Tag Archives: Mystery

Beyond Control by Kat Martin – a Review

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Beyond Control by Kat Martin – a Review

 

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Description:
When Victoria Langford got engaged, she told herself to give love a chance. Six months later, she’s on the run from her angry, abusive ex-fiancé with her four-year-old daughter and nowhere to go.

Seventy miles north of Dallas, the Iron River Ranch is pretty much nowhere. That’s what its new owner, Josh Cain, wanted when he came back from Afghanistan. Big skies, quiet nights, no trouble.

One look tells Josh the pretty redhead with the adorable little girl will give him trouble of the most personal kind. But he’s seen trouble before, and he doesn’t scare easy. Not when “accidents” start happening around the ranch. Not when Tory’s best friend back in Phoenix is abducted and brutalized. Not even when it looks like their current problems are only the tip of the iceberg.

But if he gets too close to fierce, determined Tory, Josh knows his nights are going to be anything but quiet. And that’s one possibility no amount of training can prepare him for . . .

 

 

Review:

Beyond Control by Kat Martin is the 3rd book in her Texas Trilogy series.  As normal with a Kat Martin book, this was an exciting intense story line that had a bit of everything; action, suspense, romance, great couple, and an evil villain.

Victoria Langford (Tory) is on the run with her 4 year old daughter, trying to be one step ahead of her ex-fiancée, who is abusive, controlling and obsessed with her.  Her ex will go to any length to find her and get her back to Phoenix.  Tory has suffered badly, and in her last escape from him, she used a stun gun to enable her get away again.   She ends up in Texas , and when she sees an ad for a ranch hand, Tory applies.

Josh Cain, our hero, is a former marine who is rebuilding his ranch, and needs help.   Josh has two disabled ranch hands who are also former marines,  and when he meets Tory, he turns her down, telling her he wants a man for the job.  Tory claims she is hard worker and begs him to give her three days to prove her worth.  Josh will give in, knowing she would be gone in three days.

Tory does prove her worth, especially since she manages to win over Satan, the horse no one can handle.  There is something about the way Tory talks to Satan, whom she starts calling Star, and slowly the horse allows her to be closer.  Josh gets a neighbor to help with Tory’s daughter, so that she can work more.  Josh also senses that Tory is running away from someone.  This will bring him closer to Tory and her cute daughter, who doesn’t trust men, as she has seen her mother beaten often.

When Tory’s best friend is beaten and shot, she will tell Josh the truth about her violent ex, who will never stop looking for her.  I will say that her ex was a nasty villain, and every time the chapter revolved around him, and the beatings he gave others, I found myself very tense, reading quickly to get past that chapter.  He was very evil, and bad to the bone.   When at the hospital, Josh will see the ex and threaten him to leave Tory alone.  But the villain has no qualms of killing others, and both Tory and Josh will find themselves es in danger.

When things start happening that threatens Tory, Josh, who is falling hard for Tory, will force himself into her life to help her, even if he is afraid of commitment. Their slow built romance will heat up, but Tory knows she loves Josh, but she fears that he will be in danger because of her ex.    The action in this story is non-stop, and always in the forefront, with the romance being sweet and sexy, but not overtaking the story line.  Tory and Josh were such a great couple; I loved them together, as well as the daughter and I hoped that they would find a way to stay together .        

It was nice to see Josh’s family again, and the friends his brother, Linc had to help him find a way to stop the ex, as well some great secondary characters.  I do not want to give any spoilers, as there are a number of tense situations and twists.

If you enjoy action, suspense, intense thriller and a sweet wonderful romance, then you need to read Beyond Control.  Kat Martin has written another wonderful addition to this series, which kept me glued to the book, which I finished in one day.   I suggest you read this series, but Beyond Control does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong – a Review

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Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong – a Review

 

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Description:
Three years after losing her brother Luka in a school shooting, Skye Gilchrist is moving home. But there’s no sympathy for Skye and her family because Luka wasn’t a victim; he was a shooter.

Jesse Mandal knows all too well that the scars of the past don’t heal easily. The shooting cost Jesse his brother and his best friend–Skye.

Ripped apart by tragedy, Jesse and Skye can’t resist reopening the mysteries of their past. But old wounds hide darker secrets. And the closer Skye and Jesse get to the truth of what happened that day, the closer they get to a new killer.

 

Review:

Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong is a standalone YA thriller.  Aftermath focuses on the fallout after a shooting at the local high school, and the affect it has on those closely related to the tragedy. 

Skye Gilchrist, our heroine, is 13 years old when we meet her.  She is at school, having a conversation with her friend (maybe soon to be boyfriend), Jesse.  They are called to the principal’s office, and hear news that will change both of their lives; a school shooting with both of their family members tragically killed.  Jesse’s brother was shot and killed, but Skye’s brother was one of the shooters, killed by the cops.

Jesse Mandal, our hero, and Skye’s friend tried to talk to Skye to tell her that he does not blame her, but she was grieving for her brother Luka, and never allowed Jesse to talk to her.  Skye and her family left town shortly thereafter, and with her mother ill, she returns three years later to stay with her aunt.  She dreads going back to school, rightfully so as everyone treats her like a pariah; and when she sees Jesse, she is surprised that he too would not acknowledge her.

Soon Skye will get threatening notes, videos sent to her phone, and horrible treatment from the students.  Jesse never blamed Skye, as she was not at fault, and regretted how he ignored her the first day; since he was hurt that she never called or wrote to him. Jesse keeps his distance early on, but quietly follows her, as he sees her being harassed, and when she is stuck in a room at school which is set on fire, Jesse will begin to help Skye to find out who is threatening her.  Their friendship and eventually romance (background only) will bring them together again. 

What follows is a very tense last half of the book, as the stakes rise when Skye finds herself in dangerous harmful situations a few times.  Everyone at school, including the officials blame all the threats, notes, fire  as Skye being behind them, trying to get attention.  Jesse and Skye try to find the clues as to who wants to harm her, and why.  This was a wonderful intense mystery, and as we get closer to the end, becomes a real thriller.

I really liked both Skye and Jesse, as they were very good together.  I found it a bit heart wrenching to see her being treated that way by almost everyone, especially since she had nothing to do with the shooting.  I also loved Jesse’s mom who was a respected Doctor, and stood up for Skye.  Armstrong touches a number of issues along the way, such as grief, anger, bullying.

The tension became even creepier as we raced to the exciting climax, with Armstrong throwing us so many curves and surprises.  The mystery was so good, I was surprised to discover who and why.  Aftermath was a great read, with a subject very much real in today’s world, but Armstrong made this into an exciting intense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.  I suggest you read Aftermath, which was so well written by Kelley Armstrong.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick – a Review

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The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick – a Review

 

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Description:
After escaping from a private sanitarium, Adelaide Blake arrives in Burning Cove, California, desperate to start over.

Working at an herbal tea shop puts her on the radar of those who frequent the seaside resort town: Hollywood movers and shakers always in need of hangover cures and tonics. One such customer is Jake Truett, a recently widowed businessman in town for a therapeutic rest. But unbeknownst to Adelaide, his exhaustion is just a cover.

In Burning Cove, no one is who they seem. Behind facades of glamour and power hide drug dealers, gangsters, and grifters. Into this make-believe world comes psychic to the stars Madame Zolanda. Adelaide and Jake know better than to fall for her kind of con. But when the medium becomes a victim of her own dire prediction and is killed, they’ll be drawn into a murky world of duplicity and misdirection.

Neither Adelaide or Jake can predict that in the shadowy underground they’ll find connections to the woman Adelaide used to be–and uncover the specter of a killer who’s been real all along…

 

 

Review:

The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick is the 2nd book in her Burning Cove series.  This story takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the characters we met in the first book have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.

We meet Adelaide Blake, our heroine, from the start where she is in the process of trying to escape from an insane asylum.  Adelaide knows she must run for her life, and someone is trying to kill her.  Adelaide was locked up by her “husband” and the evil people in charge at the asylum, who were doing experiments with her and others using a hallucinating drug.   Months later, Adelaide (now Brockton) is working as a waitress in a tea room in Burning Cove, where she help creates various types of herbal tea that has become popular, since it helps people with health issues, hangovers, tonics, etc.  Burning Cove has many well known visitors, who spend time in the seaside coast, and the tea room has become a place to meet famous people. 

Jake Truett, our hero, finds himself visiting the tea room, and becoming attracted to Adelaide.  Jake keeps to himself, but he knows some of the people we met in the first book, but Jake also has ulterior motive, trying to follow someone he suspects of stealing something from someone close to him. 

Madame Zoolander is a former actress who is now a famous physic, and she also visits the tea room for one of Adelaide’s famous brews.  When Adelaide is invited to Madame’s show, she ends up taking Jake with her; during the show Madame makes a bold prediction that will come true the following morning.

What follows is an exciting story that never lets up, with Jake and Adelaide in the middle of all the action.  When a number of deaths happen, the danger and risks escalate, as they will begin to discover that much of this will coincide with her false imprisonment at the asylum.  This intriguing story is filled with blackmail, drugs, quack doctors, & physics, not to mention the ‘husband’ whom Adelaide never married (he wanted her inheritance), who was determined to find her and bring her back to the asylum.  Almost at every turn, Jake and Adelaide found themselves in grave danger by those trying to kill them. I will not give spoilers, as so many things happen along the way, that saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

I loved Adelaide and Jake together, as they were a sweet couple, and they blended so well together.  The slow built romance was so well done by Quick, not taking anything away from the tense exciting storyline.  I really enjoyed seeing many of those we met in the first book, such as Luther, Raina, Irene & Oliver.

The Other Lady Vanishes was a wonderful intense suspenseful story, filled with secrets, betrayals, pulse pounding action, and a sweet romance. Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything and the fun of being in the glamorous world of 1930’s.  I suggest you read the first book to enjoy the setting of this series, but The Other Vanishes reads very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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I Am Justice by Diana Munoz Stewart – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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I Am Justice by Diana Munoz Stewart – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Justice Parish was rescued from a brutal childhood and adopted into a loving family. But the scars from her past cannot be forgotten, and she vows to protect and avenge others who haven’t escaped the cruel hands of injustice. She becomes a skilled assassin—a vigilante. Her next target: a sex-trafficking ring in the war-torn Middle East. She just needs the perfect cover to get close and take them down…

After years of witnessing the destructive nature of war, Sandesh Ross leaves the Special Forces and puts his heart and soul into founding a humanitarian group. Saving the world isn’t cheap, and when Justice walks through his door, claiming to be a PR agent who can help with donors, he thinks his prayers are answered. They’re both too busy saving the world to get involved with each other. But they might not be able to help themselves…

 

 

Review:

I Am Justice by Diana Munoz Stewart is the first book in her new Band of Sisters series. This is my first book reading this author, and after completing I Am Justice, it will not be my last. I loved I Am Justice, and cannot wait for the next book in this fantastic series.

We meet Justice Parish, our heroine, as she spies on a club that kidnaps young girls.  Justice is one of the adopted sisters of the wealthy Parish family that runs an academy for girls.  Their mother runs the Mantua Academy for Girls (also known as League of Warrior Women) and Parish Industries, with the help of her security expert, Leland; they had adopted all the sisters when they were young, and being saved from abusive childhoods.

Justice and her sisters were trained to be tough assassins, vigilantes to fight against the victims of sex trafficking, kidnapping of young girls, as well as war victims.  Justice is tough, smart and sassy, and a cutthroat warrior.  She is determined to find the men responsible for her sister’s death, and will do anything to protect all young girls in danger.  When working for the academy, Justice’s is the firms PR, which is also a cover for her to use when, sent on missions. 

Sandesh Ross, our hero, is a former Special Forces, who is now leading a humanitarian group to save victims in the Middle East.  When he is offered a much needed large donation from Parish Industries, he accepts the help of their PR person, Justice, who flies to Jordan.   Sandesh will learn in a short time that this pretty young girl, is not the sweet PR he thought she was. 

Justice manages to find the two men responsible for her sister’s death, and while she kills one of them, she will barely escape with her life, putting Sandesh and his team in danger from the surviving evil brother who is intent to kill them.

What follows is an ultra exciting adventure that will have Sandesh and Justice running from the drug lord, and his team to escape to Israel.  While in hiding, they both find themselves attracted to each other, with Sandesh determined to win her totally over, to the point of him going to America and helping protect her against the drug lord and a traitor in their company.  There are so many different attacks on her family & the school, which made things more dangerous and action packed; also making the search for the traitor a major issue.

The romance between Sandesh and Justice was really beautiful to watch.  The chemistry between them was sizzling, and they were so great together.  I loved meeting all the sisters, the family and the children they save.

When Sandesh’s life is in danger, as he becomes a pawn, Justice and her team will race to help save him, even though they know it is a trap.  This was a wild intense battle that had me holding my breath to see who would survive, as well as emotionally heart wrenching when the traitor is revealed. I do not want to give any spoilers, as this book is too good to be ruined.

I am Justice was an exciting, action filled, fast paced, intense, fiery, emotional story, with a beautiful romance and great characters.  Diana Munoz Steweart has written such a wonderful story that promises more great things to come from the other sisters, who will have their stories told.  I have never read anything by Munoz, but be sure that I will be going forward.  You need to read I am Justice, as it was so very well done.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Deep inside the stone-and-spire main building of the 160-acre campus of the Mantua Academy for Girls, Justice knew the thing that sucked most about a family business. The family part.
She reached her sister’s office…door? Great. Bridget had followed through on her promise to have the door removed.
She rapped on the wood framing the empty doorway. Inside, Bridget sat cross-legged on her mesh, ergohuman office chair, eyes closed. Her frizzy, dark hair stabbed with a silver comb drooped lopsidedly, like a hairy modern art sculpture.
Justice smiled. This was so perfectly Bridget it almost deserved its own word, like freaktacular or weirdiful.
Justice knocked again. “Bridge?”
Bridget’s eyes fluttered open and locked on her. Justice instantly felt seen. As in seen below the skin. Shiva, uhm, Bridget quirked an eyebrow. “What can I do for you, Justice?”
“I need to talk to you about the yoga class. Is it true you have the girls chanting in Sanskrit?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure of your question. I submitted the yoga for approval through the director’s office.”
Justice walked into the office and plopped into a chair. “You got approval for yoga, She-pak Chopra. Not to have the girls chanting in Sanskrit. This isn’t good PR. And that’s bad for me. Means I have to do work.”
Bridget rested her hands on the desk. “I will limit my teaching to poses and centering music.”
Justice smiled. “Dammit, Bridge, you’re so easy.
Why can’t I have more sisters like you?”
“Perhaps, because you are as abrasive as a starving boar,” a voice said from the hall.
Justice turned. Sheared head, lips painted bright red, skin as satiny smooth and dark as a starless sky, and cocked against the doorway, the generous curve of boys- can’t-help-but-wonder hips clad in a leopard-print skirt. Dada, six-foot-two in spiked heels.
And this was the problem with having no doors. Justice slipped her shoe back on, rose, and crossed the room. “You’re home? Aren’t you supposed to be con- tacting your Brothers Grim informant?”
Dada’s forehead creased. She looked around the hall, but the school staff, a.k.a. no-idea-a-secret-society-of- vigilantes-existed-under-their-feet staff, weren’t in yet. “Have you checked your secure email this morning?”
***
After passing through security, Justice whisked through the headquarters of the Parish empire in Philadelphia. She was too pissed to pay attention to the repeated nods and hellos. Momma’s morning email had sent her scrambling for her Jeep keys. The mission to take down the global trafficking ring had been put on hold.
Nope. Not happening.
She didn’t care if the Brothers Grim had been alerted by her screwup with Tony last week. Or that they’d moved their meeting up by six weeks. Or that they’d moved the location to Jordan—the one place on the entire fucking globe where the League had no established cover. This was bullshit.
Ahead, at the mahogany double doors at the mouth of two intersecting hallways, Momma’s executive assistant, straitlaced Lorena of the cotton button-downs and starched pantsuits, stood from her desk and crossed her arms. Huh. A human barricade.
Good thing Justice had been trained for just such an event.
Sprinting forward, she lifted her foot, planted the arch of her shoe against the edge of the desk, toed herself into the leap, and vaulted into the air.
Lorena ducked and cried out. Instant classic.
Justice landed with a thud. Lorena was still sputtering vague threats when Justice closed Momma’s office door. Click.
For a confused moment, she stood within the inner sanctum. A huge corner office with buttoned leather couches, two flat-screen TVs, a hulking Thor of a desk, and a well-stocked kitchen. The self-satisfied grin slipped from her face.
Shit.
The man—built like a hot night of unforgettable, wild blond hair like a sandstorm, eyes the color of the ocean after a lazy day in the sun—drove the air from her lungs. She couldn’t move. Struck deaf, dumb, and blind meet deer-in-headlights. Damn, the man was tall. Like a
wall. A wall of man muscle. So hot.
“Justice.” Leland, Momma’s oldest friend and most trusted adviser, extended his hand with a warm smile. His silver hair gleamed under the canopy of recessed lights. The gray- checkered Armani suit draped over him as if upon the confident shoulders of dignity itself.
Justice took Leland’s smooth hand. He pressed down firmly and tugged her farther inside.
“Sandesh, I’d like you to meet Justice Parish.” Only the stern grip of Leland’s hand told her how annoyed he was. “She does PR for the Mantua Academy and will be working on the Greenville Initiative. She is familiar with all aspects of our newest philanthropy venture.”
Dude was good. Calm. Graceful. And full of shit. Greenville? What was that project about? Giving away money, judging by what Leland had said.
Behind Leland, Momma’s brown eyes showed as little as the rose-colored niqab that covered her hair and face and scars.
Justice turned and gave Leland a rictus grin meant to be a smile. She was usually more successful at hiding her feelings, but a high-pressure situation—you know the kind where you Jack-be-nimbled your momma’s executive assistant, barged into a business meeting, and eye- appraised-seduced-and-fucked a total stranger—had her off her game.
“Actually, my role in all philanthropic projects is still advisory. I wouldn’t want to mislead, uhm, what was your name?”
Blue-Eyes reached for her hand. “I’m Sandesh. Head of the International Peace Team. We’re partnering with Greenville in Jordan.”
He slid his long fingers along her palm in a hot brush that sent her skin tingling. He grasped her hand. Heat suffused her body, brought a flush to her stomach and a smile to her lips. Nice.
Who said philanthropy wasn’t sexy?
Wait. Jordan?


 

 

 

Diana Muñoz Stewart is the award-winning, romantic suspense author of the Band of Sisters series, which includes I Am Justice (Sourcebooks Casablanca). She lives in eastern Pennsylvania in an often chaotic and always welcoming home that—depending on the day—can include husband, kids, extended family, friends, and a canine or two. When not writing, Diana can be found kayaking, doing sprints up her long driveway—harder than it sounds–practicing yoga on her deck, flying, climbing, or hiking with the man who’s had her heart since they were teens. Find Diana at www.dianamunozstewart.com.

Find Diana Online:

Website: http://dianamunozstewart.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMSwrites/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmunozstewart

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17352345.Diana_Munoz_Stewart

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The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description: 
In Egypt’s Western Desert lies the tomb of an unnamed pharaoh that hides a secret so powerful, it could destroy the world as we know it.
 
Archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor has made a career of finding legends the world has all but forgotten. Though there’s one in particular that has fascinated him for years—the Emerald Tablets. Myth says that they possess the knowledge of the universe, allowing humankind to traverse Heaven and Earth, and have the power to bestow wealth and wisdom upon whoever possesses them. But if they fall into evil hands, it could cause a global disaster.
 
So when a former colleague stumbles across an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic map that promises to lead to a pharaoh’s tomb and the Emerald Tablets, there’s no way he’s turning down her invitation to join the dig. He only has one stipulation: his best friends Robyn Garcia and Cal Myers come with him.
 
The road ahead isn’t going to be an easy one, and their shared dream of recovering the Emerald Tablets is being crushed at every turn. And just when they think it’s all over, they learn there are a few clues they have overlooked. But they’re no longer the only ones searching for the Tablets. Now, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and soon they’ll find out that when it comes to hunting legends, they can’t trust anyone.

 

 

Review:

The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold is the 2nd book in her Matthew Connor series.  Matthew Connor, our hero, is a famed Archaeologist, whom we tend to look at like a modern day Indiana Jones.  I am happy to say, that I really enjoyed The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.  This is a fun series, as Arnold takes us on an adventure to Egypt, under the dig sites, allowing us a real feel of what archaeologist do, as well as giving us excitement, danger, murder, mystery.

Matthew is contacted by a former colleague Alex , an archaeologist, who had found a major discovery on a dig.  She calls Matthew to help her find the Emerald Tablets, which was considered a myth.  Matthew agrees to help, and brings with him his friends and partners, Robyn and Cal. Robyn is curator at a museum, and Cal is a photographer.  

When they meet Alex, she introduces them to her team.  As the adventure begins, things go wrong, with a group of them trapped underground, but also while trying to find a way out, they come across the tomb of a pharaoh, with all the riches.   They manage to be rescued, but the expedition is fraught with mishaps, curses, betrayal, distrust and murder.  

What follows is an exciting. action packed,  edge of your seat adventure that constantly has us in suspense.  Just when you think things are over and they are safe to go home; things will take a turn, with some twists along the way.  Matthew begins to be concerned that finding the Emerald Tablets may not be worth allowing this powerful tool to be put in the wrong hands.  What will Matthew do if he finds those tablets?  To tell too much more would be major spoilers.  You need to read this book to discover everything for yourself.

Carolyn Arnold has written an amazing story, describing everything in detail, giving us a complete picture of Egypt dig sties, heat, desert, underground tombs, mummies, tunnels, snakes, and all kinds of long lost treasures.  I loved Matthew, Alex, Robyn and Cal, and the villains in the story were very well done.  I look forward to more from the Matthew Connor Adventure series. Carolyn Arnold has created another winner.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Madam Tulip and The Bones of Chance (Madam Tulip #3) by David Ahern-Review and Interview

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MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE (Madam Tulip #3) by David Ahern-Review and Interview

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 12, 2018

A surprise role in a movie takes actress Derry O’Donnell to a romantic castle in the Scottish Highlands. But romance soon turns to fear and suspicion. Someone means to kill, and Derry, moonlighting as celebrity fortune-teller Madam Tulip, is snared in a net of greed, conspiracy and betrayal.

A millionaire banker, a film producer with a mysterious past, a gun-loving wife, a PA with her eyes on Hollywood, a handsome and charming estate manager—each has a secret to share and a request for Madam Tulip.

As Derry and her friend Bruce race to prevent a murder, she learns to her dismay that the one future Tulip can’t predict is her own.

Madame Tulip is the third in a series of thrilling and hilarious Tulip adventures in which Derry O’Donnell, celebrity fortune-teller and reluctant amateur detective, plays the most exciting and perilous roles of her acting life, drinks borage tea, and fails to understand her parents.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE is the third instalment in David Ahern’s contemporary, adult MADAM TULIP slightly paranormal, mystery series focusing on the adventures of Irish American actress and celebrity fortune-teller Derry O’Donnell aka Madam Tulip. MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Derry O’Donnell is the daughter of American-born mother PR representative Vanessa, and her Irish-born father, eccentric artist and gambling addict Jack O’Donnell but Derry is also an amateur detective with psychic powers and visions of the future she employs in her role as the celebrity fortune-teller Madam Tulip.

Told from third person perspective (Derry O’Donnell) MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE follows actress Derry O’Donnell as she reluctantly accepts the role of a gypsy fortune-teller in a Scottish time-travel movie shooting in the Highlands of Scotland. Along with her best friend, fellow actor and former Navy SEAL Bruce, Derry embarks on a cross-country journey through Scotland where the sights and sounds hide centuries of secrets and sins. As the filming begins, Derry must come to terms with a group of obnoxious film professionals, a number who apparently, have something to hide. Several requests to ‘read’ the future find our heroine the target of a potential killer, a killer whose secrets do not want to be revealed.

MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE is a slow building, detailed story line that takes the reader through Edinburg and Glasgow, and the rolling hills and crumbling castles of the Highlands of Scotland. Derry’s parents continue their slightly acrimonious relationship pulling our heroine into the middle of an uphill struggle with their own fortune and fame. The large ensemble cast of spirited secondary and supporting characters pushes the envelope of liability and collaboration as it pertains to the who-dunnit aspect of the mystery and suspense. The premise is entertaining and engaging-captivating the reader’s attention with the slow reveal of possibilities; the characters are animated and energetic. MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE is a story of betrayal and vengeance; power and greed; with the added humor of the O’Donnell’s ongoing triumphs and failures.

I will add there are some Scottish/Irish expressions and words that may be unfamiliar to North American readers.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi David and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the recent release of MADAM TULIP and THE BONES OF CHANCE.

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

Follow David: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

David: I’m Irish, although I lived for many years in Scotland and love the place. I live on the West coast. Like most writers, I’ve had a bunch of careers, varying from the wildly successful to the unmitigated disaster.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

David: No doubt about it, my mother. She’s a marvellous actress, a fine writer and an inspiration to everyone who meets her.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing your novels?

David: It’s the same for most writers, I think. Finding your voice and gaining confidence in that voice takes time.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of MADAM TULIP and THE BONES OF CHANCE and the MADAM TULIP series?

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

David: Derry O’Donnell is an actress who moonlights as a fortune teller. She’s a teeny bit psychic, but when it comes to solving mysteries that’s no help at all. The thing about fortune telling for the wealthy is that where you’ve got money and secrets, you’ve got trouble. In ‘Madam Tulip and the Bones of Chance,’Derry gets to act in a movie being shot in Scotland. And someone is determined to kill.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning MADAM TULIP and THE BONES OF CHANCE?

David: I’m one of those writers whose greatest fear is getting lost in the fun of research. So I impose strict limits. I’d say a max of ten percent of the time is spent on research, and I wish it were less.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series? Will they all be set in the UK?

David: I’ll keep on writing them as long as readers want me to. So far I’ve set one in each of Ireland, England and Scotland. I guess Wales should figure next, but in fact the fourth book is set back in Ireland. I do see Madam Tulip spreading her wings to more exotic climes as time goes on (and research budgets get more generous).

TRC: How did publishing your first book affect your writing style going forward?

David: I don’t think publishing affected anything much in the writing.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

David: Definitely. I’m lucky to have a wonderful cover designer in Natalie of Kisscutdesign. It really makes a difference.

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

David: For me characters come first. They decide.

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?

David: I like to feel I’m telling a story as I would if we had a power cut and were sitting around the fire entertaining ourselves with tall tales. As for writers failing, I don’t like playing the guru where writing is concerned – everyone has to find their own way. But sometimes the best advice is ‘just tell the story.’

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

David: I’d have a breakdown. Some kind of fuse in my brain would go pop if I tried to listen and write at the same time.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

David: That it’s somehow better than being paid lots of money.

TRC: What is something that few, if anybody, knows about you?

David: That I’m a wonderfully talented musician. Unfortunately, the reason they don’t know is because they’ve heard me play.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

David: Madam Tulip book #4!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

David: Just a thank you.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Anything Thai

Favorite Dessert
Don’t care as long as it’s got cream on.

Favorite TV Show
Black Books

Last Movie You Saw
The Producers (on TV)

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Any.

Secret Celebrity Crush
Jennifer L. because she’s got a sense of humour.

Last Vacation Destination
Vacation?

Do you have any pets?
Cats X 2.

Last book you read
Suetonius – The Twelve Caesars (talk about tabloid!)

TRC: Thank you David for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on your the release of MADAM TULIP and THE BONES OF CHANCE. We wish you much success.

David: Thanks for having me. 🙂

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Welcome to Sugarville by J. J. Haas-a review

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WELCOME TO SUGARVILLE by J. J. Haas-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2018

Welcome to Sugarville, a town where fantasy meets reality and visitors take journeys of the imagination into the unknown. J.J. Haas stuns and delights with this engaging collection of linked stories.

•••••••••

REVIEW: WELCOME TO SUGARVILLE by . J. J. Haas (aka Jeff Haas) is a collection of short stories focusing on the town and inhabitants of Sugarville, a city located in the Gwinett County in the northeast suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

Approximately one hundred and eighty years earlier the US Army massacred six hundred Creek Indians in the area now known as Sugarville, Georgia. Fast forward to present day wherein a series of supernatural phenomenon, and strange occurrences befall the residents of the sleepy town, occurrences that place the people in a ‘twilight zone’ not of their making.

J. J . Haas blends the past with the present, the supernatural with the mundane, Christianity and spirituality with the non-believers, all of whom struggle in their every day lives. A series of interconnected short stories, focusing on the citizens of a town cursed by the past, a past that refuses to forgive or forget.

WELCOME TO SUGARVILLE is an intriguing fusion of mystery, thriller, vengeance and the supernatural .

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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J. J. Haas has published fiction and poetry in a wide variety of magazines such as Shenandoah, Rattle, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Baen’s Universe, and Writer’s Digest. He is a Senior Content Developer at ADP and a Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication, and he has been an Instructor in the Creative Writing Certificate Program at Emory Continuing Education. Haas is a graduate of the College of the University of Chicago in English Language and Literature and is the current President of the Alumni Club of Atlanta. He lives in a suburb of Atlanta with his wife Melissa and two Westies, Roro and Coco.

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Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay – a Review

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Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
With Angie and Tate’s wedding just around the corner, it’s a happy–but very busy–time for Mel. Not only is she doing double duty as both the maid of honor and best man, but her bakery, Fairy Tale Cupcakes, has just been hired to provide cupcakes for a famous author’s book signing. But when the author turns up dead, it’s just the start of a murder mystery that Mel must solve.

 

Review:

Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay is the 10th book in her Cupcake Bakery Mystery series.  This was my first book in reading this series, as I have read McKinlay’s Bluff Point series .  Though the characters are recurring, it wasn’t too difficult to meet the main characters and the small town they all live in.

Mel and Angie are our heroines, and best friends who own Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery.  In Wedding Cake Crumble, Mel and Angie are busy preparing for Angie’s wedding to Tate, and when they go visit their friend Blaise, who is the photographer, they find him dead.  Soon they will learn that two other murders have taken place recently, all being vendors for Angie’s wedding.   When they have to deliver cupcakes for a book signing of a local author, Mel will suspect that Angie’s wedding is not the intended target, instead it is the author, who also used the same vendors.  When the author, who wrote a negative book about the town residents, is attacked, one of their friends becomes the suspect and Mel will focus on helping her friend, while she also helps Angie with the preparations of the wedding.   When the author dies, Mel is determined to read the book, and find the culprit who is committing these murders.

We get to meet all the regulars of this series, and they were very likable, from Joe, Mel’s fiancée, Uncle Stan, Cassie, Oz, Marty, Angie and Mel’s family to name a few.  The wedding preparation and the actual wedding were nicely done, giving us a nice glimpse at the closeness of the family and friends in this town. Angie and Tate made a great couple, as did Mel and Joe, who I expect will be tying the knot perhaps in the next book.

What follows is a nice mystery, with Mel putting herself in danger, as she comes close to solving the murders, with some surprises along the way.  I enjoyed this lighthearted story, with very nice characters, small town atmosphere and a good mystery.  If you enjoy a simple murder mysteries, sweet leading characters , wonderful  small town, then you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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