BLOG TOUR - Her Deadly Rose

DESCRIPTION:

The girl’s lifeless body lies next to a scattered bouquet of crimson roses, the petals around her head like tiny pools of blood. Gripped in her hand is the note that came with the flowers, sent by someone who wanted her dead.

When champion figure skater Michaela Glover returns to her hometown of Woodbridge for a special performance, Detective Amanda Steele is part of the cheering crowds. But when Michaela is discovered dead in her dressing room after the show, Amanda is the first to investigate the shocking scene.

There is no sign of foul play, and the room is overflowing with flowers from Michaela’s adoring fans. But Amanda’s heart stops at the sight of a few roses tied with black ribbon and a note that reads “You’ll be sorry”. And when forensic tests reveal the ribbon was laced in something Michaela was deathly allergic to, Amanda is certain this is cold-blooded murder.

Desperate for a lead, Amanda dives into Michaela’s life to find out who could possibly want this sweet girl dead. She soon discovers that despite having a glittering future ahead of her, Michaela had a troubled past, and was surrounded by people jealous of her success.

When someone close to Michaela is discovered brutally murdered, Amanda is terrified there could be yet more innocent victims to follow. Can she uncover the twisted killer’s identity before they strike again?

A completely gripping crime thriller that will have you racing through the pages! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

BUY LINK: 

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Title:   Her Deadly Rose

Author:   Carolyn Arnold

Series:   Detective Amanda Steele  #12
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:   Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   324

Date of Publication: October 18, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Amanda has just enjoyed a night at an ice show with her daughter an and her friend. Sadly the night ended in tragedy. After the show, up-and-coming ice skater Michaela Glover was found dead in her dressing room by Amanda. Amanda and Michaela’s Aunt Patty had headed backstage so that Amanda’s daughter could meet the rising ice star.

Patty is devastated, and Amanda is numb. Another life lost. And a young life at that. The case begins slowly, gaining more and more traction, as Amanda and her partner Trent’s search for the killer reveals possible suspects for the murder. Meanwhile, there is more tension in this story than the case they are trying to solve. Amanda and Trent are working hard to push away the strong and undeniable attraction that is between them. They spend an insane amount of hours working together as they hunt down killers. More than that, things in Amanda’s home life just might be on shaky ground. 

What an intriguing, multi-layered story. I felt like I was riding alongside Amanda and Trent as they were vigorous in their search for the killer. Then, Amanda’s emotions throughout the story were raw and real, and it was impossible not to connect with her. Having read this series from the very beginning, drawing close to Amanda and the issues that she faces in her personal life most definitely makes me a compassionate reader. Admittedly, feeling so strongly for Amanda put a lump in my throat more than once - in this book, and in some of the other equally strong books in this series. 

I am eager to see where things go with Ananda going forward. She is a remarkable character with a strong sense of justice, all while never once losing her human side. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Social Media

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BLOG TOUR - Keepsakes from the Cottage on the Loch

DESCRIPTION:

Sitting at the edge of the loch, Tara clutches her heart-shaped pendant as the sunset turns the sky pink. The person who gave it to her once danced with her on the shore. But then he left for good. And now she can never share her secret…

Tara Ballantyne hasn’t been home to Loch Cameron since her childhood sweetheart and fiancé Ramsay Fraser suddenly broke her heart. She’s certain the secret she’s kept ever since is why he left without saying goodbye. But when her mother Dotty has a fall, Tara knows she must return to help her family with their guesthouse.

Dotty has never been able to understand why Tara left the village in the first place. And on an errand for her mother at the local farmer’s market after another row, Tara is stunned when she runs into Ramsay. His deep, achingly familiar voice sends butterflies spinning through her stomach as they make plans to catch up. Could now be the moment to tell him her secret?

Then Tara sees Ramsay holding the hand of a little girl with a crooked smile just like his. Even if Ramsay still holds on to the other half of Tara’s gold pendant, it looks like he’s moved on for good. And she still can’t confess what she did all those years ago…

But seeing Ramsay again makes her mother light up, and Tara realises Dotty has missed him too. And as she comes to understand her mother more than ever before, Tara wonders if she’s been running away for all the wrong reasons. Will Ramsay always be the one who got away? Or if Tara finally opens up, will she find happiness in the village?

Escape to the Scottish Highlands in this emotional, page-turning second chance romance by USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Kerr! Fans of Debbie Macomber, Rachel Hanna and Mary Alice Monroe will adore it.

BUY LINK:

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Title:  Keepsakes from the Cottage on the Loch

Author:  Kennedy Kerr

Series:  Loch Cameron Book #6
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages: 246

Date of Publication:  October 15, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Tara has returned to her home in Loch Cameron as her mother is laid up after a fall. Tara will be taking over her mother’s duties at their hotel until her mother gets back on her feet. Going home won’t be easy for Tara as she is constantly reminded of her broken heart. Tara grew up with Ramsay Fraser and the two eventually fell in love with him. Sadly, Ramsay broke her heart and she still has not gotten over him.

Imagine Tara’s shock when she runs into Ramsay and finds that he has returned to Loch Cameron. Tara and Ramsay danced together for years and were really going far but everything suddenly stopped. Ramsay is eager to talk to Tara, but she has more than one strong reason for avoiding any chat with him, even though her heart breaks more and more. 

What a sweet story of a second chance romance. The path to the reconnection was not easy for Tara and Ramsay. I love the stories in this series, although each book can be read as standalone novels. However, for a good immersion into a sweet story, readers cannot go wrong with the previous books in the series. Loch Cameron and its residents have won a place in my heart and I look forward to revisiting the village through the pages of this series in the future.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Kennedy Kerr is a USA Today Bestselling fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle's nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she's not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she'd eat it, anyway.

Author Social Media Links

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

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BLOG TOUR - Two Broken Girls

DESCRIPTION:

Sweat trickles down the girl’s spine as she dances around her bedroom. The curtains blow open and a gust of hot, humid air comes through the window. She has no idea she is being watched from the street below. The dainty chain around her neck will soon be his. Another keepsake. His second broken girl.

On the banks of the River Rothay, as the first rays of sunshine hit the fast-flowing water, Melody Carrick’s body lies lifeless, red strangulation marks where her gold cross necklace used to hang. Detective Morgan Brookes is certain the killer was surprised by early-morning dog walkers, and she won’t rest until she unearths the evidence she needs to stop his next attack.

But before Morgan has a chance to attend the post-mortem, seventeen-year-old Paige Evans rushes into the police station claiming her stepfather Alan kidnapped her best friend. He has an old wooden box full of jewellery that she believes are trophies. Morgan’s blood runs cold: Melody’s necklace is tangled up in the chains.

Morgan races to Alan’s home, but on the way, she spots a young woman stumbling out of a nearby forest. She’s not Paige’s missing friend. Disorientated, with ropes cutting into her wrists and tears running down her face, the girl claims to have been abducted and then suddenly set free. By a man who looks nothing like Alan.

Chasing the most twisted killer of her career, can Morgan discover the connection between these terrible crimes? With two girl's lives already in ruins, can she find the latest innocent victim this monster has hidden in time?

BUY LINK:

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Title:   Two Broken Girls

Author: Helen Phifer

Series:  Detective Morgan Brookes #13
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   317

Date of Publication:  July 2, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

DC Morgan Brookes is on the case in one of the fastest paced books that I have read in a long time. Tragically the body of a teen girl named Melody is discovered. As Morgan and her team search for answers, Morgan really feels for Melody’s mother. 

Shortly after, another teen enters the police station and is only willing to speak directly with Morgan. Has another girl gone missing, and what does this insistent teen know? To add to the strangeness of both the murder and the claim of another missing girl, Morgan literally runs into another victim, almost. However, Morgan must quickly ascertain whether or not she is the other teen girl that might be missing. 

There are some books impossible to put down and Two Broken Girls is just that book Although the serious case of the first body possibly being tied into the other recent crimes, this book offers more. There is a wonderful sense of camaraderie between Morgan and her team, and this gives this excellent 13th book in a remarkable series an extra touch. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helen Phifer is the Bestselling writer of the hugely popular Annie Graham, Lucy Harwin, Beth Adams and her current series featuring Detective Constable Morgan Brooks published by the fabulous Bookouture.

She lives in the busy town of Barrow-in-Furness surrounded by miles of coastline and a short drive from the glorious English Lake District.

Helen loves reading books that scare the heck out of her and is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years. Unable to find enough scary stories she decided to write her own and her debut novel The Ghost House released in October 2013 became a #1 Global Bestseller.

She has written over twenty books in various genres and you can follow her over on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/helenphifer/

Or find her over at www.helenphifer.com

Social Media

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Helenphifer1/

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Website: https://www.helenphifer.com/

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Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/helen-phifer

BLOG TOUR - Cougar Point

DESCRIPTION:

She wakes to find herself alone in complete darkness. Fearing for her life, in that moment her only thought is for her beloved daughters. What will they think when they find out she’s missing? Then it hits her. She’s kept a secret hidden from her family for years. Is she about to pay for it with her life?

When Victoria Marsh disappears from her family’s exclusive resort in Cougar Point, Washington, her family is devastated. A charity worker and pillar of the local community, how could she just vanish without a trace?

Though not officially her case, Detective Megan Carpenter races to the scene for a very personal reason. Victoria is Ronnie’s mother and Megan will do anything to help her when she has sacrificed so much.

Together they build up a picture of the days before the disappearance but the only clue is a note with the words, “You promised” scrawled on it. It soon emerges that Victoria’s marriage was far from perfect and she had spent years running from a deadbeat brother. Could someone in Victoria’s family want her dead?

But when the body of another woman is found, Megan starts to link the cases. Both women had huge ransoms placed on them. Both families received chilling threats in the mail. And with one victim already dead, time is running out to find Victoria alive.

Local law enforcement warns Megan off the case but she’s certain that the disappearance is more than just bad blood. But with a potential serial killer on the loose, how much is Megan willing to risk? Worse still, could they be closer to her than she had ever imagined?

BUY LINKS:

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Audible:

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MY THOUGHTS:  

Title:   Cougar Point

Author:  Gregg Olsen

Series:  Detective Megan Carpenter #5
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   424

Date of Publication:   September 24, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars

It has been a few years since Gregg Olsen released a Detective Megan Carpenter book, and now we have Book #5 in the series. As we’ve seen in the series, Megan has started her life over and is a very good detective. In her latest case, she is in Cougar Point as her partner Ronnie’s mother Victoria is missing. 

As readers see Megan’s viewpoint as the case intensifies, there is also that of Victoria. Meanwhile, as we see Ronnie worried, so is her sister Rebecca. Then, another character, Lucas, a detective who lives and works in Cougar Point, is doing his best to keep Megan and Ronnie away from the case. 

Lucas’ POV is rather interesting because the story also flashes back to February 2023 and it is interesting to see how this drives Lucas when looking for Victoria. Megan doesn’t like Lucas at all, and she is also worried about threats against her past. 

A very busy story to be sure, with a lot of dynamics. And it most definitely packs a punch. What a way to bring readers back to the series!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gregg lives in rural Washington State (about a mile as the crow flies from Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard's infamous Starvation Heights sanitarium). His thriller, THE LAST THING SHE EVER DID was an Amazon Charts bestseller. LYING NEXT TO ME was a reader favorite, charting at No. 1 in the Kindle store and the bestseller's list at the Washington Post. Gregg's true crime book, IF YOU TELL, found a home on Amazon Charts for more than 140 weeks. In fact, it was the bestselling Kindle ebook of 2020 (and the second-bestselling of 2021). He's been a guest on Dateline NBC, NPR, Good Morning America, The Early Show, FOX News, CNN, Anderson Cooper, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, 20/20, Snapped, Deadly Women, William Shatner's Aftermath, and A&E's Biography. You can find out more about Gregg at www.NotoriousUSA.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreggOlsenAuthor?ref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gregg_Olsen

Website: http://www.greggolsen.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggolsen/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15035.Gregg_Olsen

BLOG TOUR - Murder on the Nile

 

DESCRIPTION:

A cruise down the Nile, a camel ride around the pyramids, lunch in the shadow of the Sphinx… And a very dead body!

1924. Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler Clifford are touring the great, ancient sights of Egypt on a much-anticipated extended vacation. But when the pair arrive at the docks in Cairo expecting to board the luxurious paddle steamer advertised in their brochure, they are baffled by the crumbling old cruiser waiting for them. And things only go from bad to worse as death stalks the decks of the SS Cleopatra…

Two days into the trip one of their fellow passengers, Lieutenant Baxter, is found shot dead in his locked cabin. Immediately suspicious and desperate to see justice done, Eleanor discovers a half-finished note addressed to her hidden in Baxter’s travelling trunk. In it he asks her to deliver a vitally important letter to the authorities at their next stop down river: a priceless treasure worthy of a king has been stolen and an innocent man’s life hangs in the balance.

But before the sands of time wipe away all evidence on board, Eleanor must uncover who among the other travellers wanted Baxter dead. Was it the anxious archaeologist who doesn’t have an alibi, the reptile expert with a passion for the murderous Nile crocodile or the art dealer with a devious secret?

With the killer readying to strike again much closer to home, can Eleanor dig up the truth before she’s trapped in a tomb under the pyramids forever?

A gripping and twisty 1920s murder mystery set in Egypt, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss!

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CYQBKJLNsocial

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

MY THOUGHTS: 

Title:   Murder on the Nile

Author:  Verity Bright

Series:  Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #19
Publisher:  Bookouture    

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  347

Date of Publication:  September 26, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars

Nineteen books into this Lady Eleanor Swift  series has Eleanor boarding a ship that is completely different than what was advertised. For the sake of Eleanor’s ever-reliable butler Clifford, she is willing to forgo the trip. However, Clifford knows Eleanor was looking forward to the trip, so they board the ship.

As Eleanor approaches her fellow travelers, they seem either rude or odd. But, the cruise promises more benefits that would outweigh the negatives. However, two days into the trip a gunshot is heard and a man is dead.

Much to the consternation of the other passengers, Eleanor is not shy about asking questions, especially when the murderer was right there among them. Not only does she follows clues as closely as possible, she has great instincts and has become an excellent amateur sleuth. Time is slipping away and Eleanor is determined to find the identity of the killer. 

I have really been enjoying both Eleanor and Clifford over the course of the series. And, as aalways, Clifford reminds me of Mary Poppins, always having exactly what Eleanor needs at any given time. I am very much looking forward to whatever will be in store in the next installment of this series. 

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

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