Monday, September 30, 2019

BOOKISH BLOG HOPS - Books on Your TBR List



Many thanks to Jo Linsdell http://www.JoLinsdell.com for arranging these hops.
                                                              
Bookish Blog Hop: Books on Your TBR List

Let's face it. Whether we are avid readers, reviewers and/or bloggers, or even casual readers, we tend to acquire TBRs. 


My thoughts:

I am sure that I will not be alone when I say, respectfully, that this is a laughable question. My list is a mile long. To name a few, I am eager to read Puppy Christmas by Lucy GilmoreMarriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne is calling out to me. I want to continue on with the In Death series by J.D. Robb.  Also, the Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen. Actually, my series list is a spreadsheet all on its own. 


Now, let's hear from some other bloggers:


Elizabeth Means - https://spookysmaze.blogspot.com/

Books on my TBR 
Do I really want to list all the books on my TBR lol
On my Kindle I have a total of 2062 , I've read so far 128 which leaves me 1934 to read 
Nook TBR I have no idea 
Google play once again I have no idea 
Physical TBR - unfortunately their mixed in with my read ones so once again I have no idea
And my Netgalley TBR - 262 , I'm slowly making my way through them.



Kaili- http://www.entertaininglynerdy.com

I have a ton of books on my TBR. I’m one of those book bloggers who seems to have a never ending TBR list and once I get a few off that list I end up adding more. The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld is one that’s on my list. That series has been out forever and I remember it being popular back when I was in high school but I haven’t gotten the chance to read it. Another is The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. That one has been pretty popular lately and it has been one of my highly anticipated reads.



Leslie Conzatti www.upstreamwriter.blogspot.com

Oh man! To list every book on my TBR list would be far too long! There are hundreds of ebooks and print books that I haven’t read yet, but want to--and each passing month just adds more and more!
Instead, here’s a list of the next 5 ebooks and the next 5 print books I’m planning to read:

Print Books:
Blood Debt by E. A. Copen--It’s the second book in her Judah Black series, and I’m super-excited to return to that world and those characters--I loved the first book, Guilty By Association! 

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs--Another “second book”, this is the sequel to Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children and I was rather intrigued by it, so this time at the library I decided to pick it up!

Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci--I can still say I haven’t met a Baldacci book (except one) I didn’t like! This is the first book in his new series, so when I saw it on the library shelf, I grabbed it! I don’t know what to expect content-wise, but I know it’s going to be good quality!

The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz--I got introduced to the works of this author through his teen thriller series, Alex Rider (think “teenage James Bond”), so when he started writing Sherlock novels and branching out into the world of adult whodunnits with James Bond and his own solo work, I jumped at it! This particular book is the sequel to The Word Is Murder, which features the best sort of self-insertion: Horowitz writes as himself, a mystery thriller author who has been commissioned by a self-important detective to follow him around on his cases and basically be “the Watson to his Sherlock” and record the adventures. Of course, that gets the fictional Horowitz into scrapes sometimes--but it’s all well-crafted, good-natured fun!

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith--This is the fourth (and final, I believe) novel in the Cormoran Strike series, written by J. K. Rowling under a male pseudonym. I found out that it was going to exist several months ago, so when it appeared on the “one-dollar” shelf at the library, I picked it up! I’m definitely looking forward to it. The last two books (which would be #2 and #3 in the series) have been a little cringey as far as content, so I’m hoping this last one will be more like the first book, Cuckoo’s Calling

Ebooks:
Desert Runner by Dawn Chapman--This will be my first book in the “GameLit” genre, so I am looking forward to seeing if I like it!

Starstruck by S. E. Anderson--I have heard only good things from trusted writer/reader friends who’ve read this, so I’m absolutely excited about finally getting to read it! I’ve actually been interested in it since it was first announced… and I think she’s already got 5 books in the series? So I’m late to the game but it’s finally happening!

Red The Wolf Tracker by Pauline Creeden--Just the idea of this book kind of inspired the serial I’m working on for my blog (and an abridged version that has just been released in an anthology!) so I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve really enjoyed everything she’s written--especially the books of the fairy-tale variety!

The Time Tree: Emergence by Lisa Rae Morris--A dear friend of mine expressed one day that she had this idea for a story and she “didn’t know if it made any sense or if it was just silly” and as she told me about it, I practically begged her to write it, because of how awesome it sounded! Now, about a year later, she’s finally published it, and I just know I’m going to love it!!

Obsidian Son by Shayne Silvers--This one has been in my Kindle library for a couple years. I picked it up at a Facebook event for another author I really enjoy (R. R. Virdi) and it’s taken me this long to whittle down my ebook TBR enough to get to it! (If that doesn’t tell you about my reading habits, in spite of how much I profess to LOOVE READING, I don’t know what does!)

There’s definitely more, but this is a start, I suppose!



Alix Maza - http://www.apintsizedlifeblog.com

I want to read like 823480752 books, but there are just a few on my immediate TBR list:

The Lying Room by Nicci French
Melmouth by Sarah Perry
A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie
The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor 
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
After The Flood by Kassandra Montag
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter 



Eline - http://www.LovelyAudiobooks.info

I don’t have a TBR! There, I said it. 
I’m taking a Zen approach to reading. The right book will find me at the right time.
Sure, every now and then I also actively search through one of my audiobook subscriptions to find my next book. But most of the time, something intriguing will cross my path right around the time I finish a book.

However, I’m currently working my way through the Dresden Files. So, whenever I don’t listen to an ARC, I listen to James Marsters as Harry! 

Here are the previous dates for this Autumn Blog Hop.



Sunday, September 29, 2019

BLOG TOUR - The Liar's Sister


Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for The Liar's Sister by Sarah A. Denzil.


DESCRIPTION:

A SHOCKING DISAPPEARANCE. A VILLAGE FULL OF SECRETS.

Ten years ago, a boy named Samuel Murray went missing from the quiet village of Buckthorpe and was never seen again.

Rosie Sharpe cried over her missing friend for weeks after.
But her little sister Heather knows that Rosie’s tears hide the truth

Because the night Samuel was last seen, Heather watched her older sister climbing back through the window of their childhood bedroom. Her jacket torn, her eyes wild and her body trembling with fear.

Heather never told anyone what she saw, but secrets can’t stay buried forever…

A decade later, Rosie and Heather return to the home they grew up in when their mother falls ill. But when their house is ransacked and they receive a threatening note, it becomes clear that someone in the close-knit village doesn’t want them there.

When Heather finally confronts her sister about what really happened on the dark, rainy night Samuel vanished, Rosie’s version of the truth is more shocking than she could ever have imagined. But can she trust her sister? And who broke into their house that night? As the lies of the past begin to unravel, they have the power to put the lives of both women in terrible danger…

This twist-filled, page-turning psychological thriller from the million-copy-bestselling author of Silent Child will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping pages. Perfect for fans of Behind Closed Doors and The Girl on the Train.


BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B07TWSDVC9Social
Apple Books:  https://apple.co/2Xy2xTM
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2xxn9kM
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2JeKVIH


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Liar's Sister
Author:  Sarah A. Denzil
Genre:   Psychological Fiction
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   276
Date of Publication:  September 25, 2017
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

On the one hand when teen Samuel Murray disappeared, life went on as usual. However, this certainly wasn't the case for best friend Rosie Sharpe. She never got over his loss. It is now ten years later, and now Rosie is back home and is facing the real truth of everything.

When Samuel became missing, Heather immediately suspected Rosie because she something that made Rosie look very guilty, but Heather never said a word. Now that both sisters are back home in the village of Buckthorpe, the truth finally begins to reveal itself.

Rosie and Heather do not get along at all, but with their mother being very ill now, they are forced to be together. Things begin happening and as it turns out, Heather is not the only one who suspected that Rosie knew more about what happened. Furthermore, this unknown person is determined to reveal the truth, as well as other hidden facts, but also creates an incredible element of danger that faces them now.

What a story! This certainly was not a family drama, although family had everything to do with it. No, it was full of secrets, twists, danger and murder, and these very things flowed throughout the pages. I found this book to be very interesting and loved how the family dynamics were explored and how the suspense built up until the very end. This is my first read by Sarah A. Denzil, but I love her writing style and cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us readers.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sarah A. Denzil is a British suspense writer from Derbyshire. In her alternative life--AKA Sarah Dalton--she writes speculative fiction for teenagers, including The Blemished, Mary Hades and White Hart.

Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather. 

Saving April, Sarah's debut suspense thriller, is a psychological look into the minds of the people around us who we rarely even consider - our neighbours. What do we really know about them, and what goes on when the doors are closed?

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Friday, September 27, 2019

BLOG TOUR - No Time to Say Goodbye


Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for No Time To Say Goodbye by Kate Hewitt.

DESCRIPTION:

It hit me, the reality of it, in a way it hadn’t before like a sledgehammer straight to the chest. Laura was gone. She was never coming back. I’d never see her again; she’d never hum in the kitchen, she’d never pull Ruby onto her lap and tickle her tummy as she buried her face in the sweet curve of our daughter’s shoulder.

Nathan West loved his wife Laura with all his heart. But now she’s gone, taken from him in a seemingly random act of violence. Laura was the glue that held their family together. And for Nathan, life without her feels almost meaningless.

As he tries to find hope in the darkness, his three young daughters express their grief in different and challenging ways – with one set on a path of self-destruction that could devastate their family all over again. Desperate to understand his own heartbreak better, he reaches out to others who had known Laura. Including her new friend Maria, whose light and warmth are exactly what their grieving family needs, and who is soon helping out and providing emotional support for them all.

But the picture Maria paints of Laura is unfamiliar to Nathan – of a wife who felt ignored, a mother who felt she couldn’t do enough – and he struggles to reconcile it with his own memories of the woman he loved. Is it possible he didn’t know his wife after all? And can he trust Maria? He can’t escape the feeling that she’s keeping something from him.

Maria is hiding a secret with the power to rock Nathan’s family to its core. Because it is about what happened the day that Laura died…

An insightful and powerful novel guaranteed to break your heart, about how the unthinkable can sometimes help us see the world in a powerful new way. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, and Susan Lewis.  

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   No Time to Say Goodbye
Author:  Kate Hewitt
Genre:   Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   354
Date of Publication:  September 27, 2019
My Rating:  5 Stars

Nathan's wife Laura is dead and he is now alone to raise their three young daughters. Facing this challenge, and the fact that he doesn't know his daughters as well as he thinks he does, causes him to reach out. For starters, Nathan cannot believe the circumstances in which his wife died. When he meets a woman at Laura's funeral, she is the very person Nathan reaches out to.

This woman, Maria, said that she was a friend of Laura's. Before long, she pretty much steps right in and things begin to make sense to Nathan and the girls. With Nathan's intense workload, Maria seems to be a godsend. However, things simply cannot be this easy, this smooth. Eventually Nathan begins to be concerned - not just about Maria being part of his current situation, but also Nathan begins to wonder if even knew his wife at all.

As emotional as this story is, there is more than a bit of mystery and drama when it comes to Maria. She is holding a secret very close, and things slowly begin to reveal themselves. This story is delivered in a nice format. Not only do we have both Nathan's and Maria's points of view, but there is also then and now that goes back and forth.

This touching story was literally impossible to put down. Not only was it very sensitive and heartbreaking, it made me think about my own life, my own family. This book, as in life, however, offers hope, and therefore was very compelling.

This story, as well as the previous ones, always pull at my heartstrings. Every story I read by Kate Hewitt affects me the same way. I highly recommend this book and so look forward to reading much more by this fabulous author.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Hewitt is the bestselling author of many novels of women's fiction, including the Hartley-by-the-Sea series set in the Lake District, the Willoughby Close series set in the Cotswolds, and Tales From Goswell written as Katharine Swartz. Her novel A Mother's Goodbye has been called 'unputdownable' and 'the most emotional book I have ever read' by readers. Not My Daughter and her latest novel, No Time to Say Goodbye are both available to buy now. 

An American ex-pat, she lives in a small market town in Wales with her husband and five young(ish) children, along with their two Golden Retrievers. Join her newsletter for monthly updates and giveaways at http://www.kate-hewitt.com, or be part of her Facebook groups Kate's Reads.  



Thursday, September 26, 2019

Review - Blind Spot


Title:  Blind Spot
Author:  Brenda Novak
Series:  The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #4
Genre:  Mystery/Thriller
Publisher:  St. Martin's
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of pages:  400
Published:  September 27, 2019
My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

New York Times bestseller Brenda Novak's Evelyn Talbot series returns, with a heavily pregnant Evelyn being held hostage.

With Jasper Moore, the privileged boy who attacked her when she was only sixteen, finally caught and in prison, Dr. Evelyn Talbot, founder and head psychiatrist at Hanover House (a prison/research facility for psychopaths in remote Alaska), believes she can finally quit looking over her shoulder. She's safe, happier than she's ever been and expecting her first child. She's also planning to marry Amarok, her Alaska State Trooper love interest and the town's only police presence. But before the wedding can take place, a psychopath from the much more recent past comes out of nowhere and kidnaps her in broad daylight. Instead of planning her wedding, Evelyn finds herself doing everything she can to survive, save her baby and devise some way to escape while Amarok races the clock to find her - before it's too late.


MY THOUGHTS:

Dr. Evelyn Talbot, psychiatrist and founder of Hanover House, can finally breathe and live her life to the fullest. When Evelyn was sixteen, Jasper Moore kidnapped her and nearly killed her after viciously tormenting her. It has taken years, with Jasper close on her tail, and managing to finally grab her, but Jasper has finally been caught and is in prison. Although Evelyn works with the psychopaths who are in her facility, she finally feels safe. Evelyn is now engaged to Alaska State Trooper Amarok, and they are expecting their first child.

After heading home from work one day, Evelyn is kidnapped. Now that she is far along in her pregnancy, it is all Evelyn can do to stay alive and to keep her baby safe. Amarok is beside himself because it seems like Evelyn disappeared into thin air. Evelyn doesn't know who has taken her, and what his ultimate motive is. So, Evelyn does all she can to escape.

I have followed this series from the very first novella, Hanover House, and am just as impressed with this as I have been with every other book in this series. When I finished the last book, Face Off, I really felt that Evelyn and Amarok could lead normal lives.

When it comes to the kidnapper, prepare to be surprised. While this book could do okay s a standalone, this story, and what happens to Evelyn definitely ties back to a previous title. I think readers will be as pleased as I was if they were to read the entire series.

I really hope that this series continues, and just as as I read this book months ahead of the release date, no doubt I will do the very same thing again. Brenda Novak's books are not the type of books to sit on one's TBR for too long.

Many thanks to St. Martin's and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


My previous reviews in this series are:
Hanover House, https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2018/10/review-hanover-house.html
Her Darkest Nightmare, https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2018/12/review-her-darkest-nightmare.html
Hello Again, https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2018/12/review-hello-again.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.

“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”

However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.

Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.

“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”

Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Many of her novels have won or placed in contests such as the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Write Touch, the Award of Excellence and the Beacon Award for Published Authors.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. When she’s not spending time with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking — she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!

Contact her

Web - https://brendanovak.com/

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Review - Shallow Grave

Title:   Shallow Grave
Author:  Karen Harper
Series:  South Shores #4
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers
Publisher:  Mira
Format:  Audiobook
No. of Pages:   384
Date of Publication:  February 27, 2018
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The truth won’t stay buried forever…

It’s been four months since forensic psychologist Claire Britten last crossed paths with danger. Finally feeling she can catch her breath, together with her partner, criminal lawyer Nick Markwood, Claire has settled into a new role, volunteering with a support group for children stressed by domestic violence. But a leisurely field trip to a wildlife sanctuary turns deadly, leaving Claire to question whether the death was an accident, suicide—or something far more sinister.

Nick gets the South Shores team on the case, hunting down anyone with a potential grudge against the sanctuary. But their investigation turns wild when other attacks come too close to home. With a hostile predator on the loose, Nick and Claire will have to race to unbury the truth before a killer wipes them from the endangered-species list for good. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Forensic psychologist Claire Britton and new husband Nick Markwood can finally kick back and begin to enjoy life They spent months fighting more than one enemy, and have now been able to enjoy a nice, quiet time. Things have gone so well for Claire and Nick, and Claire's daughter Lexi, that Claire is even volunteering for a support group for children affected by domestic violence.

While visiting a sanctuary with the group of children, as well as Lexi and Nick, there is a sudden and deadly death. It most certainly has to be an accident, at least that is what everyone hopes. However, after this occurs, it becomes evident that things were not as they seemed at the sanctuary.

There is a deeper issue, and that clearly affects Claire and Nick. Claire's ex-husband, Jace, is still very involved in their lives. In large part, because he is very close to their daughter, Lexi. What is more, is that Claire and Jace still care for one another, especially due to the trauma they all experienced in the past (see the previous stories in this series). What is more is that Jace is now dating Brittany, who works at the sanctuary and is the daughter of the man that died.

Although I do my best to read entire series, those new to this series will be able to enjoy this book as a standalone. This is mostly due to the time when the story takes place, and the fact that Claire and Nick are settled, and Jace is dating again. So readers will have a lot to enjoy when they begin turning the pages of this book.

There is intrigue, extreme danger, romance and a strong family element. There is a bevy of wonderful characters that band together when needs must. Actually, I think that is one of the things that am enjoying most about this series, and that is the character development that goes alone with each story in the series.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Review - Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish

Title:  Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish
Author:  Grace Burrowes
Series:  Windham #4, The Duke's Daughters #1
Genre:   Historical Romance
Publisher:   Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format:  Print ARC
No. of Pages:  391
Date of Publication:  April 2, 2019
My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

ALL SHE WANTS IS PEACE AND ANONYMITY...

Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

BUT SOPHIE'S HOLIDAY IS ABOUT TO HEAT UP...

With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits--but when Sophie's brothers whisk her away, Vim's most painful holiday memories are reawakened.

It seems Sophie's been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true... 



MY THOUGHTS:

Lady Sophie Windham is soon to join her family for Christmas in Kent. However, she decides to take a few days for herself. In so doing, she runs across an abandoned baby and finds herself assisted by Vim Charpentier. Vim is also headed to Kent, and he is none too pleased about it. When Vim realizes that Sophie has no idea how to care for the baby, he offers his assistance.

Vim is quite drawn to Sophie, but he thinks she must be a cook or a maid so he focuses on the baby, Kit. It does not take long for both Sophie and Vim to fall in love with the little fellow. There are several problems, however. For starters, they should not be alone in the mansion where they are currently staying. Furthermore, neither Vim nor Sophie know of each other's true identity. During their time together they engage in serious conversations and Vim slowly begins to share painful memories with Sophie.

Meanwhile, Sophie knows that her three brothers will be arriving soon, and, for reasons that are very important to her, she is keeping secrets from Vim. Sophie finds herself in a sensitive predicament. Not only has she fallen in love with Kit, she may just have fallen in love with Vim. Sophie is holding out for true love, nothing less, so she struggles to hide her feelings from Vim.

I love that this story centered around Kit. He was a a delight and proved to be the catalyst behind what happens for Sophie and Vim. How wonderful for the author to use such a young character in such an influential way. This book started off remarkably well and shaped into a warm and affecting romance.

Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish is a re-release and that makes me quite happy. Otherwise, I am not sure that I would have known of this book or this series. I have read books by Grace Burrowes before and I definitely enjoy her writing. Being able to grab this book, all while anticipating the rest of the series, was truly wonderful.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I spent a lot of time early in life reading romance novels and riding a chubby buckskin gelding named —unimaginatively if eponymously—Buck. In college, while still voraciously reading romance, I supported myself by teaching piano and accompanying ballet classes. I became a technical writer and an editor after graduation, a demanding job that nonetheless left enough time to read many, many romance novels—and grab a law degree through an evening program.

Then I became a mom—much to my surprise—and small town lawyering seemed like a better fit with a single parent’s priorities. Through all of my ups and downs, detours and speedbumps, I’d been a relentless reader of romance. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Judith Ivory, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Eloisa James… I could fill this page with the authors I’ve read and enjoyed. I consider them the fairy godmothers who’ve guarded my single-working-mom sanity.


Late one night, I was cramming on a lawyer-deadline, drafting some Motion to Do Something Or Other Right Now Please Your Honor, when I recalled that in my briefcase was a book I’d been saving to read on a hard day.


“One chapter,” I muttered. “I’ll read just one chapter, and then knock out this motion…” But another thought kept intruding as I read that one chapter, “I bet I could…”


So… I wrote a romance novel. That book became Gareth: Lord of Rakes, and opened the door to the sheer bliss of writing historical romance. I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote… my writing chair became my happy place, though I still had no thought that I might someday become a published author. My Beloved Offspring flew the coop, and the writing only picked up speed.


I am the sixth out of seven children, and from all sides (my four brothers in particular), I heard, “When are you going to get that stuff published?” As if publishing contracts droppeth from the heavens like the gentle rain? And yet… I’m a child welfare attorney. That’s a tough gig, and I could see the day when I might want an alternative.


I joined RWA, like dipping a casual toe in the waters of authordom when nobody was looking. I went to a chapter conference and felt completely out of place. Nonetheless, I bumped into an editor there, and the query letter resulting from that encounter began: “I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing—and if that doesn’t narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought.” (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)


We started with the Windham family, eventually doubled back and picked up Gareth and his successors in the Lonely Lords series, scooted over to the Victorian Highlands for the MacGregor quartet… whole lotta authordom going on!


Somewhere along the way, I realized that I am a writer. That chair before my computer is still very much my happy place, and the professional version of “once upon a time,” is every bit as alluring and enjoyable as the childhood version. I owe my reader so many hours of joy, and the only way I can think to repay that gift is by writing more stories!


Please feel free to contact me. I love reader mail!




Monday, September 23, 2019

BLOG TOUR - Taken to the Grave


Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Taken To the Grave by M.M. Chouinard.

DESCRIPTION:

In a town full of secrets, the truth won’t stay buried…

When a girl’s body is discovered in a park in the sleepy Massachusetts town of Oakhurst, local detective Jo is shocked to the core. Because the girl is the second innocent victim to turn up dead in three days. And just like the first, a tarot card has been left by the body. The meaning of the card: betrayal.

After uncovering a series of threatening messages targeting the girl, a student at the university, and the first victim, her teacher, Jo thinks she’s locked the killer in her crosshairs. The primary suspect is a volatile ex-military student with an axe to grind for failing grades, and the frightened town is out for his blood. But the next day, a much-loved member of the community is found dead in her home, a tarot card in her mail. There’s no clear motive to link her death to the others, and the message on the card this time is even stranger: domestic bliss.

With a fourth body and card appearing the following day, Jo knows she’s running out of time to crack the code and bring the killer to justice. And the pressure only gets worse with heart-breaking news about Jo’s father forcing her to choose between helping her family heal or the victims’ families get justice. Can Jo find the twisted murderer sending the town into a panic before another life is lost? Or this time, will the dangerous killer find her first?

A completely addictive detective thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. If you love Kendra Elliot, Melinda Leigh and Lisa Regan you’ll love Taken to the Grave.
MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Taken To the Grave
Author:  M.M. Chouinard
Series:  Detective Jo Fournier #2
Genre:   Mystery Thriller
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:   330
Date of Publication:  September 19, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

Detective Jo Fournier is finding rather strange clues. When she happens upon a dead body, a tarot card was found. This happens again and again, and each card says something a bit different, leaving clues for Jo and her team to figure out.

Before long, there are a total of four victims, all found with different tarot cards. Furthermore, as Jo digs deeper into the murders, she gets news about her father and is torn between the fact that he needs her. What is Jo going to do?  No doubt she doesn't want yet another victim, but she has a responsibility towards her father.

In this fast-paced book by M.M. Chouinard, there was no shortage of clues, twists and turns. This is the second book in the Detective Jo Fourier series. This was an intriguing book, especially as the message in the tarot cards was offering sharp clues for Jo. 

This is a great series that dealt with both Jo's professional and personal lives. I loved that I was kept guessing until the end. I am looking forward to reading much more in this series, and would love to learn a bit more about Jo and her past.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M.M. Chouinard's first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity's sake, she released them. She's currently at work on her seventh novel.

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