Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Review - The Fearless One

Title:
  The Fearless One
Author:  Lori Foster
Series:  Osborn Brothers #2
Publisher:  HQN Books
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   384
Date of Publication:   December 26, 2023
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

“Count on Lori Foster for sexy, edgy romance.” — Jayne Ann Krentz , New York Times bestselling author

He had it all planned…until she showed up.

Jedidiah Stephens came to the Colorado Rockies for one to uncover the truth behind the fire that killed her family. She’s been chasing down clues, and everything has led her to an isolated campground. Her plan is to get a job there so she can investigate who comes and goes. Getting involved with her boss, Memphis Osborn, the ruggedly handsome groundskeeper, is definitely not part of the plan.

When Jedidiah arrives on the scene, Memphis just knows she's up to something. He can see the desperation in her eyes and warily agrees to hire her. As they work side by side, Diah triggers his deepest protective instincts—and the chemistry between them ignites.

But the more Diah digs into her family’s past, the more secrets she unravels…and the more afraid she becomes. She lost everything once before. She’ll never forgive herself if now she loses Memphis, too.

Osborn Brothers
Book 1: The Dangerous One
Book 2: The Fearless One

MY THOUGHTS:

“….your eyes are incredible, but they’re just a reflection of you,”

Memphis Osborn is a very smart man. So when Diah Stephens arrives at his campgrounds looking for a job, he can see right through her. Diah has her reasons for insisting that Memphis hire her. Although she starts off being a woman of mystery, apparently being all alone in the world, she did not show up at Memphis’s campgrounds by happenstance. She is there for a reason, but Memphis does not let that get in the way of growing quite fond of her. 

Diah isn’t alone. She is there with her faithful dog Tuff, and he has been a strong source of comfort to her. It doesn’t take Diah long to see that her relationship with Memphis can be more than employer and employee. However, her guard is up, and hiding behind her sunglasses throws a shield between her and anyone she comes across. However, Memphis just has to look into Diah’s eyes to see what an amazingly warm woman she is. 

This may be a romance, but Lori Foster has an incredible way of making the story personal. She really pulled at my heartstrings when it came to Diah. While thoroughly engaged with regard to the romance between Memphis and Diah, I loved the sense of intrigue as it increased as the book was reaching its stunning climax. I am loving this Osborn Brothers series and cannot wait tofor the next book. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori Foster is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author with over 10 million books sold. She received the Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews and her books have been chosen as editors picks by Amazon multiple times. Foster is actively involved in charity work, and all of the author proceeds from her anthologies have gone to various organizations, such as the Animal Adoption Foundation, the Conductive Learning Center, and One Way Farm. She lives in Ohio with her high school sweetheart.

web / facebook / twitter / Instagram / pinterest / goodreads


Friday, December 22, 2023

BLOG TOUR - The First Girl



DESCRIPTION:

The cold night slams the barn door shut with a sickening crash. The girl curled in the corner wakes with a start. Her gold butterfly necklace catches the pale moonlight as she clutches it tight, thinking of her family. Will she ever escape? Or is his the last face she’ll ever see?

Detective Katie Scott stares in horror at what she and her service dog Cisco have discovered: seven shallow graves, the bodies of young women each wrapped carefully in a blanket and buried in makeshift coffins. Miles of abandoned farmland stretch out from the treeline behind her. Has Katie uncovered the horrifying graveyard of a monster who has been stealing Pine Valley’s daughters for years?

Katie quickly identifies one of the victims as 
Abigail Andrews, a beautiful young woman who disappeared fifteen years ago. Katie is heartbroken that she’ll have to tell Abigail’s mother her darling girl is gone.

When Katie is ambushed working late at the scene, fired upon by an unknown assailant, she knows she must be close to finding the killer. But the shooter vanishes into thin air. And when a new young woman is taken, dark haired and dark eyed like the others, Katie realizes her time is running out. 
Can she stay alive long enough to track down this twisted murderer before another young life is stolen too soon?

An absolutely jaw-dropping crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh. You’ll be up all night glued to the pages with this totally pulse-pounding read from USA Today and Amazon bestseller Jennifer Chase. 

BUY LINKS:
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The First Girl
Author:  Jennifer Chase
Series:  Detective Katie Scott #11
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   354
Date of Publication:  December 19, 2023
My Rating:   5 Stars

Although Detective Katie Scott is working hard on her current cold case, her thoughts do not stray hard from worrying about her fiancé Chad. He had been missing for quite some time. However, Katie, along with her partner McGaven, as well as her canine partner Cisco, throws herself into her latest case. 

This case presents a lot of danger for Katie and McGaven, especially as Katie draws ever closer to solving the case. Katie is really drawn in, especially when the case takes a surprising turn. Meanwhile, McGaven is facing a challenging situation that requires much of his time and attention

What a story! Multi-faceted, with its very personal edge when it comes to Katie as well as McGaven, this 11th book in a compelling and thrilling series kept me reading late into the night. Jennifer Chase definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and has left me wanting for more. 

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.


Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Jennifer Chase here: https://geni.us/B097H5XLDVsocial

 

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

BLOG TOUR - Pray for Her


DESCRIPTION:

The little girl trembles as a pair of dark eyes watch her every move. She’s been told to dig a hole big enough for a body and her heart races as she wonders who it’s for. She wants to run, but she knows she’ll be caught. So she fights back tears and begins to dig…

When police stop a car in the small town of Hilldale, they shudder as they pop the trunk and look inside. Covered in thick plastic, the body of a man lies totally still. In the car sit two women and a twelve-year-old girl, all refusing to speak.

As 
Detective Eve Bennet is called in to investigate, she’s struck by the women’s calm demeanor. No stranger to the secretive local community, Eve knows the women won’t speak to her, but she’s sure she can get the young girl to tell her what happened.

When ten-year-old 
Beth finally opens up and begs for help, Eve’s blood runs cold. If the man in the trunk is an eminent member of the local church, as Beth says he is, they could all be in serious danger.

But Eve will stop at nothing to make sure Beth is safe, and when her search leads to a family home on a quiet little street, the last thing she expects is to come face to face with someone from her own dark past.

Will she face her demons and unravel the truth behind the man in the trunk? And can she save herself and Beth from the evil that haunts their lives?

BUY LINK:


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Pray for Her
Author:  Holly S. Roberts
Series:   Detective Eve Bennet #3
Publisher:   Bookouture 
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers 
Format:   Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:   294
Date of Publication:   December 12, 2023
My Rating:   5 Stars

Detective Eve Bennet once again finds herself facing issues of her past while she works on her newest case. Eve is once again investigating a crime that is tied to a fundamentalist community, a community she knows all too well. The women that are part of that community have no voice, and with the situation being as it is, Eve must get someone to talk.

Eve’s case involves that of trying to determine the identity of a dead man and how the body is connected to the fundamentalist community. At first, she faces two women and a young girl. However, due to the way their lives exist in the community they are from, they refuse to answer any questions.

Eve beyond shocked when she is forced to face a man from her past. However, calm and collected, Eve digs deep for the answers that are needed. However, the closer she 
gets to the truth, the more danger she is faced with, even to the point where her life could be at risk.

Pray for Her is a powerful read, and hits the ground running from the very start. Eve is a wonderful detective, and her connection to her team while constantly being reminded of her unsettling past made this story one that was utterly impossible to put down.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Holly S Roberts is a retired homicide detective and the USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Play and Ruck (Completion Sports series). She is excited to announce a new crime thriller series published by Bookouture Hachette, Book 1 ONLY GIRL ALIVE and Book 2 LOST LITTLE ANGELS are now available. Book 3 releases 12/23. For Holly's spicier side, you'll love her anti-hero bad boys who will curl your toes (Hotter Than Hell series) and a lighter (not so spicy) humorous paranormal series with shifters and Hellhounds (Marinah and King). She also writes cozy mysteries under the pen name Suzie Ivy. She lives with her two spoiled dogs high in the mountains. Holly is a self-defense instructor and owned a martial arts gym where she taught women to kick butt. Visit wickedstorytelling.com for more info.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

BLOG TOUR - Murder on the Cornish Cliffs


A festive invitation from an old family friend, the promise of gingerbread at the village inn, snowy walks on the Cornish coast with Gladstone the bulldog… But wait, is that a body on the beach? 

Winter, 1923. It’s nearly Christmas and Lady Eleanor Swift has received a rather strange letter from an old friend of her uncle. Mr Godfrey Cunliffe has asked her to stay in Cornwall for the holidays – but only because he believes his gardener is trying to poison him! With not a moment to waste Eleanor hurries down to his picturesque manor house with her butler Clifford and handsome beau Detective Hugh Seldon. But they arrive too late to stop the crime…

Lying dead at the bottom of the steep cliffs, however, is not Mr Cunliffe, but the gardener himself. And his plans for restoring the gardens to their former glory are missing. Jerome St Clair has gone from suspect to victim. This certainly puts a twist in the tinsel!

As snow begins to fall, Eleanor quizzes the family. Mr Cunliffe’s alibi is as fragile as the glass baubles hanging from his towering Christmas tree. Eleanor quickly realises everyone from the handyman to the housekeeper is keeping secrets, and she’s convinced that Mr Cunliffe is still scared for his life.

When 
Gladstone the bulldog pulls a charred corner of the missing garden plans from a fireplace festooned with a gold-ribboned garland, Eleanor thinks the clue she needs is hiding out in the grounds. But when someone tries to run her over with the huge lawnmower, she knows she must wrap up the mystery fast before her Christmas is cancelled for good…

Murder on the Cornish Cliffs is a fun, twisty and absolutely gripping historical English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of T.E. Kinsey, Catherine Coles and Agatha Christie.

BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CJ5MPVFJsocial

Audio:
UK: https://ow.ly/uvLR50QaY0H US: https://ow.ly/UcXU50QaY0F 🎧https://ow.ly/tWJM50QaY0I

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:
 

Title:   Murder On the Cornish Cliffs
Author:  Verity Bright
Series:  Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #16
Publisher:  Bookouture    
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:  295
Date of Publication:  December 1, 2023
My Rating:   4 Stars

It is nearly Christmas and Lady Eleanor Swift is traveling with her butler Clifford, as well as her cat and her dog, Gladstone. Hoping to enjoy the holidays while in Cornwall is something that preens unlikely to happen as they fear that their host, Mr. Godfrey Cunliffe has been murdered. 

Eleanor is no stranger to murder and other serious crimes, and she quickly proves that she will go to any lengths necessary to solve the crime at hand. With some assistance from her handsome fiancé,  Detective Hugh Sheldon, as well as the ever wise and efficient Clifford, Eleanor begins to question anyone she thinks could be connected to the murder. There is definitely a motive for the crime to be determined, and Eleanor leaves no stone unturned in her investigation. 

Eleanor soon learns that just about everyone is a likely suspect, and with a clue ironically revealed by her dog Gladstone, she gets closer and closer to finding the answers she seeks. Sixteen books in and Verity Bright’s stories involving the ever inquisitive Eleanor are always fresh and enjoyable. There is also some humor in each of the stories. Then factoring in the delightful characters, readers can’t go wrong with any Eleanor Swift cozy mystery story. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Verity Bright here: https://www.bookouture.com/verity-bright

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

BLOG TOUR - The Lost Gift To the Italian Island



DESCRIPTION:

Italy, 1943. With tears in her eyes, Giulia listens out for the sound of bombers flying overhead and thinks of the baby growing inside of her. Through the fabric of her lace dress her fingers touch the cold bullets carefully sewn into the seams. Luca might never forgive her, but she has to do this…

New York, present day. When Tori Coleman discovers that her mother was adopted, her whole world shatters. Jeremy, her boyfriend, wants to get married, but how can Tori commit when she doesn’t know who she truly is? The only clue to the identity of her biological family is a mysterious postcard with a photograph of an ornate wedding dress her grandmother Giulia made, which she’s told was gifted to a museum on an Italian island…

Tori arrives on Parissi Island, surrounded by turquoise Mediterranean waters, with the sweet smell of orange blossom filling the air. She soon finds the museum and learns that Giulia was Jewish, and secretly lived there during World War Two. 
She thought her grandmother abandoned her mother, but was she forced to leave and give up her child?

Just as she’s getting closer to answers, an unexpected call from Jeremy stops Tori in her tracks. As he passionately urges her to find out the truth, suddenly Tori wishes he were in Italy by her side, ready to propose again.

But then Tori is shocked to find bullets sewn into the lining of one of Giulia’s dresses and a notebook claiming she did something terrible during World War Two. 
Will the secrets in her family help her follow her own heart, or send her home from Italy with it finally broken forever?

An enchanting, unforgettable novel about desperate decisions in the dark days of war and the uplifting power of true love. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Soraya Lane and Victoria Hislop.

BUY LINK:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0C549N9RRsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:  
The Lost Gift To the Italian Island
Author:  Barbara Josselsohn
Series:   Sisters of War #2
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Historical Fiction 
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   320
Date of Publication:   December 4, 2023
My Rating:   5 Stars

“Light was better than darkness, knowledge better than secrecy.”

In this dual-timeline story, we learn of Giulia’s story around the year 1943. She was the middle sister to Annalisa and Mia. This story is also set in present day about Tori Coleman and her search for answers about her maternal grandmother. 

Tori’s life is going through changes. For one thing, she learns that her actual grandmother might reside in Italy by finding out a connection to a postcard with a very stunning wedding dress that was made decades ago. Tori is in fact a wedding dress designer herself, and she learns that this dress was designed by the woman who is actually her grandmother. That’s not the only thing that Tori is experiencing. A single mother, in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, she’s not sure that marriage is in the cards for her. For now she wants to find out the history of her past.  Learning the history behind Parissi Island just might unlock secrets that Tori is desperate to uncover. 

With regard to the past, Giulia barely escapes to Parissi Island with her life and she receives help. However, this help came with a price. Now Giulia is forced to possibly give up her dream to go to America and to reunite with her two sisters. There are the dangers of the Nazi threat as World War II is blazing, all while a slow romance is brewing. Is there the possibility that Tori’s grandmother is actually Giulia, a woman who would be well into her 90s?

Barbara Josselsohn has written a compelling story, one that pulled me in from the very first page. This book contained so much and was impossible to put down. I loved both Tori and Giulia’s story and we’ve had Mia’s story with Secrets of the Italian Island. I am definitely looking forward Annalise’s story with the third book in this trilogy.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. She is the author of the Lake Summers series set in the fictional town of Lake Summers, nestled in the Adirondacks Mountains, which includes the books The Lilac House and The Bluebell Girls. Before joining with Bookouture, she published The Last Dreamer, a women’s-fiction novel from Lake Union Publishing, along with hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships. She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo!

http://www.barbarasolomonjosselsohn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraSolomonJosselsohnAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/barbara_josselsohn_author/
https://twitter.com/BarbaraJoss

Thursday, November 23, 2023

BLOG TOUR - Murder in a Country Village


DESCRIPTION:

England, 1941. With World War Two shaking the nation, rookie reporter Edie York wants to write the front-page news. But she ends up as the headlines when she stumbles over a body on the moors…

Eager to follow Churchill’s order to keep calm and carry on, Edie York has left the bombed-out streets of Manchester behind for a stroll in the countryside. But her rationed picnic lunch turns to ashes in her mouth when she discovers Joyce Reid, a well-known anti-war activist, lifeless at the bottom of a cliff.

Despite infuriatingly handsome DCI Louis Brennan’s less-than-amused warnings ringing in her ears, Edie is unable to leave the conscripted local bobby to do his work. Heading off to investigate, she immediately uncovers potential suspects galore. From alleged black-marketeers to the local land girl, a shell-shocked artist to Joyce’s on-off lover, Edie is sure the murderer is right under her nose.

Then Edie makes another gruesome discovery, and realises she needs long-suffering Louis on the scene to officially investigate. Can they uncover the killer hiding in plain sight, before it’s too late? Or will Edie’s own obituary end up featured on the front pages she’s coveted for so long…?

A fantastically gripping historical cozy mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Agatha Christie. This is the second book in the Edie York Mystery series.

BUY LINK:


MY THOUGHTS:


Title:   Murder in a Country Village 
Author:  F.L. Everett
Series:  Edie York Mystery #2
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   325
Date of Publication:   November 23, 2023
My Rating:   4 Stars

Edie York is angling for a bigger role as a reporter. Writing obituaries has become boring to her. Although still new on the job, she is determined to write front-page news. Things take a different turn, however, when she discovers a dead body. 

Finding the body along with her best friend Ethel gives Edie the chance to become an amateur sleuth once again. This is not the only mystery at hand for Edie. There is also a missing teen, and Edie is determined to solve that case as well. 

Meanwhile, with the setting during the World War II era, mention of blackouts, curfews and carrying gas masks levels a serious nature as to the time period in which Edie lived. Then there were the food rations to consider, especially when Edie helps out an old friend. An excellent setting, to be sure, all while Edie goes beyond the desire to make a name for herself. 

This second book in the Edie York series was a delightful read, with interesting characters, intriguing mysteries and some surprising twists. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with great atmosphere, a touch of humor, along with a dose of compassion, then this book is for you. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Flic Everett is a Mancunian writer who now lives in a cottage in the beautiful West Highlands with her patient husband and two deranged cocker spaniels. She still misses Manchester, and returns like a homing pigeon every month to see family and friends. She spends a lot of time writing on trains.

Flic has owned an award-winning vintage shop, guest-presented Woman’s Hour and was once a part-time tarot reader. She has a grown up son who makes her laugh more than anyone on earth, and she likes reading, painting, cooking, clothes, animals, Art Deco and rummaging in charity shops for bargains. Her greatest fear is being stranded without a book. She has spent many years as a freelance journalist and editor for national newspapers and magazines and can’t believe she’s finally allowed to make up stories from the comfort of her own home.

 

Author social media 

Website

Www.fliceverett.com

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551319733773

Instagram URL @fliceverett

Twitter URL @fliceverett

Newsletter: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/f-l-everett/