Synopsis

 

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?

 

 

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Review

 

This was quite an interesting tale. It was promoted as dark and frightening, but I don’t think it was either of those. It is a little spooky so a great read for October!

Annie is a bit lost in her life after her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her. So she decides to start over in a small town in upstate NY. I don’t think she is very happy there, but then I think she doesn’t know what in her life will make her happy. She admits to focusing all of her energy on the relationship she is in versus having her own interests and hobbies. I think we might all be able to relate to that to some degree.

However, Annie does meet Sophie and from the beginning, I wondered about her. Something seems a little off. She doesn’t drive, doesn’t have a phone or any sort of technology, lives in a massive home. She is off the grid without being off the grid if that makes sense. Sophie does see something in Annie, a better woman and one that is not so obsessed with finding a relationship to lose herself in. She works hard to bring out the best in Annie and is met with some resistance because Annie can’t seem to let go of Sam (the ex).

The citizens of the town act strangely towards Sophie and once you discover why it makes sense. Should they treat her that way? Maybe. But perhaps they can look past their pain and to the future just like Annie? Only time will tell.

While I am not a big fan of spiders, the ones in this book are cute and the personalities are so much more than the spider. This doesn’t mean I won’t try to relocate spiders I find in my own home!

This book is about finding yourself and becoming the best version of yourself that you can be and exploring the paths set in front of you.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Rachel Harrison was born and raised in the weird state of New Jersey. She received her bachelor’s in writing for film and television from Emerson College. After graduating, she worked on TV game shows, in publishing, and for a big bank. She lives in western New York, with her husband and their cat/overlord.

 

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Synopsis

 

How much will she risk to save her sister?

Mae Ashton has every reason to stay in Georgia and marry the man she loves, save one—the disappearance of her sister. Although all evidence points to Hazel’s death, Mae’s discovery of a single picture changes everything. If Hazel is alive, Mae will find her. And she’s left everything to do so.

Davis Everleigh isn’t about to let Mae, his fiancée, go just because of a note that hardly explains her departure to New York City. Instead, he follows her to the city and gains employment with the man Mae believes is somehow connected to Hazel.

As Davis and Mae become further entrenched in their effort to locate Hazel, they find themselves facing a corrupt businessman and his ruthless henchman, Alberto Moretti. In a world of lies, will the truth prevail—both about Hazel and in their own lives?

 

 

Amazon

 

Review

 

They don’t call it the Roaring 20s for nothing! This is a time of speakeasies, mobsters, flappers, and the Charleston.

Mae is absolutely positive that her sister is not the one they found dead in the river and only a photo gives her a clue where to start looking. However, Mae does not know who she is dealing with because this is a fast-talking town compared to her home in Georgia. However, her love for her sister, Hazel, allows her to persevere and continue her search. What she doesn’t expect is for her ex-fiance, Davis, to follow her and want to help her find Hazel. Is that love or what?!

I appreciated Mae’s determination but I didn’t understand why she was insistent on taking her sister home to the family. Her sister was happy and knew what she had gotten herself into, but Mae did not accept that decision. Yes, her husband was a gangster and involved in shady business, but did that warrant Mae trying to take her sister away from a situation that she wanted to belong? But Mae is plucky especially when she finds herself in situations that could have not ended well.

Davis is a gem. His love for Mae throws him into the middle of the whole situation and he ends up with a price on his head. However, the one thing that Davis and Mae have going for them is their faith and they are not afraid to share their beliefs with anyone they run across, even a reluctant gangster.

There is a character that might surprise you, Alberto. He is rough and tough, but I think deep down there is a part of him that does not enjoy this life and wonders if there is more out there for him. It doesn’t help that he is secretly in love with Mae’s sister, who is married to his boss.

I can’t forget to mention Scranton, the preacher that totes a gun (seems like all of the characters toted guns) and isn’t shy in helping Mae and Davis in their cause, even if it might mean death for him. And that is highly possible considering the characters they are dealing with in this book.

The book is full of scripture which fits the situations that Mae and Davis find themselves mixed up. I appreciated their strong faith beliefs and that they didn’t back down no matter what anyone said about their faith and beliefs.

The book has a nice even fast pace to it and there was little downtime to wonder what might pop up and surprise us next. There are many nuances to this book that made it an entertaining read but too much would be given away by sharing those here.

We give this book 4 paws up and look forward to the next book in this trilogy that will feature Alberto and Lillian (Hazel).

 

 

 

About the Author

 

A little bit about me—I’m a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with my words. I’m also a homeschool graduate who holds a degree in accounting. Promises Unbroken is my fifth published novel.

 

Website

 

 

Synopsis

 

When Tessa’s big-city plans take the A Train to disaster, she lands in her sleepy hometown, smack in the middle of the most unlikely love triangle ever to hit Pennsylvania’s Amish Country.

Hot-shot Dr. Richard Bruce is bound to Green Ridge by loyalty that runs deep. Deeper still is Jonas Rishel’s tie to the land and his family’s Amish community. Behind the wheel of a 1979 camper van, Tessa idles at a fork in the road. Will she cruise the superhighway to the future? Or take a slow trot to the past and a mysterious society she never dreamed she’d glimpse from the inside?

 

 

 

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Review

 

This romance intrigued me with the Amish characters, the small town ways, and Tessa’s dilemma as to what she is going to do with her life now.

Tessa is back in her hometown and has to decide where her next journey will be since several things have fallen apart – losing a job as a teacher, plans for NYC destroyed – so why not housesit for her parents while she figures it out? She is roped into volunteering for several events and is set up with a doctor, Richard. She also meets Jonas, an Amish man, at the farmer’s market. These two couldn’t be more opposites if they tried. I’ll tell you right now, I am Team Jonas. Richard is underhanded and overbearing and needs to be taken down a peg or two.

While love is at the crux of the story, it is also about discovering who you are and what you want from life. Tessa is able to do some soul searching to discover her path in life, but it takes some time and nothing is resolved quickly. But it isn’t meant to be and finding the right direction for your life is more important than love that might be fleeting if you are not in the right place to receive that love.

I had to laugh at the camper van but I was also amazed at the versatility of that vehicle!

Great story and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Wendy Rich Stetson is a New York City girl who still considers the Central Pennsylvania countryside to be her home.  She grew up road tripping in a 1979 VW camper van, and she keeps a running list of favorite roadside attractions from coast to coast.  Now an author of sweet, small-town romance, Wendy is no stranger to storytelling.  She’s a Broadway and television actress, an audiobook narrator, and a mom who likes nothing more than collaborating on children’s books with her teenage artist daughter.  Wendy lives in Upper Manhattan with her family of three and rambunctious Maine Coon kitty.

 

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Synopsis

 

Hate (or is it love?) is in the air in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy anthology. Find your happily ever after with six smart and sexy, feel-good romcoms. Stories range from sweet to medium steam level.

Available for a limited time only.

100% of proceeds from preorders will be donated to the Animal Welfare Institute.

 

This anthology includes never before published standalone titles

Tracy Krimmer: Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Hilary Grossman: Cop An Attitude

Holly Kerr: Bite Me

Allie Boniface: Dare Me

Liz Alden: The Rival In South Africa

Sarah Peis: Booby Trap

 

 

 

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Review

 

These six short stories are bound to entertain you. They range from spicy to mild and different situations. They are perfect when you are short on time or don’t want to put a long book down.

I have read four of the six so far and have enjoyed each one from the characters, the storyline, and the setting.

While each one entertained, I found Dare Me quite fascinating in regards to the plot. I have never heard of a Mistress Dispeller but apparently, this is a thing. Someone that breaks up affairs of the rich and famous.

Cop an Attitude is a spin-off of one of the author’s series but I didn’t realize it until the end. I enjoyed seeing one of the gang in this book and I found the relationship between Waverly and Peter quite interesting especially once she learns who he really is and why he has been treating her the way he has in the first part of the book. But love wins out!

Bite Me has dogs…that won me over immediately! I also liked the unbending chemistry teacher and his fear of dogs but is he willing to move past that for the right woman?

Pick up this book next time you are looking for a little sweet and a little spicy, it won’t disappoint!

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Liz Alden * Allie Boniface * Hilary Grossman

 

Holly Kerr * Tracy Krimmer * Sarah Peis

 

 

Giveaway

 

There is a giveaway for a $60 gift card (to the retailer of the winner’s choice)

+ a paperback of Hate Me Like You Mean It (1 winner, open internationally)

 

Click on the image below to enter the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

It’s 1912, and protagonist Helen Fox is a factory worker living in New York’s tenements. When tragedy strikes in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Helen is seduced by the Suffragist cause and is soon immersed, working alongside famous activists.

As Helen’s involvement with the cause deepens, she encounters myriad sources of tension that test her perseverance: estrangement from her husband, who is blindsided by his wife’s sudden activism; ostracization by neighbors; unease at working side by side with wealthier suffragettes; and worry about her children as she leaves them to picket the White House in Washington.

The narrative spans World War One and concludes with the triumph of 1919. In a time when the obstacles for women, from any background, were insurmountable, Helen discovers her voice as an independent woman and dreams of equality in a male-dominated society.

 

 

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Praise

 

“The Accidental Suffragist is the so-timely story of the sacrifices one mother makes – to her family, her safety, and her previous identity – when called by a cause and stirred to act.  Through the telling of this factory worker’s experience, Gichon reminds us of the grave sacrifices so many women made more than a century ago and the debt of gratitude we owe them today as we see Kamala Harris’s ascent to Vice President.  My teenage daughters snatched this book from my hands before I could even finish.” –Alisyn Camerota, CNN Anchor and Author of “Amanda Wakes Up”

 

“With its captivating heroine and rich historical details, The Accidental Suffragist is a novel that both enlightens and enthralls. A must-read for those interested (and we all should be!) in the fight waged by brave American women determined to secure their right to vote.” –Nina Sankovitch, Author and Historian

 

“The Accidental Suffragist is an entertaining, meticulously researched novel about the struggles and eventual triumphs of the Suffragist cause in the early twentieth century. Within this fascinating historical context, Gichon also explores the challenge and compromise inherent to working motherhood, a topic equally relevant today as it was then.” –Heather Frimmer, M.D., Physician and Author “Better to Trust”

 

“Many women wish the world was a kinder, fairer place for them, some women make it so. Gichon, like her heroines, moves through the world fueled by love and a sense of justice, the result is a richly detailed and studiously researched novel that will bring hope to your heart.” –Lorea Canales, Author of “Becoming Marta”

 

 

Review

 

We know there were some persistent women in the early 1900s that battled for the rights of women, especially to vote. This novel is a look into that movement and while fiction, some of the events did happen such as the protest in Washington with many suffragettes arrested, jailed, beaten, and abused by those that held them captive.

Helen may not have ever expected to end up working for a suffragette movement but when her daughter is killed in a factory fire, she happened to be in the right place at the right time to meet some of these women. It was hard to read how many women in that time had to ask permission from their husbands to take a different job, go on a trip, and so much more. I know that was very common at that time, but we have come a long way and I am thankful to these women that fought for my rights as I have them today.

Helen thrives in this new position and while she knows not many women in her neighborhood would stand with these women to march, she knows that she is doing it for them and for her daughters so that they do not have to end up working in a low-end job. It is a hopeful book because we see the results of the efforts of women such as Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriet Stanton Blatch, who fought for our rights and didn’t back down. While many of the women were not from poorer families, they still fought for all women to be considered equal. I would like to think I would have been one of the women protesting and marching to make this world a better one.

We also see the relationship with Helen’s husband evolve. It isn’t always smooth sailing but perhaps that was because he was frustrated in his life and couldn’t see the silver lining. He didn’t understand what motivated her until he found a cause he could get behind in his own life regarding his job. I think that opened his eyes to what motivated Helen.

Overall this is a fascinating book that might make you appreciate what these women endured to make our lives better.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Widely quoted in The New York Times and more, Galia Gichon spent nearly ten years writing financial research for top investment banks before launching Down-to-Earth Finance, a top personal financial advising firm in New York.

Galia is the author of My Money Matters, a personal finance book which received notable press from the New York Times, TODAY Show, CNN, Newsweek, Real Simple and more. Galia Gichon consistently leads seminars for Barnard College where she has taught for 13 years, and other organizations. She is an avid angel investor focusing on women-led and impact startups and actively counsels startups through accelerators.

 

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Synopsis

 

Even the strongest of families aren’t immune to malice, betrayal, and deceit. Supportive, loving, and affluent, the Pierson family is delighted to celebrate the marriage of sensitive middle son Paul Pierson and his wife, Pamela. Everyone rejoices that Paul has finally recovered from the tragic loss of his beloved first wife and looks forward to Paul and Pamela’s new life together. But just as family members are celebrating his happiness, they start noticing that his beautiful bride may not be what she seems.

As the strain between siblings and spouses worsens, the Piersons discover that neither their money nor their considerable influence can keep the family safe from one woman’s malicious intent. When the true nature of this family member is revealed, each of the Piersons is confronted with the quandary of human conduct and moral responsibility.

Darkness and Grace is a compelling story of the classic struggle between good and evil, as well as the violent undercurrent running beneath the illusory serenity of a close-knit Midwestern family.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

A Note from the Author

 

Darkness and Grace was inspired by real-life events involving my family in the early 1990s. Each time I would discuss the true occurrences, people would comment, “This is a great story. You need to write a book.” After initial trepidation, I recognized this was not only a story worth telling, but it was one that comes to an author only once in a lifetime.

Originally published in 2007 under a pseudonym with the title Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace, this book is a work of fiction. To write the narrative, I employed aspects of historical fiction, using authentic news accounts, world events, settings, and descriptions involving entirely fictional characters. Darkness and Grace is of the domestic thriller genre in which familial relationships can prove to be far more dangerous than the world at large.

 

 

Review

 

I am always intrigued by stories that are inspired by true events and this is one that you might expect to see on 20/20 or Dateline. I know that this probably happens more than I realize, but I guess I lead a sheltered life where I don’t know anyone that has had to endure a gold-digging spouse and the aftermath of that relationship.

This is a close-knit family so I can only imagine how hard it is to watch one sibling be sucked into a life with a destructive spouse. Pamela seems to take her role as a gold-digger to a new level and Paul isn’t the first one this has happened to with her. Kay is Paul’s sister and while this is told from her point of view, we do see how the situation impacts everyone in the family and how they react to Paul and Pamela’s life. As always, there are red flags that everyone seems to ignore.

There is so much drama surrounding Pamela and perhaps that is the way that she likes to keep situations so that she gets what she wants in the end. However, the rest of Paul’s family isn’t going to let that happen. They have too much at stake including the family business.

This book made me cringe only because it goes against my moral compass when it comes to Pamela and her selfish attitude. I was disappointed that Paul didn’t stand up to her but perhaps he knew he got in too deep and was just trying to keep things peaceful for the sake of his daughter. There is a major twist at the end I didn’t expect and it was very surprising but looking back, we see how it all came about.

This story pulled me in and had me wondering what could Pamela possibly do next? The answers sometimes surprised me.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kathryn Schleich has been a writer for thirty years. Her most recent publications include the short story “Reckless Acts,” featured in After Effects: A Zimbell House Anthology, and her story “Grand Slam,” published in The Acentos Review in May 2017. She is the author of two editions of the book Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers, and Other Images, which evolved from her master’s thesis. Her guest posts have been featured on the Women On Writing blog, The Muffin, and she writes for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s volunteer newsletter. When she’s not writing, Schleich is likely volunteering in the education and arts communities in the Twin Cities, where she lives. Friends, family, good food, wine, and traveling are important aspects of her life.

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Paloma thought her perfect life would begin once she was adopted and made it to America, but she’s about to find out that no matter how far you run, your past always catches up to you…

Ever since she was adopted from a Sri Lankan orphanage, Paloma has had the best of everything—schools, money, and parents so perfect that she fears she’ll never live up to them.

Now at thirty years old and recently cut off from her parents’ funds, she decides to sublet the second bedroom of her overpriced San Francisco apartment to Arun, who recently moved from India. Paloma has to admit, it feels good helping someone find their way in America— that is until Arun discovers Paloma’s darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her own fragile place in this country.

Before Paloma can pay Arun off, she finds him face down in a pool of blood. She flees the apartment but by the time the police arrive, there’s no body—and no evidence that Arun ever even existed in the first place.

Paloma is terrified this is all somehow tangled up in the desperate actions she took to escape Sri Lanka so many years ago. Did Paloma’s secret die with Arun or is she now in greater danger than ever before?

 

 

 

 

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Review

 

This psychological suspense thriller has a lot packed into the pages and just might keep you guessing as to what is going to happen next.

The story alternates between 2002 in Sri Lanka at an orphanage where our main character, Paloma, resides, and 2020 in California. Paloma is in the home after being given up by her mother at birth. She is 12 and has basically won the lottery when a family comes in to visit the home and decides to adopt her and take her back to California to live with them. I enjoyed the back and forth because it gave us an insight into Paloma as a child and where she is now 18 years later. I’m just going to say I don’t think she is in a very good place in the present. She has taken in an undocumented man to help pay the rent until he discovers a secret of hers and blackmails her to keep it quiet. She is worried about how to handle the situation and it only goes from bad to worse when she finds him dead in the apartment and there is no evidence as to who did it or where his body went. The story gets wackier from there when a neighbor goes missing, the woman across the street seems to be stalking Paloma, and Sam, who seems like a good guy but is he?

There were so many surprises that were dropped on us throughout the book. Some I guessed, some I was quite surprised, others had me flabbergasted especially the ending! I think I probably saw that coming but you really don’t know until that last scene. I felt for Paloma because it felt like she was being gaslighted and she was to a degree. I can only imagine how Paloma felt and if she was going crazy especially considering she was on medication and drinking alcohol. That could make anyone second guess their actions. But it also made her unreliable as a narrator because we didn’t know if we could trust what she was saying or doing at various parts of the book.

Overall, a good read from a debut author. If you like suspense/thriller books you just might like this one.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Ratmalana, Sri Lanka

 

2002

 

The shadows from the torch Maya held under her chin made her smile look evil, like the devil mask hung in the assembly hall to ward off the evil eye.

We were all too excited to sleep, so Maya called all the girls to her bunk to tell us ghost stories. I didn’t really want to listen. I’m too old to believe in ghosts. But I didn’t want to be the only one in bed when everyone else was all the way on the other side of the dormitory.

Lihini grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I gave it a squeeze back. She loved ghost stories, which I didn’t really understand. Why would anyone want to be afraid on purpose?

“Relax, Paloma,” she mouthed. I usually got annoyed when people told me to relax. Like saying the words was enough to make me forget what was upsetting me in the first place. As though ghosts and demons would just go away if we simply relaxed. But Lihini was my best friend. I could never get angry with her. I scooted a little closer to her on the floor. There was no such thing as ghosts. It just made me feel safe to be near her.

Maya needed to hurry up. If we got caught out of our beds, we would definitely be scolded. Maybe even punished. They might even cancel the visit tomorrow.

I took a deep breath and shook my head. They would never do that. We hadn’t gotten many visitors to the orphanage in a few months now. Tomorrow was important. Everyone told us so-our headmaster Perera sir, Miss Chandra, even Miss Sarah, our English teacher. We were to be on our best behaviour and make sure we knew exactly what we were supposed to do or say. Miss Chandra supervised the rehearsal today. Everything had to be perfect, and we were so excited that none of us could sleep.

Of course Maya would decide this was the best time to make it all about her. Sometimes I wondered if she even wanted to be adopted. She needed to be more responsible than this. She was twelve now, same as me. It’s not like we were little children anymore.

“She walks slowly. Her feet are bare and dirty and covered in scratches. She wears a long, white dress.” Maya purposely made her voice into a throaty whisper so every one of us leaned forward, barely breathing.

I knew this story. Vana-Mohini, or Mohini, as we call it. We’ve all heard it a million times. We’ve all told it a million times. But I still held tight to Maya’s words.

“There’s blood under her nails, and they are long and sharp, like talons.” She made a sudden clawing motion, and Lihini leaped back, her hands over her mouth.

We all giggled nervously.

“And her long, black hair hangs over her face, like this.” The torch flickered as Maya messed her hair over her face so just her eyes glinted through in the dim yellow light.

“Mohini walks only in the night, revealing herself to people who are all by themselves. Help me. Help me, she begs.” Maya made her voice high and raspy now, like when the chalk slips when you’re writing on a blackboard.

“Some people say Mohini’s eyes are red. Red as blood. And when you look into them, you can see straight into hell. And if you stop to help her, she smiles, and before you know it-”

Maya dropped the torch and lunged forward, wrapping her hands around Lihini’s throat. Lihini couldn’t help it this time. Her small scream rang like an alarm through the dormitory.

I pulled Lihini away from Maya and put my arms around her. If I could have slapped Maya, I definitely would, but there wasn’t time.

“Haiyyo! Quickly, everyone, to bed before we get caught,” I hissed, getting Lihini to her feet and pushing her into her bunk.

Thankfully, the other girls followed.

We all lay very, very still for a few minutes. I could hear nervous panting echoing through the dormitory. Maya really did give everyone a shock. But thankfully none of the matrons came.

What on earth was she thinking? Getting us into trouble the night before Mr. and Mrs. Evans got here. Those were their names. Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Perera sir told us so we could memorise them. Evans-like when Miss Sarah told us about Mary Ann Evans, who went by George Eliot, who wrote The Mill on the Floss. I suppose I could understand why you would want to pretend to be someone else. But I could never, ever understand why someone wouldn’t want to go by the name Evans. It was beautiful.

I whispered it out loud.

Mr. and Mrs. Evans. I hoped they liked us. And me. I really hoped they liked me.

 

 

About the Author

 

Amanda Jayatissa grew up in Sri Lanka, completed her undergrad at Mills College, CA, and lived in the UK before moving back to her sunny little island. She works as a corporate trainer, owns a chain of cookie stores, and is a proud dog-mum to her two, spoiled huskies.

 

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Synopsis

 

Concepcion Chapa, an Army veteran, FBI special agent, and the orphaned daughter of two CIA agents, has lived a life of sacrifice for her country. When she learns that her parents may not be dead, just undercover, she allows herself to be recruited as a killer-for-hire for the CIA.

Faking her death and undergoing surgery to change her looks, Concepcion leaves everything behind—her friends, family, and country. Under the identity of Sofia Paltrini, she travels the globe doing the dirty work of the US government. But in a world of subterfuge and hidden motives, no one is quite who they seem. Concepcion is left not knowing who to trust and wondering if there’s a way to live a life for herself that’s beyond sacrifice.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

This is a mashup between Alias and Leverage – where the bad guys are taken out by professional hitmen and women. Now it probably is closer to Alias than Leverage since no one in Leverage dies, but the concept is the same in my opinion.

Concepcion is former military with parents that were spies in their own right. An unfortunate incident has her under scrutiny and placed into an undercover job for the US Government, doing what can’t be done by legitimate branches of the government, killing those that have been proven to be a threat to our security. Not only does she have to go undercover, but she is also subjected to cosmetic surgery to alter her appearance and a name change. I can’t imagine what that might do to someone’s psyche.

I found this to be a well-written journey for this woman and what she had to give up in her life. It showcases what these people do for the sake of their country. There is plenty of action, some romance, and also some sad moments that take Concepcion/Sofia and the reader by surprise. I saw the hardness in Sofia and doing what it takes to get the job done. But at times I saw a softer side when it came to her best friend Joelle, who assumes she is dead. There is also the neighbor that she becomes attached to learning to dance and enjoy good food.

This story takes no prisoners and there is a myriad of emotions that run through the story. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

ALICIA DILL is an Army veteran, journalist, public speaker, and award-winning author. Originally from Missouri, she joined the Iowa Army National Guard at the age of 17 and received a degree in journalism and international studies at the University of Iowa, and has a Masters from the University of Dubuque. Her first book, Squared Away, was a 2020 International Next Generation Indie Book Award winner and a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award.

 

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Synopsis

 

A sophisticated romantic thriller, in the vein of Gone Girl, minus the graphic violence.

Attorney, Chenille Conrad, has mysteriously disappeared. Her husband, Daniel, finds her BMW in the garage, her cell in her Gucci purse, and her clothes undisturbed in the closet. She never goes anywhere without her phone. Where is she? He’s confident she wouldn’t leave him. They’re deeply in love, and on the fast track to successful careers, a house in the suburbs, and a family to fill it. They talked at noon and agreed salacious sex was the plan for the evening. She had to have been abducted.

When the police find bloodstains on the front porch, and on her sweatshirt, Daniel becomes the primary suspect. Profiled by the detective as a jealous, control freak, he must prove his innocence. He puts the pieces of the puzzle together, yet can’t overcome his need to protect his wife. As the investigation unfolds, shocking clues exposing her motivations, and true persona, are revealed. Who is this woman he married? Chenille’s greed and tenacity have thrown her into an inescapable web of her own creation, putting her life, and that of her young son, in danger.

Written with alternating, yet simultaneous points of view, a multi-cultural triad of love stories evolve, each with their own unexpected outcome. An intriguing story of love, lies, and larceny with an unpredictable happily-ever-after.

 

 

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The homeland I idolized in my mind has betrayed me. Without the ones you love, it isn’t home. It’s a hollow utopia. An empty shell of my former life. A life I didn’t deserve or appreciate. A life that was too good for me.

 

 

Review

 

This book has a little bit of everything for the reader that doesn’t know what they want to read at that moment. There is a little bit of mystery, some romance, international flair, and legal hijinks.

Chenille’s mother left them when she was young and she rebelled by shoplifting and other things. She meets a guy, Daniel, at college and thinks this is the one, and maybe he is. That is until Chenille goes missing and Daniel is the prime suspect in a potential homicide despite the fact that there is no body to know what might have happened.

The first half of the book alternates between the past and the present and I wasn’t sure whether to believe that someone set Chenille up for the illegal activities or if she actually did participate in said events. Chenille is not portrayed as a very nice person. She is self-absorbed and selfish. I was actually amazed that Daniel was still with her when she went missing.

Then we discover what actually did happen to Chenille and the story takes an interesting twist and the truth comes out. Despite Chenille’s flaws, I felt bad for her later on in the book and what she was enduring at that time. But that doesn’t excuse all of her other actions and perhaps she got her just rewards in the end.

I’m sure if you are reading this you are wondering why I am being vague on details….well, if I told you too much it would ruin the story for you. So trust me, just pick up the book and read it. There is a bit of a cliffhanger and since this is a trilogy I can’t wait to hear what happens next.

Overall, we give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

After a successful career as a Vice President for a large international bank, I trade small business lending for creative writing. Years of experience in the corporate world and entrepreneurship have given me a unique perspective in developing multifaceted characters; relentless, assertive women who are not deterred by adversity.

My novels focus on the strengths and vulnerabilities of independent women and the consequences of their choices. Conflicted characters who navigate the triumphs and tragedies of life with resilience and tenacity. Every incident, every twist and turn, every relationship, could have happened – to your mother, your daughter, your sister, yourself.

As the CEO of Pacific Premier Publishing, I enjoy the challenge of marketing my novels as much as I do creating them. Book sales enable me to provide funding to charities that empower women and promote world peace. That’s how I measure my writing success.

My husband of forty plus years and I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, camping, kayaking, skiing, fishing, and wine tasting. With three sons and four grandchildren, I am truly the most blessed person on the planet. My claim has not been verified, nor has it been disputed.

 

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CRUDE AMBITION

 

by

 

Patricia Hunt Holmes

 

 

Categories: Mystery / Thriller / Women’s Fiction

Publisher: River Grove Books (Greenleaf Book Group)
Date of Publication: June 8, 2021

Number of Pages: 326

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A Texas Reckoning

In the early morning hours after a law firm recruiting party at a beachside house on Galveston Island, a female summer intern is found lying on the floor, bruised, bleeding and unconscious.  Four men and one young woman attorney who were staying at the house know something terrible happened.

The woman attorney takes her to a hospital but the next day the intern disappears. All of them decide to keep silent, doing nothing about the incident in order to further their own career ambitions while the events of that night haunt the two women.  Time passes and then ten years later, crime and hubris bring the former intern back into their lives.  Only this time she has the power and the truth is finally brought to light, uprooting everyone’s plans.

From the power centers of Houston law and oil to the fracking fields of South Texas to the Jersey Shore and Washington D.C., this story chronicles the struggles of two ambitious young women in their quest for legal success and justice.

 

 

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Praise

 

“Crude Ambition is a great read.  It is an authentic look at big law in Houston and the Texas oil business.  Patricia Hunt Holmes weaves a story of ambition, greed, romance and revenge that kept me turning the pages until all the just desserts were served.” — Marc Grossberg, J.D., Author of The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors

“In Crude Ambition, Patricia Hunt Holmes shows she knows Texas in the way Grisham knows Mississippi—politics, environment, strong men and strong women, egos, oil, arrogance, influence and hunger for power.  I don’t think anyone could have nailed it better.” — Bill Sarpalius, Former U.S. Congressman, Author of The Grand Duke of Boys’ Ranch 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The journey of two women, Carolyn and Laura/Ann, hampered by the “good ol’ boy” network proves that goals can be obtained with hard work and dedication…and maybe a little bit of revenge.

This book elicited some strong emotions from me especially when it came to the misogynic attitudes of the men in this story.  Laura is an intern with Carolyn’s law firm and she is mentoring Laura. What she doesn’t expect is for a situation at a home in Galveston to go all wrong and for Laura to disappear. What happened to her? Is she still alive? We see Carolyn’s compassionate side because she knows something happened that shouldn’t have but she doesn’t know what to do or if she should say anything. I can understand because she is relatively new to the firm and rocking the boat could cause her to lose her job. But is it the right thing to do to stay silent against the men in the firm? Even when she asks her mentor his opinion, he tells her to keep quiet. What sort of precedence does that set for Carolyn and this law firm? For Laura, this event shakes her to her core and her life isn’t quite the same after that. We see her struggles and how she copes with the situation and the effect it has on her life.

This story has so many facets to it that it kept me intrigued especially when it involved different areas of the law including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Environmental Law and the Clean Water Act, and the oil & gas industry. In Texas, there is always a possibility of hitting oil or gas in your backyard. However, not all companies are ethical and we see that when they descend upon Carolyn’s hometown. I was drawn to the friendship between Carolyn and Cynthia. These two women are driven to become partners in the firm and will do what it takes to get there ethically unlike their male counterparts.

Speaking of the men…whew, the mentality of most of these men is mind-boggling. I’m not sure who was the worst because there were multiple contenders. Paul is a lawyer in the firm and his biggest client is Joe Bill. I think there could be a tie between these two as to who had the worst personality and outlook when it came to business and women. I felt bad for Paul at times when he had to try and figure out what Joe Bill was doing since he wasn’t the most forthcoming with his business movements. This might have actually been a slight blessing for Paul because he could have plausible deniability in some cases.

The book would not be complete without a romance storyline. Carolyn has two suitors including her high school boyfriend and a doctor that happens to be the brother of one of the other lawyers in the firm. I could sense her struggle with who to choose and why because these two men are polar opposites in where they are in their life. I think her final decision and the path that would be laid out from her choice was the best possible outcome.

There are a lot of moving parts to this book, but they all come together and I enjoyed the alternating POV where we see what is happening with Laura/Ann and how she is handling her life after her time in Houston. I cheered at the end when certain characters got what was coming to them and perhaps it should be a lesson to the reader that bad behavior will not be rewarded in the end. The author also pays attention to detail and researched the different parts of Texas that were represented.

Overall we give this 4 paws up and look forward to the next novel from this author and the social issue that it addresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia Hunt Holmes spent 30 years as a public finance attorney with a large international law firm, specializing in nonprofit healthcare finance and rural electric cooperative finance. Consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers, and Top Lawyers in Houston, she was a frequent speaker at national public finance and health care conferences. Patricia has also served on the faculty of the University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Tennessee, and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She has written and published in the fields of intellectual history and law.

In addition to her legal career, Patricia has been a member and board member of several social service organizations throughout Houston, including the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast Women’s Initiative, Dress for Success Houston, the University of Houston Women’s Studies Program, University of Houston Law Review Board of Directors, is a Trustee of the Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Justice for Our Neighbors.

Patricia grew up in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey but has lived in Houston for over 40 years. She has two daughters, Hillary and Ashley, who have successful careers as an attorney and a geologist, and three adorable grandsons. She is an avid golfer and traveler.

Patricia holds a BA in English and History, an MA in History, and a PhD in Russian and South Asian History with honors, all from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and was an editor on the Houston Law Review.

 

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS:

1^st: $75 Gift Card to Murder By The Book bookstore

2^nd: $50 to Bookshop.org.

 

(US only, ends midnight, CDT, 8/20/2021)

 

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily.

Or, visit the blogs directly:

 

8/10/21	Guest Post	Hall Ways Blog
8/10/21	BONUS Post	LSBBT Blog
8/10/21	Review	Book Bustle
8/11/21	Review	Missus Gonzo
8/12/21	Review	Tangled in Text
8/13/21	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
8/13/21	Scrapbook Page	All the Ups and Downs
8/14/21	Review	Julia Picks 1
8/15/21	Excerpt	Forgotten Winds
8/16/21	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
8/16/21	Guest Post	The Book’s Delight
8/17/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
8/18/21	Review	The Clueless Gent
8/18/21	Author Spotlight	That’s What She’s Reading
8/19/21	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
8/19/21	Review	Reading by Moonlight

 

 

 

 

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