Tag Archives: Georgianna

The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton – a Review

Posted on by
15

The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton – a Review

 

The tiger Queens

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
In the late twelfth century, across the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, brilliant, charismatic Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself the Great, or Genghis, Khan. But it is the women who stand beside him who ensure his triumph….

After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, gifted Borte becomes an outsider within her clan. When she seeks comfort in the arms of aristocratic traveler Jamuka, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man who agreed to marry her and then abandoned her long before they could wed.

Temujin will return and make Borte his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new kingdom. Their daughter, the fierce Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, will transform her desire for revenge into an unbreakable loyalty. And Sorkhokhtani, a demure widow, will position her sons to inherit the empire when it begins to fracture from within.

In a world lit by fire and ruled by the sword, the tiger queens of Genghis Khan come to depend on one another as they fight and love, scheme and sacrifice, all for the good of their family…and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls.

Review:

The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton is an exquisitely written historical fiction tale. The descriptive writing allows the reader to see, feel, smell and otherwise emotionally experience life in this uncaptured period of time.

This is the story of the wives and daughters of Genghis Khan. Starting with his “wife of his heart” as a young girl and continuing with those in her life that she considered close friends, her daughters and the wives of her sons. These exceptional and unsung heroines gave more than anyone could have imagined to build and hold together the Mongolian state he created.

This story is so well told it brings love, laughter, horror, heartbreak, and sorrow. Your emotions will be run through the proverbial ringer as the stories of these exceptional women unfold. The details are told in tune with the thinking of the heroines, culture, religion, longing and so much more. It’s an exquisite tale that will fill your heart, although at times it will also break it.

Strong women living life as they see it, some things by choice, other by demand. A truly interesting journey into a time of characters that have always been more myth than men, this story fully takes you there. Are they monsters or just men trying to keep themselves and their families alive?

It’s not like the “history books”; this is seen through a different perspective and hearts.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. Please get you favorite beverage, lots of tissues and enjoy, I most certainly did.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

Season for Desire by Theresa Romain – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Posted on by
63

Season for Desire by Theresa Romain – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Season For Desire Banner

 

Season for DesireAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Properly Wicked

Like her four sisters, Lady Audrina Bradleigh is expected to marry a duke, lead fashion, and behave with propriety. Consequently, Audrina pursues mischief with gusto, attending scandalous parties and indulging in illicit affairs. But when an erstwhile lover threatens to ruin her reputation, Audrina has no choice but to find a respectable husband at once.

Who would guess that her search would lead her to Giles Rutherford, a blunt-spoken American on a treasure hunt of his own? When a Christmas snowstorm strands the pair at a country inn, more secrets are traded than gifts—along with kisses that require no mistletoe—and Audrina discovers even proper gentlemen have their wicked side…

Review:

Season for Desire by Theresa Romain is a Regency romance story, written for the time of 1820. Background: in northern England. Richard Rutherford, apprentice jeweler, met and fell in love with a young noble woman. Lady Beatrix, daughter of a marquess, fell in love with him as well. The planned to elope, to keep this from happening she was stripped of her belongings. However, she did it anyway, but before leaving she had, unknown to anyone, hidden a fortune in jewels that belonged to her personally, leaving clues in three puzzle boxes left to her by her mother. On her deathbed she told Richard and Giles (their oldest living son) of the jewels and gave them clues, knowing her husband loved adventures and would seek them out, if for no other reason than for the adventure in a quest.

The story begins with Richard and Giles stopping in an inn in York, England. They had been searching the property of her relatives (with permission of a sort), but had found nothing so far. A servant of Lord Alleyneham came to them to request their aid. It seems the Lord’s youngest daughter was thought to be eloping and he wanted it stopped. They were to stop the coach when it came to this town and take the daughter and betrothed into custody until Lord Alleyneham and Lady Irving (an acquaintance) could arrive. Lord Alleyneham and Lady Irving arrived before the eloping couple; however it was not an elopement. Lady Audrina Bradleigh had been drugged and kidnapped for her dowry and the scoundrel David Llewelyn wanted her to marry him for the money, or he would blackmail her father for it.

What follows is a really interesting story, albeit regency morals and conversations, of wit, conversations, and situations leading to adventure for the group. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations and the emotions that came through. Even the sex scenes were warm and steamy as well as frustrating.

Ms. Romain has written a wonderful tale of old England and great adventure, while addressing the very human issues of aging noblemen, female rights, and social attitudes. It’s mixed with wonderful humor, mystery, interesting characters and much more.

If you like the regency style and love a good mystery and chase…this is a delightful read. She has written others and given time, I will read them.

Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and cuddle up and enjoy! I certainly did!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Author

 

Interview beige 2

TRC:  Hi Theresa and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information.  Please tell us something about yourself?

Theresa:  Thanks for inviting me to visit The Reading Café today! It’s great to be here. A little about me: I have a husband and a daughter (just one of each) and a houseful of books. I like reading even more than writing, which is saying a lot. I also like coffee very much, especially with a drizzle of eggnog in it. Fall and winter are my favorite time of year for beverages.

TRC:  Have you always been interested in writing?

Theresa: I’ve always loved stories, though I can’t say I saw myself as a writer until I had finished my first book! As a kid, I preferred drawing or creating imaginary worlds out of modeling clay. Once I learned to type as a teen, writing got much easier. Schoolwork led to nonfiction writing, which eventually led to me trying to write a story of my own.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Theresa: Getting started is always the hardest part, especially if I’m working on a new project and don’t have a very clear idea of it yet. Once a book is underway, the story moves faster and faster and I enjoy writing more and more.

TRC: Would you please give our members, who may not have read this series, a brief description of the premise of Holiday Pleasures? How many books are you anticipating for this series?

Theresa: Happy to! The Holiday Pleasures books are a quartet of historical romances, and each story takes place in part or mostly during the Christmas season. There are continuing characters, but each book can stand on its own and has a firm HEA.

Season for DesireTRC: Season for Desire was released yesterday, and is the 4th book in this series. Would you please give us a brief description of the book?

Theresa: There’s a grumpy American hero with a wicked sense of humor, a pretends-to-be-proper earl’s daughter with an aptitude for mischief, a treasure hunt for long-lost jewels, a secondary romance for an older couple, a bit of insight with a telescope, and sexy snowbound-over-Christmas scenes.

Here’s the back cover copy, which I think captures the story’s sense of fun:

PROPERLY WICKED

Like her four sisters, Lady Audrina Bradleigh is expected to marry a duke, lead fashion, and behave with propriety. Consequently, Audrina pursues mischief with gusto, attending scandalous parties and indulging in illicit affairs. But when an erstwhile lover threatens to ruin her reputation, Audrina has no choice but to find a respectable husband at once.

Who would guess that her search would lead her to Giles Rutherford, a blunt-spoken American on a treasure hunt of his own? When a Christmas snowstorm strands the pair at a country inn, more secrets are traded than gifts—along with kisses that require no mistletoe—and Audrina discovers even proper gentlemen have their wicked side…

TRC: You have another Historical Romance series, The Matchmaker. Can you please tell us the premise of this series?

Matchmaker Trilogy

Theresa: The heroes and heroines in the Matchmaker trilogy think they are helping one another find love or passion with someone else—but then they fall for each other. The Matchmaker, a happily-married countess, plays a role as confidante in each book and helps the hero and heroine get together. The first story in this trilogy (It Takes Two to Tangle) is a Cyrano story, and the second (To Charm a Naughty Countess) is a Pygmalion story rather like My Fair Lady. But the role of Cyrano and Henry Higgins might not be played by the characters you expect!

TRC: What drew you to write Historical Romance? Have you ever thought about writing another genre?

Theresa: I’ve always loved history, learning about how people did things differently—or the same—in the past. And I’ve always loved romance, too! As a kid, the flirt-squabbling between Han Solo and Princess Leia was my favorite part of the Star Wars movies. So historical romance was a natural fit for me as a reader, and eventually as a writer. I do write nonfiction too, but at this point I’m not writing in any other fiction genres. I’ll never say never, though.

TRC: What is your writing process? Do you have a favorite spot, or time you like to write?   Do you do an outline of your story or just go with the flow?

Theresa: The more I outline and plan, the easier the writing is. I like to write during the day, but with a young daughter, I have to be flexible. I pull a lot of late nights, random evening hours, and even some early morning shifts. I do have a small home office, so once I go in there, it’s clear to me—even if not to my daughter!—that it’s work time.

TRC: When not writing, what do you do to relax?

Theresa:  Read read read read read. Or do puzzles with my daughter. If I’m feeling caught up on work, I really like to cook and bake, but usually I’m too frazzled for those to feel like fun.

TRC: What are you working on now? 

Theresa: I’m working on a new historical romance series at the moment. I should be able to announce more details soon!

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information between each other and their family and spouses. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Theresa: There are two people who always read my work before it goes to my editor. One is my husband, who doesn’t read much romance but who reads a lot of other genre fiction. He has a good eye for pacing and lets me know if my heroes aren’t acting manly enough. (Ha!) The other is a longtime friend of mine. She’s a talented writer with a great eye for character development, so she lets me know if the emotional heart of the story is ringing true.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Theresa :Thanks again for the chance to visit and chat about Season for Desire—and readers, thanks for stopping by today! If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to throw them at me in the comments. I love chatting with readers.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food Pretty much any kind of noodles, with pretty much anything on them.

Favorite Dessert I am a fan of all desserts. But if I had to pick a favorite, either Jelly Bellys or any lemon baked good. (I’m not picky. And I have multiple sweet teeth.)

Favorite TV show My favorite show EVER is Jeeves and Wooster, a BBC show from the early 90s based on P.G. Wodehouse’s hilarious books. But if we’re just talking about shows that are on now, I really like Chopped. My young daughter likes it too, so I’m hoping she’ll start cooking for us (once she’s allowed to use the stove, that is).

Favorite Movie Since I studied silent film for quite a while, I feel I ought to give you the name of a very old movie. But honestly? It’s The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. It’s fast-moving, fun, suspenseful, and it has a brilliant librarian heroine. What’s not to like?

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own) Either Elizabeth Bennet or Jane Eyre. They’re both such real-seeming characters. If they could hop off the pages, I’d love to befriend them.

 Dark or Milk Chocolate Milk chocolate, please, and lots of it.

Dog or Cat  I had cats growing up, and there are lots of dogs in Season for Desire! But my husband is allergic to furry pets, so we don’t have either a dog or a cat now.

TRC: Theresa,thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck with Season For Desire.

Theresa: Thanks so much for the chance to visit The Reading Café!

 

about the author

TheresaRomain
Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads



Giveaway beige

Theresa is graciously offering a copy of SEASON FOR DESIRE (winner’s choice of paper, or e-copy (Kindle or Nook format) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK

4. LIKE us on Twitter

5. LIKE us on GOODREADS 

6. LIKE Theresa Romain  on FACEBOOK

7. Giveaway is International

8. Giveaway runs from October  October 8 – October 11,  2014

Share

Laurel Heights by Denise Moncrief – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Posted on by
35

Laurel Heights by Denise Moncrief – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Laurel Heights Banner

 

laurel heights

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Description:
A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree…

Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel Standridge takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights.

Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas…

Caught in an obligation Chase Peterson feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother Rand take back the property he believes Laurel stole from him, but Chase remains at Laurel Heights after he discovers Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her except nightmares, fading bruises, and a broken rib.

Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life…

Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, someone Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than mere physical attraction. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?

Review:

I personally love a good supernatural tale, providing the story is good. Laurel Heights by Denise Moncrief is among the finest stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. This wonderfully mysterious and spooky tale begins in San Diego, CA and soon leads to Fairview, a small town in Hill County, Arkansas. I won’t tell you the entire incredible story; I hate to spoil a good read. However, here’s the enticing set up.

Laurel Stanbridge is the nice but damaged ex-girlfriend of gangster Rand Peterson. She has unfortunately, learned too much about the life of crime from him, but has not committed any herself, other than her early efforts to ‘protect’ her boyfriend (before she found out what a monster her really was). Rand is a monster and has kept her afraid and unable to run away from him for a few years. He’s abusive and so much more…downright evil.

Rand is now in prison after putting her in the hospital, and Laurel testified against him…he’s not a happy camper! He manipulates his half-brother (who he really doesn’t know well) into finding out where she went and finding a travel drive with files he needs on it, he believes she has it.

His half-brother, Chase Peterson, finds Laurel in Arkansas. She’s inherited a large house and land from an aunt she didn’t even know existed, just when she really needed a place to go. She’s trying to turn the old place into a B&B, but really needs help (locals won’t work at the house). Chase poses as a handyman and takes the job, so he can look for the drive. Long story short, he’s not a bad guy and nothing like his half-brother…yes, he begins to like her and believes she doesn’t know what Rand is talking about.

There are strange things beginning to happen in the house and property…when a dead man is found on the road near the gate of the house…and turns out to be a cousin she didn’t know about the ghost-hunting cops come calling.

This marvelous tale has so much going on it’s really complicated. However, the writing is well done, very expressive and flows eloquently. The author gives you lots of information and lets you ‘feel’ the characters and the events, both past and current.

This is a ‘page turner’. It’s very difficult to put down, so of course I didn’t! Who to trust, who is bad, who is good, WTF is going on? Crazy Aunt Celeste, is she a ghost or is someone gas-lighting Laurel? Will Chase fall for her or her for him? Will someone do the world a favor and kill Rand (please)? Who else is involved? What else could there be, ghost hunting cops? Oops…almost a spoiler!

You’re going to need some ‘serious’ beverage to sit and read this one! Something to crunch on besides your fingernails and plenty of lights turned on! It’s mysterious, suspenseful, romantic, and downright scary! Enjoy everyone, I certainly did!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Promoter

 

Interview-Blue

Hi Denise, welcome to The Reading Café. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Please tell us about yourself

Denise:  I’m an accountant by day and a romantic suspense writer by night. I live in Louisiana with my wonderful husband and two terrific children. Some of the things I love…chocolate, coffee, Greek yogurt, roller coasters, reality TV, and Minecraft.

TRC:  When and how did you first become interested in writing?

Denise: I’ve been writing off and on since I was a teenager. That was a lot of years ago. I have a very active imagination and I found I was doing a lot of daydreaming about being in different places with different people doing different things. One day I decided all that daydreaming wasn’t exactly…healthy. It certainly wasn’t my reality. Then I got the idea to channel my overactive imagination into writing rather than daydreaming. After all some of my daydreams made great stories. Writing was a result of a much healthier expression of my inner creativity.

laurel heightsTRC:  Laurel Heights is the first book in your new Haunted Hearts series. How did you come up with the idea of this series? Can you please tell us the premise of this series, and how many books do you anticipate?

Denise: Several years ago, I became fascinated with the television series Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. I know that many of the episodes (if not all of them) are scripted and contrived, but the shows sparked my interest in paranormal investigation.

I wrote the rough drafts of the first three books in the series eight or nine years ago as romantic suspense, but I’ve always felt something was missing. Another dynamic. I wanted to add something more to the story lines than romantic suspense. When I started revising them for publication about six months ago, the idea of adding a paranormal element just kind of came to me. Maybe because I had become fascinated with paranormal investigation or maybe because I was reading Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters book series.

The central character in the series is Mitchell Grayson (Gray), a county Sheriff’s deputy and paranormal investigator. Even though he is not a main character in any of the books except the second one, he is a central character in the series. Each book has three elements that spin and twist until they come together at the conclusion of the book. A romantic element, a suspense element, and a paranormal element. All of the books in the series will have a haunting that Grayson will investigate. I have already begun revisions on the second book in the series, Victoria House, with the concept in mind for revising the third book, Ashley Ridge. I plan to continue the series as long as I can imagine new situations for Gray to investigate. I’d like to keep the series going for a least an additional three or four books beyond what I’ve already drafted.

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Laurel Heights?

Denise: Laurel Standridge seeks refuge from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson, so she moves into her aunt’s old house at Laurel House. But there is no peace for her there. Her family’s dark past surfaces and causes her trouble, Rand sends his brother Chase to exact his revenge on her, and unexplained disturbances in the middle of the night rob her of the rest she desperately craves. Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than lust. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?

TRC:  Can you give us a brief description of your Colorado series? Twin Rivers will be the third book in that series.

Denise: The Colorado series is a set of interconnected books that are not sequels of one another. The books cover the same timeline, a short period of time when the actions of one man caused chaos in three women’s lives. Events that are common to all three books are seen through the perspective of each book’s heroine. In romantic suspense, there must be a villain. The same villain threatened the future happiness of all three heroines.

TRC:  What are the challenges or difficulties that you found in your writing career?

Denise: My biggest challenge is that I have more ideas for stories than I have time to write. Once a writer types The End on a manuscript, the work really begins. Books do not sell themselves. Promotion and marketing are big time investments. After all, a writer wants readers more than anything. And to gain readers, a writer must also be an entrepreneur, a sales person, and a publicist. With all that added activity, sometimes finding time to write is difficult. And if I can’t write, I might as well not breathe. Writing is more than a hobby or a career for me. It is my passion.

TRC:  You write Romance, Suspense, and Paranormal. Do you have a preference as to which genre you enjoy writing the most? Have you ever thought about writing another genre?

Denise: Paranormal is the newest genre in my catalog, and I’ve layered it on top of romantic suspense, working the three elements into a tightly twisted thread running throughout the plotline. I’ve found that I can’t write straight up romance without allowing the suspense to creep into the plot. Suspense is an addiction. I have to add that little bit of action or intrigue. An element of danger. The building of tension in the plot until there’s an ah-ha moment. When the suspense comes to full crescendo. I believe that writing good romance involves an element of suspense. When will the hero and heroine discover they are meant for one another? There is a definite ah-ha moment in a well-written romance plot line. No, I’ve never even considered writing anything else but romantic suspense. For me, the two elements, when done right, work together beautifully when both plotlines merge into one satisfying, suspense-filled moment.

TRC:  What are you currently working on?

Denise: My current work in progress is the second book in the Haunted Hearts series. I’m about 60% through with my revisions. I’m very excited about this series, because it brings together all the elements of writing that I love the most.

TRC:  What is your writing process? Do you have a favorite place or time you like to write?

Denise: I’ve always been a “pantser”. I usually know where I want to begin a plot line and where I want to end it. In the middle, I allow my characters to tell me how to get between the beginning and the end. But for my current work in progress, I’ve done some outlining and have found it’s kept me focused better. I don’t know if I will continue to outline, but at least for this book, it’s been useful.

My favorite place to write is on my sofa. Reclining with my MacBook on my knees, a cup of coffee nearby on the cocktail table, and my feet propped on the sofa arm. Actually, that’s where I’m at while I’m answering these questions. What time of day? Whenever I can squeeze it in, but generally I don’t get going good until about nine o-clock at night when things have settled down in my house. Then I can get about two hours of writing in before I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.

TRC:  Is there a book or author that gave you the inspiration to write?

Denise: No one book or author in particular. More like a genre of books inspired me to write. I love delicious romance mixed with fast-paced suspense. I’ve enjoyed books by Mary Higgins Clark, Heather Graham, Karen White, and of course, classic romantic suspense writers like Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca grabbed my attention at an early age. No one writer has made me say, “I want to write like that.” At the risk of sounding vain, I want to be my own voice. I don’t want to emulate anyone else.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Denise: Thank you for hosting me on The Reading Café.

LIGHTNING ROUND:

FAVORITE FOOD: Tex-Mex (Didn’t have to think about that one at all.)

FAVORITE DESSERT: Cheese Cake

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE: Dark

FAVORITE LITERARY CHARACTER (not your own): Scarlett O’Hara. My favorite line of all time is the opening line of Gone With the Wind. “Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.”

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Criminal Minds

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW: Catching Fire

DOG OR CAT: Dog

TRC:  Thank you, Denise for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Laurel Heights.

Denise: Thank you!

 

About The Author
11fba9e7-f4d9-4e02-939a-52c296940c77_zpsd34af855Suspense, She Writes

Where the road to happily ever after takes a suspenseful detour. Fast paced twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. Romantic happily ever after moments that take your breath away. Paranormal romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She’s a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking
.
Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She’s been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon
55600550-7dd4-4f60-b098-447a859af8dd_zps8afa1df7

 

Giveaway

Denise  is offering an e-copy of the winner’s choice of one of her books (check her site for the list) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter

5. LIKE us on GOODREADS 

6. LIKE Denise Moncrief on FACEBOOK

7. Giveaway is open Internationally

8 Giveaway runs from September 28- October 3, 2014

 

Share

On His Watch by Susanne Matthews-a review

Posted on by
28

On His Watch by Susanne Matthews-a review

On His Watch

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2014

On leave from the FBI, Special Agent Jason Spark is enjoying some welcome peace and quiet when he’s called on to help the local sheriff’s department check out a 911 call. Expecting a prank or misdial, he unwittingly steps into a horrifying bloodbath straight out of a Hollywood slasher movie, complete with clues scrawled on the wall.

Nikki Hart’s husband and son are killed, but she survives, badly beaten and barely clinging to life in a coma. When she awakens, she doesn’t know her name, recognize her face, or remember anything about herself and her past. Terrified, and unsure of whom to trust, she clings to the memory of the angel who comforted her in her darkest moments.

The investigation turns up a prime suspect: The Butcher, an elusive hired assassin for the Sicilian mob. As the news of Nikki’s recovery spreads, putting her in this ruthless killer’s sights again, Jason will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he’s learning to love.

Nikki’s beginning to believe Jason might be the angel who protected her in her dreams. But when she learns about the secret role he played in the worst day of her life, can she ever forgive him?

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Move over Alfred Hitchcock, this wonderful suspense/romance is a must read if you love action and romance all in an incredibly well written bundle! If I could rate this truly…this would be off my scale!

This magnificent story had FBI Special Agent Jason Spark helping out his brother (the sheriff of the little town of Larosa) while he and his new wife were on their honeymoon. Dispatcher and everyone thinking the 911 call was a prank or “butt dial” was normal, his brother had responded to at least a dozen of them that month, and nothing bad ever happens in the sleepy little town of Larosa…. NOT!

He finds a scene of grim murder and so much more…then finds the woman on the floor is not quite dead. I’m not doing spoilers; this is just too magnificent a tale to miss.

Suzanne Matthews has written some really great books, I loved In Plain Sight and Just for the Weekend. Both were wonderful stories, but this a completely different step up in levels. I actually feel this may be better than a Hitchcock …as it has much more romance and an HEA, which, for me, makes it that much better. However, the twists and crimes within crimes of this marvelously written tale is breath taking!

The hero is a compelling and yet very human, real guy. The victim a wonderful woman with so much to face it’s …ahhh. The attraction as he tries to protect her and her daughter from the monsters is the stuff dreams are made of! OOPS…I said no more spoilers!

It took a bit more than my favorite wine this time, something a little stronger to keep me from chewing what’s left of my “after gardening” nails off. You won’t want to put this down so try to have a “no interruption” period. But if you have to…ok, just do yourself a solid and read it!

Enjoy everyone, I certainly did – you won’t be able to help yourself!

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Georgianna S.

Share

SNAP: All That Jazz (Kandesky Vampire Chronicles #8) by Michele Drier- a review

Posted on by
16

SNAP: All That Jazz (Kandesky Vampire Chronicles #8) by Michele Drier-a review

Snap All That Jazz

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27, 2014

Nik and Jazz, both employees of Kandesky Enterprises and passionate lovers, are having a tumultuous time. Are their differences too great? She’s a contemporary, hip, young career woman working in the fast-changing world of celebrity gossip journalism in Los Angeles. He’s a 500-year old vampire living in Kiev, Ukraine and running the Kandesky Munitions factories. She deals with celebs and sun, he deals with terrorists and dark.
Is their overpowering attraction enough to build a life-long future, or will their relationship fizzle out before Maxie’s and Jean-Louis’ wedding, dying faster than a Fourth of July sparkler?

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: It’s here SNAP fans, IT’S HERE! If you’ve been reading this wonderful series like I have and totally enjoying the wonderful world of the Kandesky vampires you’re in for a treat!

This is Jazz and Nik’s story, somewhat continued from the last book, and it’s incredible. Jazz was frightened by the whole firefight thing and Nik being so injured and needed some space to get her head around everything. She returned to LA and her job at SNAP and tried to immerse herself in work. However, memories of Nik couldn’t be dismissed.

Meanwhile, Nik healed and tried to also get back to his job in the munitions branch of the family business, but found his focus was altered by constant thoughts and memories of Jazz. A lack of focus in his business could prove fatal, so he made arrangements to visit LA and Jazz for some much needed love and fun!

Jazz cleared her calendar and they had lots of great fun (pardon me while I swoon…) and adventure, perhaps a bit too much adventure?

Ok, that’s the gist…this, of course, is a must read! Like the rest of the series Ms. Drier has woven an intricate tale of two completely different societies and cultures and the issues of falling in love and the adjustments needed to make room in their lives for each other.

The issues of an incredibly handsome male whose emotions and cultural instincts haven’t been changed since the time he became a vampire are very interesting. The same can be said of the emotions and instincts of a twentieth century woman who has grown up being independent and emotionally damaged from a previous relationship. Ms. Drier has had her hands full putting these two wonderful and interesting people in a relationship, but as usual, she has done an exceptional job! We also get more of Maxi and Jean Louis as they marry and begin a new life (you’ll love the changing…spoiler)

Grab your favorite beverage, some snacks (cause you won’t want to stop), (personally, I found a fan handy). This is a series you can read each book as a stand-alone, but it’s soooo much better to read from the beginning!

Enjoy everyone, I really, really, really love it!

Reading Order
1. SNAP: The World Unfolds
2. SNAP: New Talent
3. Plague: A Love Story
4. Danube: A Tale of Murder
5. SNAP: Love For Blood
6. SNAP: Happily Ever After?
7. SNAP: White Nights
8. SNAP: All That Jazz

Box Set Books 1-4 : Amazon.com / Amazon.ca/ Barnes and Noble/ KOBO

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Georgianna

About The Author

 Website /Facebook /Twitter / Amazon

Michele DrierMichele Drier was born in Santa Cruz and is a fifth generation Californian. She’s lived and worked all over the state, calling both Southern and Northern California home. During her career in journalism—as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers—she won awards for producing investigative series.

She writes the Amy Hobbes Newspaper mysteries and the six-book Kandesky Vampire Chronicles paranormal romance series, and has just published her eighth book, SNAP: Happily Ever After? She’s working on the seventh book in the series, SNAP: White Nights, scheduled for publication in early 2014

Share

Echo Lake by Letitia Trent-Review and Interview with the Author

Posted on by
11

Echo Lake by Letitia Trent-Review and Interview with the Author

Echo Lake

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 15, 2014

Thirty-something Emily Collins inherits her recently murdered aunt’s house, deciding to move to Heartshorne, Oklahoma, to claim it and confront her family’s dark past after her dead mother begins speaking to her in dreams, propelling this gothic, neo-noir thriller toward terrifying revelations of murderous small-town justice when a horrible community secret is revealed through the supernatural pull of Echo Lake.

*****************

REVIEW:  Echo Lake is an interesting look at the evil people do in their lives and where it lives. The evil is present in the lake and sporadically effects the behavior of those who frequent it. It’s a man-made lake with a small village and cemetery at the bottom.
Emily is a lonely and misused thirty year old woman who has inherited a house and property on the lake from her Aunt Fran. At a place in her life where this gives her a change of scenery and a new start, she packs up, quits her job and moves to Heartshorne (the town near Echo Lake). Her mother was born and raised in Heartshorne until she was a teenager, and then the whole family (except Fran) left the area and never returned. Emily grew up with stories of how much her mother (Connie) hated this place and would never return, but also never really explained why.

Several murders and kidnappings are happening at the same time. Emily also finds out that her Aunt was murdered in the house, probably in her sleep. It appears to the police to have been a random act of violence.

She has visions of her mother helping her at times, telling her what she needs to do to fix this. Then Emily also meets an interesting and good-looking man (Jonathan) who owns a shop outside the near town of Keno, who reads Tarot cards. He does a reading for her which is interesting and also gives her his card and tells her he’d like to show her around the area. He’s kind and very interesting and a relationship begins to build, as he helps her to see the area and much more.

She also gets a visit on her first day moving in from Levi Richardson, pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church and he invited her to a town meeting about the violence happening in their town. He and others begin to shed light on her family for her (a family she has never known since her mother grew up).

Ok, that’s pretty much the scary set up; the details of the story should be left for reading.

I found the writing actually good, the storyline interesting. Here are a couple of issues I had:

This copy was provided, but was not denoted as an ARC, or unedited version. There were no quotation marks in the story, making conversations difficult to keep track of; I found several words and spelling issues; toward the end of the story left a few things hanging. The storytelling was very good, but the characters lacked life, a few good feelings would have broken up some of the intense sorrow. All in all, it was a good story as a first novel.

Copy supplied by the publicist

Reviewed by Georgianna

Interview orange:black

TRC: Hi Letitia and welcome to The Reading CafÈ. Congratulations on the release of ECHO LAKE. We would like to start with some background information.

Would you please tell us something about yourself?

You can find Letitia: Goodreads / Twitter/ Facebook

Letitia TrentLetitia: Sure! I’m currently living in Colorado, where I’m pursuing a graduate degree in counseling psychology. I received my MFA in poetry from Ohio State University. I live with my husband, my two-month old son, and three cats. I spent my early years in Vermont and Oklahoma, where I traveled around with my parents to flea markets.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Letitia: I think the support that I got both in undergrad and in graduate school from teachers and fellow writers has been the most influential. Early on, just reading, reading, reading was my biggest influence. I read books that made me feel less alone in the world or that excited me and I wanted to create that feeling for other people, too.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise your latest release-ECHO LAKE?

Echo LakeLetitia: Echo Lake is about a woman whose life is going nowhere: she realizes she is living in a city she doesn’t love with a person she doesn’t love. Fortunately, she gets word of an inheritance from her last living family member and gets an opportunity to start again in the town where her mother grew up. This town, though, refuses to deal with the crimes of its past. The story is her journey to understand her mother’s history and how she fits into this place that should feel like home.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular storyline?

Letitia: I didn’t do much research for this book, so there were few challenges in that regard. I think the biggest challenge was figuring out how the whole thing came to a head: I’ve never been interested in stories in which “evil” is defeated by “good”. That narrative simply doesn’t interest me. I wanted an ending in which ambiguity is embraced and the characters integrate what they’ve learned about the darker or “shadow” parts of themselves. It took me a while to figure out how to dramtize that process in a way that made sense for the characters.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Letitia: The characters definitely direct the storyline. I think that story comes from choices characters make in reaction to their environment, so it’s important to know a character well enough to know what they would realistically do or say in a situation. Once it feels like I’m speaking and moving the story forward from the character’s perspective, then I know the story is really moving.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Letitia: I think it’s essential that the characters are interesting, that the language is precise, and that the reader is in a place that they can really feel and experience viscerally. Ultimately, I think there are many, many ways to engage a reader, and some things that engage some readers don’t engage others, so it’s all about finding your personal style and figuring out what you really care about as a writer. You can’t please all readers, but you can stay true to your own personal vision, so that’s what I aim for.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

Letitia: I’ve liked to write another book, complete another poetry collection, and perhaps finish a nonfiction collection. I also have a true crime novel I’d like to write, though that will probably take several years of research.

TRC: What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Letitia: My first crushes were Dudley Moore and Lance Henriksen.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Letitia: Not much right now, since I have a newborn, but when I have the time, I hope to complete a novel about yet another mysterious town, this one far more overtly supernatural than Heartshorne. I also hope to complete another poetry collection.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Letitia: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the book!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite TV Show: Twin Peaks

Last Movie You Saw: Maleficent

Favorite Musical Group: The Smiths

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Milk

Secret Celebrity Crush: Gabriel Byrne

Last Vacation Destination: Oklahoma

Do you have any pets?: Three cats: Doombot, Cheeto, and Nina Simone

Pet Peeve: People who say something unkind and then say “just kidding” immediately afterward

TRC: Thank you Letitia for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the birth of your baby. We wish you much success and happiness.

Share

The Containment Zone by Danielle Singleton-Review and Interview with the Author

Posted on by
13

The Containment Zone by Danielle Singleton-Review and Interview with the Author

The Containment Zone

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 29, 2014

When a disease pandemic sweeps the nation, people in the United States start dying in unprecedented numbers. As the mysterious illness spreads like wildfire, killing nearly 90% of the population, leaders in the region and around the world scramble to figure out how to respond. In a highly controversial move, the borders of the United States are closed and no one is allowed to enter or exit the country. What happens next – inside and outside the “containment zone” – tests the bounds of both medical science and human nature. In this compelling novel, author Danielle Singleton raises the questions people are too afraid to ask – and then answers them in thrilling fashion.

••••••••••••••••••

The Containment Zone is not my usual read, but I found it quite entertaining. It’s basically an apocalyptic type story, without romance, more science and adventure.

The premise is a really scary but good one; a disease that ravages the USA in a matter of weeks killing 90% of the population. How’s that for tingling excitement! It almost feels like you could watch this story on a TV or movie screen. There’s a lot of science in it and global politics.

One of the storylines in this was those who eschewed the MMR vaccine for themselves and their children, like the Amish, and some other religions, and yes, even good ole “hippy” types; they were the only ones to survive the disease, except those out of the country at the time. I also appreciated the way many characters brought God into the storyline of this one.

It was interesting to see the politics evolve as the USA was used as the “Containment Zone” and the entire country was quarantined, a truly massive effort – but well written.

I don’t want to do spoilers on how this was resolved, but it involved a global effort to isolate and find the cause of the disease as well as a vaccine to keep it from spreading…ironic yes, since it was the MMR vaccine that caused the mutated disease to kill so many. It’s a very thought provoking story in many ways. Lots of hard decisions on the part of the world leaders and local survivors.

Much of the story is dedicated, and well done, to how quickly the disease spread. Also, the way governments cooperated to blockage the USA, our own overseas troops and equipment used to help do this. All coordinated by NATO, whose military head was one of our generals (a wonderful man).

A whole town of heroes in Shining Light, Texas survived and gave their all for their country!

As I said earlier, reading this I could easily see it as a TV movie or series…hmmmm.

I would have loved to have more development and time with some of the characters, but with an event this quick and deadly…
So, if this kind of excitement and interesting thriller is your thing, pick this up and have yourself a really good read!

Copy supplied by author for an honest review.

Reviewed by Georgianna

 

Interview

TRC: Hi Danielle and welcome to The Reading Cafe.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow Danielle: Goodreads/ Twitter//Website/Facebook

Danielle SingletonDanielle: Something about myself…hmm. Well, I live in Atlanta with a fantastic “roommate” (my dog, Gus). I’m also only about 30 minutes away from where my parents, sister, and nephew live, and it’s really nice to have my family nearby. Family is very important to me.

TRC: You are a lawyer by trade and education. Have you ever had the opportunity to apply your education and background to any of your storylines?

Danielle: I haven’t written any legal thrillers or anything like that, but I definitely think my education has helped with my writing. Law school taught me a lot about how to write and convey a story to the audience, and it also taught me the importance of research. I spend a lot of time researching for my books to make sure they’re as realistic as possible.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Danielle: I’ve always liked telling stories, but I’d say that two of my childhood teachers most influenced my career in writing. I was really lucky to have those 2 great English teachers while in school, and they taught me not only how to write but also how to appreciate and apply the intricacies of literature to my own stories.

TRC: When not writing, what do you like to do to relax?

Danielle: I go running with my dog on most days and I also really like to watch and play sports. During the summer, my free time is often spent at the lake.

The Containment ZoneTRC: THE CONTAINMENT ZONE is your April 2014 release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Danielle: Sure. The Containment Zone is a thriller that fits into the apocalyptic fiction category. An epidemic sweeps the United States and kills so many people that the United Nations closes the US borders. The book centers on what happens after the border is closed…how people inside and outside the “containment zone” react to the crisis.

TRC: Where did the idea for a pandemic storyline originate?

Danielle: I wanted to write a story about government overreach, originally. Something about how a government mandate went wrong. My imagination kicked into gear from there and I ended up with a vaccine program wreaking havoc. I know…it’s a bit of a strange way to arrive at a pandemic storyline!

TRC: Are any of the characters or the premise based in reality or a combination of reality and fiction?

Danielle: The character of the British prime minister has a lot of Margaret Thatcher in her (not very creative there!). None of the other characters are based in reality, though, and the premise isn’t either. I do often make the characters have the same names as people I know, but I use their names randomly.

TRC: What do you want your readers to take away from this particular book?

Danielle: That it’s a great book and everyone should read it! Haha. Just kidding (well, sort of…). In all seriousness, I hope readers take away two things. One: that life is precious and can be taken away at any moment, so they should live with no regrets and never take tomorrow for granted. Two: so-called “ordinary” people can do extraordinary things – never underestimate the difference one person can make.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background, medical) did you encounter writing this particular story?

Danielle: The Containment Zone has a very broad scope. It’s about a pandemic that threatens the globe, and I struggled to adequately convey the magnitude of the situation while keeping the plot and characters compact enough that it wouldn’t be confusing for readers. That was definitely my biggest struggle. I was lucky to have some family and friends with professional expertise in medicine and the military who I could go to with any research questions.

TRC: What are your thoughts on writing a series and ending an instalment with a major cliff hanger?

Danielle: I think cliff hangers can be good as long as they’re done well. I don’t like it when you can tell that the story was better suited to be one book and the author chops it in half just to have two books rather than one. I wrote a series, the Joseph series, that has a surprise at the end of the first book (not a cliff hanger, though). But I think readers in general like series because they can get to know the characters better.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Danielle: A little bit of both, I think. I have a firm, detailed outline of what I want the story to be, but within that the characters will often develop in ways and do things that surprise me.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Danielle: Conveying the emotions of the characters is definitely one of the hardest parts of writing fiction. I think a writer has to start by developing the characters enough that readers feel like they know them…so that, in the mind of the reader, Josiah Jones or Lucy Rodgers or whoever it may be is less of a character and more of a person. It’s also important to develop the world that the characters live in. What does the room look like? Smell like? What does the food taste like? How is the weather? The readers need to be able to put themselves into the story, and they can’t do that if they don’t know what that story’s world is like. I think writers fail by focusing too much on plot and not enough on characters and setting, leaving the characters too one-dimensional for the readers to be able to relate to them.

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?

Danielle: Like I mentioned earlier, I have a solid outline that I build out, but within that I don’t write in any particular order. So if I get blocked in one area of the story then I can bounce over to another area and work on that. If I’m really, really stuck on any given day, then I’ll work on character development or research or something that I know I can always
use more of but that doesn’t require too much creativity.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Danielle: My mom is probably my main sounding board while I’m still putting the story together. In the editing stage, though, I have a Reading Committee of about 5-6 people who help me with not only grammar but also research and things like character and plot consistency.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

Danielle: In relation to my writing career, I’d like to:

(1) publish at least 3 more books

(2) have my first bestseller

(3) get to a point where I can focus solely on writing and not have a “day
job.”

TRC: What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Danielle: I’m ambidextrous.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Danielle: I’m working on my 5th book, which is a paranormal fiction story.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Danielle: Thank you so much for having me for an interview! I love getting to interact with readers this way!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – pizza

Favorite Dessert – ice cream

Favorite TV Show – Downton Abbey

Last Movie You Saw – “Skyfall” (James Bond)

Favorite Musical Group/Song – George Strait…he has too many great songs
to pick just one favorite!

Dark or Milk Chocolate – I’m allergic to chocolate.

Secret Celebrity Crush – Bradley Cooper (we both went to Georgetown!)

Last Vacation Destination – Charleston, SC

Pet Peeve – people who use poor grammar

TRC: Thank you Danielle for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of THE CONTAINMENT ZONE. We wish you continued success and look forward to many more storylines.

Share

Written in the Cards by Lauren Linwood-a review

Posted on by
28

Written in the Cards by Lauren Linwood-a review

Written in the Cards

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 20, 2014

Maggie Rutherford jilts her too-perfect society groom at the altar and flees New York for the American West, where she turns her travels into dime novels that she writes and illustrates under the pen name Lud Madison.

After the Civil War, veteran Ben Morgan marries his childhood sweetheart and takes her to homestead on the Great Plains. Losing her and their unborn child in an Indian attack, Ben detaches from emotion and becomes a roaming gambler. When he kills a cheating opponent in self-defense, the man’s gunslinger brother swears revenge upon Ben.

Ben hides on a cattle drive and brings in a herd to Abilene, where a waiting Maggie wants to find a rough and tumble cowboy to interview for her next story idea. Sparks fly as the dangerous drover and popular novelist wind up living in the same household, running a general store east of Abilene. But with Black Tex Lonnegan hot on his trail, will Ben run from his growing attraction to Maggie and the gunfighter’s promise of death–or will he make a stand for his life–and love?

•••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEWS:  If, by some chance, you haven’t read the other fine books by Lauren Linwood you really must begin now!

This is a wonderfully romantic story of the Old West! Old towns like Abilene, Easton bursting with the flavor of the Old West. Gamblers, gunfights, cattle drives and so much more.

Ben Morgan is introduced in the first chapter as a man, damaged by war, who has taken his young (not so eager) bride out west to begin a life as a farmer. While he’s away getting supplies, his wife (pregnant with their first child) is brutally killed by Indians. The stunning reality of this chapter amazed me, yet the details were not hammered out to the point of nausea as some would tend to do.

The heroine is a strong and talented woman, born to wealth, but with an independent nature and heart. She leaves a Lech at the altar, heads west to adventure and a successful writing career. Margaret E. Rutherford (aka: Maggie) is a lovely young woman with imagination and incredible talent, who meets Ben Morgan while in Abilene after a cattle drive. She interviews him about life on the trail for her next best-selling dime novel.

How Ben becomes a gambler, then has to run from a lethal gunslinger and takes off on a cattle drive, only to meet Maggie after the drive in Abilene is so well written you actually feel the dust and your heart races at the danger.

Of course, these two are fated to find each other, and do in Easton a small town outside of Abilene. Ms. Linwood weaves this intricate yet flowing tale of two fated lovers in her usual wonderful twisty style, mixing their past adventures into the present tale with well written dialog and descriptions.

It’s so great to feel the adventure and yet so much reality of the Old West that you feel your rear hurt from the saddle and you just know you need to shower the dust off yourself! While at the same time the thrill of new love and romance (and yes some nice steamy lust) keeps your heart pumping.

I won’t give you anymore spoilers, this is just too good, you have to experience this adventure for yourself! It’s well worth the time to read and enjoy.

Grab your favorite beverage, a few tissues…you’ll be in for a great adventure with humor, danger, romance, steamy love scenes, some incredible sadness and a magnificent HEA! Enjoy everyone; I certainly did as I couldn’t put this one down!

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Georgianna

Share