Outside Blog:
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Will Staehle

Friday, 8/11:

  • Online Event: Cosplay Contest prize winners announced on Facebook Live at 2:00pm ET
  • On Quirk Books Blog: Paul Krueger

Events Open to the Public

Name of Event: Book Pop!
Date of Event:  Saturday, August 12, 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Location of Event: Watauga Public Library, 7109 Whitley Road, Watauga, Texas 76148
Age Range: 8 through Adult
For more information, contact: Dana Harper, Adult Services Librarian, 817-514-5865dharper@wataugatx.org

Name of Event: Book Pop Day!
Date of Event: August 30
Location of Event: Queens Library at Corona
Age Range: 14 and under
For more information, contact: Queens Library at Corona (718) 426-2844

Name of Event: BPL Comic
Date of Event: September 30, 10:00am – 4:30pm
Location of Event: Burlington Public Library, 210 Court Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601
Age Range: All Ages
For more information, contact: Mallorie Graham, mgraham@burlington.lib.ia.us

Name of Event: Book Pop!
Date of Event: Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 12:00 p.m.
Location of Event: Round Lake Area Library, 906 Hart Rd., Round Lake, IL 60073
Age Range: 5-14 Years Old
For more information, contact: Aleece Michalak at amichalak@rlalibrary.org

Name of Event: Geek Fest 2017
Date of Event: Saturday, October 14 11:00am – 3:00pm
Location of Event: Antwerp Activity Center, Mattawan, MI
Age Range: All ages
For more information, contact: Hillary Berry, hberry@richlandlibrary.org
Facebook event URL: https://www.facebook.com/SWMGeekFest/

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Posted in 4 paws, Christian, Review, Romantic Suspense on July 30, 2017

Synopsis

In a quiet family neighborhood, during an unexpected thunder storm, Madison Leigh seeks shelter on the porch of a nearby home. While waiting, the inquisitive North Carolina law student glances at the mail, and thinks she recognizes the homeowner’s name. Madison suspects him to be the same Samuel Livingston being held for the alleged murder of his wife, Merry. Her suspicions trigger a surge of curiosity and lead to the discovery of an heirloom brooch owned by the Livingston family.

In order to return the family heirloom, Madison searches for Jamie Livingston, the only child of Samuel and Merry. When Madison locates Jamie in San Francisco, her involvement intensifies as Jamie looks to her for support. With Samuel Livingston being held without bail, and unable to comfort his grieving daughter, Jamie feels desperately alone. She is confident of her father’s innocence, and quickly convinces Madison of the same.

Jamie Livingston suspects the involvement of attorney, Phillip Boatman, her mother’s former employer. And Madison, determined to find the answers, uses her law student credentials to successfully land a position with the Boatman firm. But, if she uncovers the secrets that led to Merry Livingston’s murder, will Madison jeopardize her own life? Not if F.B.I. agent, Court Braxton can help it.

Keeping an eye on Madison while working the case, Court finds himself captivated by the spirited brunette. With every meeting, his feelings are in constant conflict. Professionally, Court knows that he must remain distant, and therefore does not yield to the tender emotions he feels.

With Madison, one glance is all it takes. The love she never thinks will happen catches her completely off guard. But she wonders if her feelings are one sided, as Agent Braxton is a hard man to read. At times, he seems to draw near, then abruptly he turns away. His constantly changing demeanor causes Madison to even question Court’s motives. Perhaps his interest is merely a ploy to obtain information. In a futile attempt to protect her heart, the more Court withdraws from her personally, the harder she focuses on finding the killer.

Taking a calculated risk, Madison searches through the Boatman files and discovers undocumented offshore accounts. Further investigation then guides her to the law firm’s primary client, and to another viable suspect. But, while Madison concentrates on trying to solve the mystery, she fails to recognize that she is directly following Merry Livingston’s former footsteps. The same path that ended Merry’s life.

FOR NO APPARENT REASON lures Madison Leigh from the shelter of law school into a world where she is about to discover the destructive nature of greed. In this maze of money laundering and murder, she experiences the value of true friendship, and witnesses the healing power of God’s love.

Review

I’d put this in the Christian Romantic Suspense/mystery category.

The book starts off right away with Madison snooping through the piled papers/mail on the porch where she was taking cover from a rainstorm. It seems like an odd thing to do but Madison has a tendency to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong (as you will find out reading the book and the situations she puts herself in to help solve a crime).

Enter Court Braxton, FBI agent. He was just finishing up doing something at the house where Madison took refuge during the storm. Let’s just say she caught his eye! Of course she was interfering with his investigation but she didn’t know that in the beginning.

Both Madison and Court are very interested in the other person but they are slow in moving towards a date because of the crime that both are trying to solve. I like that Madison is holding out for marriage and isn’t afraid to discuss her faith with Court to see where he stands. It was also nice to have this as a minor storyline and let the crime solving be the main focus at least until about 3/4 of the way through…and then the romance could ramp up.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book, the characters were engaging and the mystery was intriguing.  We give it 4 paws.

About the Author

S.K. DerbanBorn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, S.K. Derban moved to London within the first three months, and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the second world war. Derban’s mother, born and raised in the United Kingdom, was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company, and a great fan of the arts. Even after returning to the United States, Derban’s life was filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries. S.K. Derban has always remained passionate about writing, and is thrilled to finally share her work with others.

Her personal travel and missionary adventures also help to transport readers virtually across the globe. When writing, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life, from her faith in the Lord, to her love and knowledge of the arts.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on July 29, 2017

Cat About Town
Minotaur Books (August 1, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1250072061
E-Book ASIN: B01N0Z4ZDP

Synopsis

The first novel in a frisky new mystery series set in a small New England town, where an unlikely citizen is called in to solve the purrfect crime. . .

Maddie James has arrived in Daybreak Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts, eager to settle down and start her own business—and maybe even fall in love. When a stray orange tabby pounces into her life, she’s inspired to open a cat café. But little does Maddie know that she’s in for something a lot more catastrophic when her new furry companion finds the dead body of the town bully. Now all eyes are on Maddie: Who is this crazy cat-whisperer lady who’s come to town? If pet-hair-maintenance and crime-fighting weren’t keeping her busy enough, Maddie now has not one but two eligible bachelors who think she’s the cat’s pajamas . . . and will do anything to win her heart. But how can she even think about happily-ever-after while a killer remains on the loose—and on her path?

 

About the Author

Cate Conte is the alter ego of Liz Mugavero. Liz is the author of the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series from Kensington Books, the first of which was an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. As you can imagine, her canine and feline rescues demand the best organic food and treats around. She is a member of Sisters in Crime National, Sisters in Crime New England, Mystery Writers of America, and the Cat Writers’ Association. She currently lives in Connecticut.

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Giveaway

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

July 26 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

July 26 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – INTERVIEW

July 27 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

July 27 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 27 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW

July 28 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

July 28 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW

July 28 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 29 – Jane Reads – REVIEW

July 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 29 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

July 30 – Mystery Playground – GUEST POST

July 30 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

July 30 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

July 31 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 31 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

August 1 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

August 1 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 1 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

August 2 – Socrates’ Book Review – REVIEW

August 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

August 3 – Book Babble – REVIEW

August 3 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 4 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 4 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

August 4 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW

Posted in Fantasy, Historical, romance, Spotlight, Trailer on July 28, 2017

Synopsis

A Twist of Fate… A Battle of Wills…

Aestrid Karisson, a Viking princess who lives by her own rules; fiercely free and independent – that is, whenever she can elude the watchful eyes of her overbearing father. When she escapes for an afternoon of adventure, she never suspected to forever alter her destiny.

Captured by a band of raiding Picts, Aestrid is adorned and bound for sacrifice. In the midst of their ritual of blood and fire, the Picts are ransacked by Veleif Kollsvein and his fearsome warriors. Reputed as the most brutal barbarian across all of the North Seas, Aestrid unwittingly trades one abductor for another. Journeying farther from her home across this unforgiving landscape; it isn’t until they reach Veleif’s stronghold that her true identity is discovered.

The oceans are cracking with ice, the mountains impassable, and Veleif refuses Aestrid’s pleas to be returned home. Determined to torment him until he complies, this vixen wages a personal war with the dark and dangerous Viking prince. But when Veleif’s high council decides the two must marry, and quickly, to unite their kingdoms – Veleif combats her with a campaign of his own. Seduction.

Can the wicked heat in Veleif’s game of delicious temptation melt Aestrid’s combative heart? Will the Viking prince tame this warrior princess and claim her as his willing bride? Or will she forever see him as nothing more than her heartless enemy?

His Viking Bride is a love story filled with folly and challenge, wit and passion… by two iron-willed characters who share more than their explosive traits… the ecstasy of all-consuming love.

Trailer

About the Author

Since Olivia Norem was old enough to remember, she devoured books and became enchanted with the worlds the authors created. Imagination, unforgettable characters, and the swoon-worthy, alpha males have made a huge impact on her writing style.

Olivia is known for strong, sassy characters who are always ready with a quip of humor, despite their situations. Born in the Chicago area, Olivia moved to the sunny shores of the Tampa Bay more years ago then she cares to admit. This “semi-native” writes full-time, and enjoys her “C” hobbies: cats, cigars and classic cars.

…and now, for a brief video interlude… Enjoy these Book Trailers

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Posted in excerpt, Fantasy, Spotlight on July 28, 2017

Synopsis

Rhianwyn of the Caderyn is conflicted about giving up a warrior’s life to become a wife and mother, but her love for her new husband is enough to at least make her consider it. However, with the conquering Gaians moving ever closer to her homeland a peaceful life may no longer be an option, for Rhia or for any of her people. With rival tribes, old suitors, and the dangerous General Lepidus to contend with, Rhia soon finds her new family in unprecedented danger, and her choices now must be about more than just herself…

Wildcat is set in a fantasy world inspired by Iron Age Wales and Imperial Rome. The story is that of a young tribeswoman facing a war that sees her people humbled by the expanding Gaian Empire. Forcibly married into a Gaian family, she has to cope with multiple personal tragedies, learn to adapt to an alien society, and save her people from further subjugation by the ambitious Gaian generals.

Excerpt

‘Taran!’

Rhia screamed the War God’s name with joyful rage as hot blood spattered on her face. Rhia was small and the Gorvic was big, but already he was doubled over and on his knees thanks to the axe she’d left imbedded his stomach. At first his hands had clutched at the haft, trying to drag the weapon from her grip or else pull it from his wound, and for a moment Rhia had lost her balance. But then she’d simply abandoned her axe and grabbed a fistful of blonde hair, yanking his head back hard before her knife opened his throat. Bright red now sprayed both on Rhia and on the grass below, and the young woman felt the thrill of battle rise up in her like a flood, erupting from her mouth in another bellowed warcry;

‘Taran!’

The Gorvic’s body jerked and twisted in her grip and she let go the hank of hair, leaving the dying man to collapse to the muddy ground. When they’d arrived at Broken Stream the fields had been nothing but a vibrant green on both sides of the water. Belenos had been shining overhead when the two warbands first faced each other across the little ford, and the stream had been clear and bright and gurgling merrily along its way.

Now the sky was overcast and warriors from both sides lay dead or dying all around. The ground had been churned up into a treacherous mire of mud and the stream was now tainted by the blood of wounded fighters. The scene might have been another world entirely, somewhere far away from the tranquil valley it had been this morning. Though the change in the image was as nothing to the change in the sound of this place.

This morning Broken Stream had known little noise but the trickling of the waters and the singing of the birds. Then the Gorvicae had come and they and the Caderyn had traded insults and boasts, jeers and challenges, and the air had been alive with the voices of warriors, all daring each other to attack first. Then the two sides had charged, and the insults and challenges had changed to warcries and screams, and the sound of iron meeting iron and of iron meeting flesh had combined to fill the valley with the dreadful song of battle.

And Rhia loved it.

She cast her eyes around to find another Gorvic to fight, her eyes wide and almost feverish, her hands shaking in anticipation. This was her first battle, the first time she had fought for her people, and the fear she’d felt before it had melted away into something like lust as she sought out another victim for her long knife and narrow axe. Remembering that the latter weapon was still lodged in a Gorvic’s stomach, she crouched down and began working it free of its fleshy prison, all the while looking around her at the carnage.

Even with her limited experience Rhia could tell the Caderyn had all but won, and she screamed out in wordless triumph as her axe came free of her enemy. She held the weapon high above her head as she looked around the bloody field. Nearly all the Gorvicae were fleeing back across the stream, only a few dozen still fighting of the two hundred who’d come here this morning. Rhia saw Caderyn fighters encircling the few who were still refusing to run away, and her breath caught in her throat as she took in the long iron swords and rigid white hair of their warrior elite. They were the Gadarim: The Mighty.

The finest of the Gorvicae fought with their hair twisted into spikes and bleached blindingly white with lime and Rhia knew that, like the Gadarim of her own people, the patterns on their skin were made of more than simple woad. Rhia, like every warrior on that field, had painted her body with swirling shapes of bright blue, to attract the favour of the gods and inspire terror in her enemies. Twin snakes writhed up her arms from wrist to shoulder, one of them continuing up her neck and around the ear to cover her cheek. She was liberally sprinkled with blood and grime by now and sweat and struggle had caused much of the warpaint to smudge or fade, risking the chance of the gods losing sight of her in all the chaos. The men of the Gadarim had no such concern.

Though they had painted over them before the battle to make them brighter, the spirals and whorls on their bodies had been tattooed there to shine forever, ensuring that Taran and Mabonac would never lose sight of their most favoured warriors. For the most part only their faces had mere woad to decorate them today, the honour of permanency there being reserved for the greatest of fighters. Rhia wondered for a wistful moment if she might know that honour someday but she shook her head at the foolish notion. Female Gadarim were a rare thing. Instead she settled for looking around for some more Gorvicae to kill. She spotted one, a lad of about her own years, who seemed torn between running back across the stream and running forwards to where the Gadarim fought. She decided to make his mind up for him.

What member of the Caledon tribe are you?

Click on this link to find out!

About the Author

JP Harker is the pen-name of James Thomas, an obsessive martial artist and a committed geek of various types, who apparently didn’t drive his fiancée mad enough with those things and so took up writing fantasy books as well. A proud Welshman with just enough Saxon in him to make things interesting, James hails from glamorous Glamorgan where he currently works in the exciting world of hospital admin.

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Posted in 4 paws, Giveaway, Review, romance on July 27, 2017

Synopsis

Love, betrayal, and sweet revenge—life in Cottonbloom is about to get a whole lot hotter . . .

Sutton Mize is known for lavishing attention on the customers who flock to her boutique on the wealthy side of her Mississippi town. So when she finds a lace thong in her fiancé’s classic cherry-red Camaro, she knows just who she sold it to: her own best friend. In an instant, Sutton’s whole world goes up in flames. . .

Wyatt Abbott has harbored a crush on Sutton since he was a young kid from the other side of the tracks. He witnessed Sutton’s shocking discovery in the Camaro at his family-owned garage—and it made him angry. What kind of man could take lovely, gorgeous Sutton for granted? But then Sutton comes up with an idea: Why not give her betrothed a taste of his own medicine and pretend that she’s got a lover of her own? Wyatt is more than happy to play the hot-and-heavy boyfriend. But what begins as a fictional affair soon develops into something more real, and more passionate, than either Sutton or Wyatt could have imagined. Could it be that true love has been waiting under the hood all along?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books-a-Million * IndieBound * Powells

Review

When I picked this book up I didn’t realize it was part of a series. However, I don’t think the books have to be read in order, they just might give a little background on some of the characters in town.

I like how this one town sits on the state line between Mississippi and Louisiana. It has that “other side of the tracks” type mentality but that doesn’t stop people when they are in love from finding each other. Such is the case of Sutton and Wyatt – they went to school together and Wyatt has always had a thing for Sutton. It is just good timing that she bring a car to him to be restored and he finds evidence of her fiance’s betrayal which only works to his benefit!

But of course the path to true love can never be easy and both Sutton and Wyatt have different things to deal with from their past (or their reputation) but of course love is going to win.

This was a fun read and it felt like a town that I wouldn’t mind visiting and perhaps living in..although I’m not sure I would want to be related to a majority of the town.

We give this 4 paws up!

About the Author

An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. The first two books of her Falcon Football series were named Top Picks by RT Book Reviews magazine. Then He Kissed Me, a Cottonbloom novel, was named as one of Amazon’s best romances of 2016. When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she’s shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

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Giveaway

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Book Release, Review, suspense on July 26, 2017

Synopsis

The text message is just three words: I need you.

Isa drops everything, takes her baby daughter and heads straight to Salten. She spent the most significant days of her life at boarding school on the marshes there, days which still cast their shadow over her now.

Something terrible has been found on the beach. Something which will force Isa to confront her past, together with the three best friends she hasn’t seen for years, but has never forgotten. Theirs is no cosy reunion: Salten isn’t a safe place for them, after what they did.

At school the girls used to play the Lying Game. They competed to convince people of the most outrageous stories. But for some, did the boundary between fact and fantasy become too blurred?

And how much can you really trust your friends?

Review

Friendships formed out of necessity is what these four women have together. Kate, Thea, Fatima and Isa met in boarding school and something clicked for them. Perhaps because they were all a bit wild and also have home lives that were not quite traditional. They were a force to be reckoned with on campus only because of their game – The Lying Game. It was more of a challenge to see who could embellish a story the most and get away with it. Little did they know that 15+ years later it might come back to haunt them.

This book is engaging and had me wondering what secret the women were hiding. The first half of the book leads up to what the 4 women did during their time at boarding school that caused them to scatter across the country. Then the last half shares how they plan to handle the revelation and the impact it will have on their lives. But in the revelation more details are learned and perhaps it wasn’t quite what they thought when they were 15. There is a bit of a mystery as to who was involved in this situation and when all is explained, how it impacted their lives going forward.

The copy of the book I had (from Netgalley) didn’t have any formal chapters. There were 4 sections. Thankfully there were larger gaps where I could stop. I guess those were supposed to be chapters but without making them a chapter. The story fluctuates between the past and the present and I felt like the author did a good job with the story flow.

The book is set in England and the differences in the English language always make me chuckle…only because some words are used in different contexts than what I am used to hearing.

There are quite a few f* bombs and I do wish authors would learn some new words to express frustration or whatever emotion they are trying to express and stop using the same word over and over again. Not sure when we became such a crude world.

We give it 3 1/2 paws

About the Author

Ruth Ware grew up in Sussex, on the south coast of England. After graduating from Manchester University she moved to Paris, before settling in North London. She has worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language and a press officer. She is married with two small children, and In a Dark, Dark Wood is her début thriller.

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Posted in 4 paws, Review, suspense on July 25, 2017

Synopsis

In this relentlessly paced novel of psychological suspense, New York Times bestselling author Michelle Richmond crafts an intense and shocking tale that asks: How far would you go to protect your marriage?

Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . . Never mention The Pact to anyone.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples. And then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.

Review

I was able to get a copy of this early from Netgalley and WOW!

I have always known that marriage takes work between both parties, but The Pact is a bit extreme in its measures! Most of us might call The Pact a cult because of its rules and the punishments if you break the rules.

Alice & Jake might seem like an unlikely couple but they complement each other quite well and this induction into The Pact (TP) tests even their love for each other. Are the rules really there to help or are they there for some other nefarious reason?

This book had me on the edge at various times wondering if belonging to TP was a good or bad thing. Sometimes it seemed like a good thing but as they delve further into the organization it is not all it is cracked up to be but there is no way out. I wondered at times if Alice was being brainwashed or if she really was looking deeper into herself and her actions as part of a married couple.

There are some surprises near the end and after those are revealed I truly did not expect the ending. No spoilers but I wish there had been an epilogue to explain a little bit more of what happened. If nothing else, this book will make you think about how you view married life or being part of a couple.

We give this 4 paws up

Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on July 24, 2017

Calamity at the Continental Club (Washington Whodunit)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Camel Press (July 1, 2017)
Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1603813358

Synopsis

The Mayflower Society is about to hold its annual meeting at Washington D.C.’s swanky gathering place for the elite, the Continental Club. That means Kit Marshall’s upper-crust future in-laws, Buffy and Winston Hollingsworth, are coming for a visit. Annoyed that Kit has not set a date to marry Doug, Buffy wants her to commit to a high society wedding at the club. Kit, though chief of staff for a congresswoman, feels uncomfortable with Buffy and Winston’s crowd.

Kit receives an unexpected reprieve in the form of murder. En route to her morning jog, she encounters the corpse of the leader of the Mayflower Society, conservative multimedia tycoon Grayson Bancroft. On the security cameras, no one was seen entering or leaving the club, which means the culprit had to be an overnight guest. Little love was lost on Bancroft, but the police have their prime suspect: Doug’s father.

Buffy and Winston, formerly disdainful of Kit’s sleuthing, urge her to investigate. With her future in-laws’ freedom and reputations at stake, Kit sets out once again to solve a murder mystery, this time aided by her fiancé Doug in addition to her friends Meg and Trevor and her dog Clarence. Her search for clues will take her from the club to the Smithsonian Museum, the National Archives, and Mount Vernon.

Book 3 of the Washington Whodunit series, which began with Stabbing in the Senate and continued with Homicide in the House.

Guest Post

Museums, Archives, and Historical Homes:  Oh My!

The third installment of the Washington Whodunit series finds our amateur sleuth extraordinaire, Kit Marshall, in unfamiliar territory. Kit is a congressional staffer who deeply understands the haunts and characters of Capitol Hill. In Calamity at the Continental Club, Kit solves the murder of a billionaire Washington, D.C. cultural philanthropist. Consequently, her chase to find the killer takes her to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the National Archives, and Mount Vernon. The cast of characters couldn’t be more different from the politicians she’s used to dealing with – but that doesn’t mean they’re less deadly.

I wrote this book at a time when I was making a transition in my own career. From 2005 until 2015, my “day job” revolved around providing policy analysis and support to Members of Congress. I worked in the United States Senate for almost three years and seven more at the Congressional Research Service. But then I switched gears and accepted a senior leadership position at the Library of Congress, focusing on the consolidation and promotion of the Library’s successful public programs. The new gig enabled me to learn about the challenges of cultural institution management, including exhibit design, visitor services, development, and educational/scholarly support. There’s still a lot to learn, and most days offer opportunities for growth and creativity. Above all, I like that my job is focused on finding ways that Americans of diverse backgrounds can interact with the Library’s tremendous collections and resources.

When I began to sketch the plot of my next mystery, it made a lot of sense to incorporate several of my favorite local cultural institutions. As part of the preparation for writing the book, I scoured each of the locations as a typical tourist, absorbing the sights and experiencing the crowds. Each site provides Kit with one or more clues about the identity of the killer, so be sure to pay special attention when she visits these historic Washington, D.C. gems.  I hope you like reading Calamity at the Continental Club as much as I enjoyed the on-the-ground research!

About the Author

colleen shoganColleen J. Shogan is a senior executive at the Library of Congress. She is the former deputy director of the Congressional Research Service and previously served as a staffer in the United States Senate. A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American government at Georgetown University, Penn, and George Mason. Colleen is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her BA from Boston College and her doctorate from Yale. A member of Sisters in Crime, she lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband Rob Raffety and their rescue mutt, Conan. Her first book, Stabbing in the Senate, won the Next Generation Indie Award for Best Mystery in 2016.

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check out the other blogs on this tour

July 15 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

July 16 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT

July 17 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW

July 18 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

July 20 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 21 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

July 22 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

July 23 – Off

July 24 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

July 24 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

July 25 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

July 26 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

July 27 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, GUEST POST

July 28 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW