BLOG TOUR - Stillwater Island

DESCRIPTION:

“Mommy, I’m scared.” Marlena’s precious boy lies with his little arm thrown over her thigh. It’s pitch-black, and she can hear seagulls. She realises they must be near water, and a new panic rises in her.

At 2 a.m. one icy winter morning, in the smart suburbs of Jefferson County, local father Ben Parker reports his wife Marlena and their little boy missing.

Rushing to the impressive family home, Detective Megan Carpenter finds the halls adorned with pictures of the beautiful, stay-at-home mom and their bright-eyed son. But that’s not all she finds…

A bottle of prenatal vitamins in the bathroom cabinet reveal that Marlena is pregnant. Why didn’t Ben mention this in his panicked call to the police?

Digging deeper into their seemingly perfect marriage, Megan’s fear begins to grow. The couple are separated, there’s talk of an affair, and the neighbors report loud fights. And then, Megan tracks a young woman believed to be Ben’s secret girlfriend, only to find her lifeless body in a secluded wood.

Ben’s watch lies in the undergrowth, and Megan’s team think she’s cracked the case, but she’s sure something’s not right. Ben’s family has wealth including a private island, and connections in high places. Is someone trying to block their investigation?

As Megan starts to wonder if the answer lies on the Parkers’ closely guarded island, just offshore, a shocking revelation makes her question everything. With a killer on the loose, can Megan find the missing pieces to the most complex case of her career and bring Marlena and her little boy home alive? Or will it be too late to save them?

A totally edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller that will have you racing to the end, from a number one, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Michael Connelly and James Patterson.

(Previously titled: Vanishing Point)

BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09FYF6SRBsocial
Apple: http://ow.ly/jTN250G8GmM
Kobo: http://ow.ly/dkMe50G8Gkp
Google: http://ow.ly/4viI50G8GpX

MY THOUGHTS: 

 

Title:   Stillwater Island

Author:  Gregg Olsen

Series:  Detective Megan Carpenter #4
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   360

Date of Publication:   December 7. 2021

My Rating:   4 Stars

Detective Megan Carpenter has kept her job despite a rather murky past. Often triggered by childhood memories, Megan still manages to fully invest herself into her latest case - that of missing mother Marlena and her little boy. Megan and her team were made aware of the disturbing situation by Marlena's husband Ben. Despite his apparently grave concern, per normal, he is the prime suspect until and if facts prove otherwise.

Megan is worried from the outset. For one thing, the child has asthma. Also, when going through their home, Megan spots prenatal vitamins. A sick child and a pregnant mother. Time is definitely of the essence.

The more Megan talks to Ben, the more she is sure of his guilt. How to prove it is another thing entirely. When it is discovered that Ben has not been living at home with is family, and in fact, has a girlfriend, Megan is even more sure of his guilt. Other disturbing facts start to be made clear along the way.

Stillwater Island is the exciting and equally thrilling fourth book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series. Megan is a complex character, and readers are often privy to her dark thoughts while she works her difficult cases. However, despite a rather difficult and impossible to forget past, Megan proves that she is worthy of being a detective and works hard at her job. I love her grit and her attitude. This book was definitely a page-turner and I was on tenterhooks from the very first page. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A #1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Gregg Olsen has written nine nonfiction books, seventeen novels, a novella, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel.

The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honoured by Washington's Secretary of State for the book's contribution to Washington state history and culture.

Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife, twin daughters, three chickens, Milo (an obedience school dropout cocker) and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).

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 - Daughters of Magpie Cove

DESCRIPTION:

Connie stared out at the quiet Cornish sea as the hazy early morning light bathed the horizon in a beautiful golden glow. She inhaled the salty, cleansing ocean air, looked down at the handwritten note and wiped away the lone tear that had started to fall…

When Connie Christie’s mother summons her home from the city to Magpie Cove to take over the family business – a quaint, charming museum – Connie is reluctant. The cove holds nothing more than bad memories for Connie, memories she’d rather leave buried…

The tiny coastal museum is a hub for the local community but it is struggling to survive, and despite herself, Connie is determined to save the business that has been in her family for generations. Discovering her great-grandmother’s diary tucked away in a dusty box in the attic – which reveals her struggles as a young woman – gives Connie a surprising clue to unlocking the secrets in her own past. Maybe what happened to her all those years ago wasn’t her fault after all?

Connie starts to relish her work at the museum and the beautiful, calm surroundings of Magpie Cove. A chance encounter with handsome local entrepreneur, Alex Gordon, leaves her with more than just butterflies. Perhaps embracing a new start in her old home maybe isn’t the worst idea she’s ever had.

But just as Connie starts to feel like she finally belongs somewhere, the peace she has found crumbles when the one person she has tried for years to forget resurfaces… Can Connie finally find her home, and herself, in Magpie Cove, or will her painful past force her to run away again, this time for good?

From USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Kerr comes a heartfelt, emotional read, set on the beautiful coast of Cornwall. Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Pamela Kelley will adore it.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3ryTCo0
Apple: https://apple.co/3zuUytA
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XC8Lbb
Google: https://bit.ly/2Z8PKxA

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Daughters of Magpie Cove

Author:  Kennedy Kerr

Series:  Magpie Cove #3
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   238

Date of Publication:   December 9, 2021

My Rating:   4 Stars

Returning home to take over the family business proves no easy task for Connie Christie. Assailed by bad memories, Connie is about ready to leave as soon as she arrives. However, Connie knows her mother and uncle really need her help, so does her best to build up the family’s museum by creating new exhibits and strumming up business. 

At least one person is not happy about Connie’s return to the lovely Cornwall village of Magpie Cove. She begins receiving threatening notes and these disturbingly remind her of how she was bullied as a teenager. She is saddened and shocked that it seems to be happening yet again. When Alex Gordon shows a strong interest in Connie she begins to wonder if she possibly might have a future there, but doubt still lingers. 

Despite the issues Connie is having, making Cornwall her home just might be a possibility. The story was intriguing, with a nice balance of suspense, family and romance. This sweet third book in the series could very well be read as a stand-alone, but the series is just so warm that reading the previous two books just might be enjoyable. They are The House at Magpie Cove and Secrets of Magpie Cove.

I loved the story behind the age-old smuggling that was part of the village’s history, and with the stalker element, it all balanced quite marvelously with the slow-burning romance. A beautiful book indeed. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kennedy Kerr has written and published poetry, children's and adult books. She lives in London and is originally from the West Country, which gave her accent a subtle (yet noticeable) pirate twang as well as a love of cream teas and all things mystical.

Kennedy loves mythology, magic, tarot, pretty much most music, fantasy and sci-fi novels, luxury skincare products, spas, candlelight and stormy beaches. She is the proud owner of a cuddly black cat called Twinkle, who evidently believes she is a princess. Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it.

Find out more about on her Facebook Author page: facebook.com/kennedykerrauthor; she is also on Twitter as @KennedyKerr5.

BLOG TOUR - I'll Never Tell

DESCRIPTION:

When we were young, Sarah and I did a terrible thing – but it was only me who paid the price. Now, just when I thought no one from my old life would ever find me, a note is slid under my door: I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t forgiven. FOUND YOU.

My best friend Sarah and I used to spend all our time in a place we called the Doll House. It was just an old, abandoned cottage in the woods behind our house but it was heaven to us. Until one of our games went wrong. And someone ended up dead.

It was an accident, or at least Sarah told me it was. But when I tried to tell the police that I wasn’t involved, they didn’t believe me. When the Doll House Girls were splashed across the newspapers, it was my face they showed under the headlines. I’m the one who stood trial.

Now, twenty years on, I’ve made a new life with a new identity. I have a wonderful husband, Carl, and Jacob, our adorable son. Despite everything in my past, I’m happy.

Then the first note arrives. FOUND YOU. Soon other threats start coming, and the person behind them is clear they’d be willing to hurt my family – to hurt Jacob – to get to me. I know who they are. And I know what they’re capable of. The other doll… The girl who got away with murder.

A totally addictive page-turner packed with heart-stopping twists, if you love Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott and The Silent Patient you’ll love I’ll Never Tell.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3oXmCTn
Apple: https://apple.co/3oYVmnA
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3p3t0bw
Google: https://bit.ly/3G3k2ST

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   I'll Never Tell

Author:  Casey Kelleher

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Audiobook ARC

Narrator:  Daphne Kouma

No. of Pages:   286

Date of Publication:   December 3, 2021

My Rating:   5 Stars

Twenty years later. Alessia is living a happy life. Mother to her toddler son Jacob and happily married to Carl, things are going well. Life is spot on. Yes, Alessia had to take on a new identity two decades ago, but that is the past. However, one night after dozing off she hears broken glass. Worried about Jacob, she looks for the source. A broken window with a brick thrown inside with words that shake her to her very core: FOUND YOU!

What happened twenty years ago and why did she receive those very disturbing words on that brick? Well, that is how this thrilling story by Casey Kelleher started. It quickly moves to the past when Alessia (then, when she was Emma-Jayne), she is terrified, in a jail cell, and accused of murder.

What happened then, and why does she allude to someone named Sarah, both then and now? Why did Alessia change her name and why is she suddenly being terrified now?

Alessia had a childhood friend named Sarah and now she is scared beyond belief that Sarah is back. In fact, the note was only the beginning of a fear campaign being lobbed at her. The story is equally terrifying and sad. The terror comes in when Alessia's past and present collide. The sadness comes in when her story begins to unfold and her disturbing past and memories come speeding towards her. The level of sadness increases when Alessia is faced with a devastating sense of hopelessness, even though she had been living a content life with her little family.

I was so very drawn to this story. My heart broke for the 12-year-old Emma-Jayne and the 32-year-old Alessia. I did love her husband Carl as he saw his wife falling apart. As mentioned, the couple were happy for a while and it was interesting to see if their marriage would hold up. 

I had I'll Never Tell as an audiobook ARC and I loved the narration. As this story was delivered in third person narrative I felt like the narrator was literally telling me the story, which allowed me to feel the emotions that Alessia had to cope with. Her guilt. Uncertainty. Pain. Fear. And so much more. Very well done. Excellently paced throughout with a wonderful conclusion. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, Casey Kelleher grew up as an avid reader and a huge fan of author Martina Cole.

Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up her three children together with her Husband, Casey penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that she could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time.

Social Media:
https://www.caseykelleher.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCaseyKelleher/
https://www.instagram.com/caseykelleher/
https://twitter.com/caseykelleher

BLOG TOUR - The Memory Bones

DESCRIPTION:

Looking down at the familiar, pale and lifeless face floating in the salty waters of the marsh, her blood freezes. It’s a face she hasn’t seen for years, but used to know so well…

When Detective Casey White is called to a murder scene in the Outer Banks saltmarshes, she’s devastated to find the strangled body of her ex-husband—father of her missing daughter Hannah. And nearby, an older, unidentifiable body is buried too… but how are these bones linked to her ex?

Painful memories flood back as Casey desperately searches his apartment, surrounded by photos of them happy with their little girl. Finding a notepad with the name of the hospital where Hannah was last seen scrawled on it, Casey realizes her ex recently discovered something about their child’s disappearance. But who was trying to silence him?

Then forensics show the bones belong to a sweet young nurse who worked at the same hospital. Delving into hospital records, Casey is shocked to learn she once held Hannah as a little baby…

Her boss insists she can’t work such a personal investigation, but Casey is in too deep. Interviewing all the staff at the hospital, she’s sure one of the doctors is acting suspiciously… and that night, Casey wakes up barely able to breathe as flames devour her home.

Now she’s in the killer’s sights. To finally catch this twisted monster and learn what happened to her stolen girl, Casey will have to risk everything…

An absolutely unputdownable thriller that will have you gasping at the twists and turns. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner and Robert Dugoni will be completely addicted.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/30SigoJ
Apple: https://apple.co/3rguVfA
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3l76jCr
Google: https://bit.ly/3r8TbAg
B&N: https://bit.ly/3CXBTIY

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Memory Bones

Author:  B. R. Spangler

Series:  Detective Casey White #5

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   327

Date of Publication:   December 2, 2021

My Rating:   5 Stars

Finding the body of her ex-husband is not the only shocking thing that Detective Casey White discovers. Finding pictures of their long ago kidnapped daughter Hannah pasted all over his walls  was almost too much to bear. When additional bones are discovered near his body, Casey is absolutely sure they are tied to the disappearance of their daughter. But how?

Casey strives to dig deeply into the connection of the discoveries, even though such a personal connection is no doubt a conflict of interest. However, the pain of loss regarding Hannah never leaves her and she plows ahead. With her lover Jericho by her side, Casey is determined to find answers, despite the danger that is certain to find its way to her. Indeed, things become quite hairy as Casey and Jericho soon find their lives literally almost snuffed away by a consuming fire, thus proving that Casey is getting too close to discovering what happened to Hannah - and as it turns out, possibly other babies.

What a thrilling story and an excellent addition to a compelling series! The previous book, The Crying House, left me wondering if Casey was getting closer to finding out what happened to Hannah. This book, The Memory Bones, carries that idea even further, and proves that Casey's doggedness never ever lets go, no matter how close to losing everything could happen. This story was captivating from the very start and kept me tapping my Kindle to see if this chapter in Casey's life would come to a close. I truly love this series and cannot wait to see what other exciting cases that she has in store to solve.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

B.R. Spangler is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Mysteries and Crime Thrillers. 

A resident of Virginia with a wonderful family, including five cats, two birds and a lizard. During the day, the hours are filled with engineering work. Off hours, time is spent writing, editing, and thinking up the next great story.

With too many stories to write, books are split across pen names, writing crime thrillers, science fiction, horrors, paranormal and contemporary fiction.

To keep up to date, sign up for the BRSpangler newsletter sign up 
here: https://brspangler.com/sign-up. No spam will ever get sent, just some random musings or a heads up on when the next book is published Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrianspangler
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BR_Spangler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brspangler/

Bookish Blog Hop December 2021 - A 2022 Release You are Looking Forward To

It is time for our December Bookish Blog Hop! For this Blog Hop I will be joining five other bloggers to answer bookish questions over the next seven days.
 
If you would like to join in future Bookish Blog Hops, Join our Facebook group.

3rd December - A 2022 Release You Are Looking Forward To

Hosted by: Robin @ Robin Loves Reading

Answers:

Robin (me)

The easy winner for my most anticipated book for 2022 is Abandoned in Death by J. D. Robb.  It is the 54th book in the amazing In Death series and I have read each and every title in the series. I am eager for the ARC and can guarantee that I will read it the moment it lands in my hands. Another book that I am eager to read is The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I have had this ARC for weeks, but my TBR is toppling over and this won't be released until March. So, I am holding onto it for now with eager plans to devour it one winter evening. So far the few books that I have read by this duo have been fabulous.

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Jo Linsdell www.JoLinsdell.com www.Twitter.com/JoLinsdell

The Library by Bella Osborne is scheduled for release on 1st April 2022. When I saw it on NetGalley I just had to request a copy. I love the sounds of the characters and, as a bookworm, the story really appeals to me. 

Description

Two lonely bookworms. An unexpected friendship. A library that needs their help.

Teenager Tom has always blended into the background of life. After a row with his dad and facing an unhappy future at the dog food factory, he escapes to the library.

Pensioner Maggie has been happily alone with her beloved novels for ten years – at least, that's what she tells herself.

When they meet, they recognise something in each other that will change both their lives for ever.

Then the library comes under threat of closure, and they must join forces to prove that it's not just about books – it's the heart of their community.

They are determined to save it – because some things are worth fighting for.

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Leslie Conzatti www.upstreamwriter.blogspot.com

(Tag me on Facebook: Leslie Conzatti-The Upstream Writer)

One book that I’m really looking forward to is First Binding by R. R. Virdi. Scheduled to be released by Tor in August of 2022, it’s the first in a trilogy called the Tales of Tremaine. Here’s the blurb:

All legends are borne of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first.

I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I've stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I've called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster.

My name is Ari.

And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil.

Thus begins the tale of a storyteller and a singer on the run and hoping to find obscurity in a tavern bar. But the sins of their past aren't forgotten, and neither are their enemies. Their old lives are catching up swiftly and it could cost them the entire world. No one can escape their pasts and all stories must have an ending.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

One big reason I’m excited for it is because not only is Virdi a fellow independent author, but he was one of the first indie authors who responded to my request for books to review when I was just starting out adding featured reviews (tagged as “Reader’s Reviews”) on my blog, The Upstream Writer! At the time, he only had one book published, Grave Beginnings, the first book in what is now the Grave Reports series--and each successive book I’ve read from his catalog has been an absolute treat!! When he announced that his series had been picked up by a big-name publisher, I was so incredibly happy for him! He really is an amazing author and I have every expectation that First Binding is going to be legendary!!

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Kriti @ Armed with A Book

Tags: Twitter | Facebook 

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this year I explored histories from different parts of the world. The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai and Em by Kim Thúy taught me a lot about Vietnam. I am sure I will find more books set in Asia but the one I am excited for 2022 is about the Mexican-American War. I did not grow up in North America so know very little about the history specific to the countries here. With its beautiful cover, A Ballad of Love and Glory by Reyna Grande is bound to be a memorable book. Find it on NetGalley here.

Book blurb:

The year is 1846. After the controversial annexation of Texas, the US Army marches south to provoke war with México over the disputed Río Grande boundary.​

Ximena Salomé is a gifted Mexican healer who dreams of building a family with the man she loves on the coveted land she calls home. But when Texas Rangers storm her ranch and shoot her husband dead, her dreams are burned to ashes. Vowing to honor her husband’s memory and defend her country, Ximena uses her healing skills as an army nurse on the frontlines of the ravaging war.

Meanwhile, John Riley, an Irish immigrant in the Yankee army desperate to help his family escape the famine devastating his homeland, is sickened by the unjust war and the unspeakable atrocities against his countrymen by nativist officers. In a bold act of defiance, he swims across the Río Grande and joins the Mexican Army—a desertion punishable by execution. He forms the St. Patrick’s Battalion, a band of Irish soldiers willing to fight to the death for México’s freedom.

When Ximena and John meet, a dangerous attraction blooms between them. As the war intensifies, so does their passion. Swept up by forces with the power to change history, they fight not only for the fate of a nation but for their future together.

Heartbreaking and lyrical, Reyna Grande’s spellbinding saga, inspired by true events and historical figures, brings these two unforgettable characters to life and illuminates a largely forgotten moment in history that impacts the US-México border to this day.

Will Ximena and John survive the chaos of this bitter war, or will their love be devoured along with the land they strive to defend?

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Tomorrow's post is A Book From Your Childhood, hosted by Vidya @ https://ladyinreadwrites.com/.

BLOG TOUR - Once Upon a Cabin

Title:   Once Upon a Cabin

Author:  Patience Griffin

Series:  Sweet Home, Alaska #2

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   316

Date of Publication:   November 30, 2021

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Sisters Victoria and McKenna St. James have been living comfortably on their trust funds in Dallas when their uncle Monty, keeper of the purse strings, decides to push them out of their comfort zones: they will spend one year away from it all in Alaska or lose their inheritance. The sisters are initially aghast, but they aren't the type to back down from a challenge!

Victoria is sent to a primitive homestead outside the tiny town of Sweet Home, while the outdoorsy McKenna will be stuck working in a stuffy bank in Anchorage. Both sisters have a rocky transition. Victoria was prepared to forgo highlights and lattes, but not electricity or running water! Fortunately she has hunky wilderness guide Jesse Montana for daily lessons on everything from planting a garden to shooting game—she even joins the quilting circle in Sweet Home—and revels in her accomplishments. Meanwhile, McKenna feels trapped within the concrete walls of the bank. She's a free spirit who loves to travel, not sit at a desk, even if her sexy boss Luke McAvoy helps her discover that she has a head for business and loves using it to help customers.

By year's end, Victoria and McKenna will have to decide whether home sweet home might be right there in Alaska after all.

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Victoria and McKenna St. James want for nothing. They have lost their parents and are in the loving care of their uncle Monty. There is nothing that they need or want that won't be in their hands just about instantly.

Uncle Monty thinks the girls are just too spoiled. He makes very specific arrangements for each of them to move to Alaska for a year and to learn how to exist without their unlimited trust funds. He sets the girls up seperately. Victoria will learn to create a homestead, and McKenna will be working at a bank. Each of the girls will have a mentor - Jesse Montana will be working with Tori and Luke McAvoy will be working with McKenna.

Right from the outset the girls have challenges. McKenna is more of the outside type and is comfortable in a nice pair of jeans. Instead, she is set up in a deluxe apartment and will be working at a bank, and that includes a wardrobe change to reflect her new job.

For Tori, she will be creating a homestead. She has a cabin, but it barely has anything, including not having power or running water. One of her challenges is the fact that she has severe asthma and will not be able to use her nebulizer. Jesse is determined to teach her everything she needs to know about homesteading and Tori cannot imagine how she will survive. Jesse doubts Tori will be up to the task, especially as he has a job that will soon take him away.

Bottom line - Tori really likes Jesse and McKenna really likes Luke. But, will it always be business first for Jesse and Luke, especially when they each start to feel more than drawn to the women? In this engaging read I was more drawn to Tori as I could not imagine being in the middle of Alaska, with almost nothing to sustain me, and the outside being full of predators. Then the fact that it would be next to impossible for Tori and McKenna to communicate, which was utterly difficult as the two are so very close. It became a story of grit and challenges that were difficult to imagine. 

I really enjoyed this story as the girls learned to cope with all of the changes they faced, all while they found love along the way. I especially liked it when the four of them were able to spend time together working on things. Once Upon a Cabin is the second book in the Sweet Home, Alaska series. The first book is One Snowy Night, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading, but each book does do well as standalone novels.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Double RITA® Finalist and award-winning author Patience Griffin has been writing and sewing her whole life but didn’t discover her love of quilting until her late thirties. She decided the best way to acquire her first quilt was to make one for herself.  

At nearly the same time, she started commuting three and half hours a day for her dream engineering job. To pass the time on the long drive, she got hooked on audiobooks—especially books with love stories. Within a couple of years, she was writing stories of her own. It was no surprise to her family and friends when she combined her love of quilting, her small town roots, and her obsession with her Scottish heritage.  

She has gained some recognition with her September 11th Story Quilt which has toured the country as the property of the Pentagon. She has teamed up with QT Fabrics for an extensive line of fabrics to accompany her novels and patterns. She has a master's degree in nuclear engineering but spends her days writing stories about hearth and home, and dreaming about the fictional small towns of Gandiegow, Scotland and Sweet Home, Alaska. 

 web | twitter

BLOG TOUR - The Island We Left Behind

DESCRIPTION:

“I love you. Of course I do. But we haven’t any choice in the matter, do we? If our little boy’s health, even his survival, is at stake, we have to do whatever it takes.”

1928, New York City: Ellen and Lucas Lyman have made a heart-wrenching decision to leave their beloved Amherst Island behind in search of a new life. The island was once the home of their hearts: where they had met as children, become friends, and over time found love.

But New York City was calling, and it was everything they’d hoped for and more. With Lucas making money on the stock market, and Ellen finding fulfilment as a mother, at first they are happy raising their family, together, in the most exciting city in the world.

Until their beloved son Jamie becomes perilously ill, and Ellen is given an impossible choice. With Lucas unable to leave his job, it is down to her to take Jamie to a place he might recover even if it means making the journey across America without him.

Ellen knows what she must do. What every mother would do to save their child. Even if it takes her further away from the man she loves—and every place she has called home‑than ever before.

This is the fourth novel in the unmissable Amherst Island series that follows the life and love of a once-orphan girl called Ellen. Set in 1920s New York, California and Canada, it’s an unmissable read, perfect for fans of The Oceans Between Us, The Orphan Sisters, and My Name is Eva.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3cHfzse

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Island We Left Behind

Author:  Kate Hewitt

Series:  Amherst Island #4
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Women’s Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   349

Date of Publication:   November 30, 2021

My Rating:   5 Stars 

In this heartwarming fourth book in the Amherst Island series, Ellen Lyman has settled in an affluential New York home with her husband Lucas and their two children Rosie and Jamie. While she misses her childhood home of Amherst Island, her primary concern is for Jamie’s frail health. He suffers with breathing difficulties, especially during the cold winter months. Her marriage to Lucas is idyllic, despite a time that it seemed that they might never have found marriage. Lucas is busy in his employ and when Jamie’s doctor recommends spending the winter months in a warmer climate before it is too late for the young boy, Lucas encourages Ellen to take the children to California to give Jamie a fighting chance. They decide to have Ellen’s cousin Gracie accompany them to help with the children. 

Ellen, Gracie and the children make the cross country trip and Ellen soon learns that this presents quite a strain on her marriage. However, Ellen would do anything for her children. The move is only temporary but the trials never let up. On the one hand, Jamie thrives in the warmer climate. However, things with Gracie become quite worrisome for Ellen all while she begins to worry about the security of her marriage to Lucas. The timing in this story turns to the horrible stock market crash in 1929 in the story shifts as we see how this impacts Ellen and Lucas and their future.

As mentioned, this is the fourth book in the series. However, I had not read the previous books but this did quite well as a standalone novel. I did read a little bit about the previous books and they show how Ellen started off on Amherst Island at the age of 12 and the traveling that she did over the years and what led her to marrying Lucas. That is all very important to see the foundation that they had built based on their original home in on the island and how everything falling apart around them came to show how important the island becomes for their future. 

What an incredibly touching book! This book was about a mother’s love, surviving the most difficult of trials, and how hope can come from starting over. This beautiful story had a wonderful conclusion.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 

https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/
https://twitter.com/author_kate

BLOG TOUR - The Hostage

DESCRIPTION:

“You get us what we want. Or your wife dies. And we will make it hurt.”

Jerome Prentice is a good guy. Loyal to a fault, he always stays on the right side of the law.

But everything changes the night he is awoken by the sound of masked kidnappers entering his home. Holding him at gunpoint, they drag his beloved wife Alicia out of the house with a promise to kill her if he goes to the police. Their demand: betray the company he’s worked for his entire adult life.

They think he’ll do anything to save his wife. But they don’t know that they’re messing with the wrong man. Because Jerome might be a good guy. But betrayal doesn’t come easily to him. And he’s not a man who will go down without a fight.

What’s more, he will hunt the people who’ve taken Alicia to the ends of the earth. And if they’ve hurt even one hair on her head, he’s going to make them pay…

This utterly page-turning, jaw-dropping thriller is perfect for fans of Lee Child, David Baldacci and Mark Dawson.

BUY LINKS:

https://geni.us/B09DPZCZ2Nsocial

Audible:
UK: zpr.io/C9Y7JxMtkpH3
US: zpr.io/G2nPDjSvkMRA

https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-hostage-by-john-ryder-narrated-by-josh-wichard

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Hostage

Author:  John Ryder

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   313

Date of Publication:  November 25, 2021 

My Rating:   4 Stars

If desperate times call for desperate measures, then I'm free to act as desperately as I wish. These words by Shakespeare sum up this thrilling book by John Ryder. Jerome Prentice and his wife Alicia were accosted. However, they let Jerome go and kept Alicia. In fact, they kept her in stark fear. Why did they let Jerome go? 

The kidnappers are certain of one thing. Jerome will go to the ends of the earth to get Alicia back. They were right. Jerome may have been a law-abiding citizen his entire life, but that changes when Alicia was taken right before his eyes. 

The kidnapper's demands are murky, leading Jerome down many a dark path while he strives to get Alicia back safely. But, he follows the instructions the best he can until he has had enough. He will get Alicia back - and by any means necessary. Actually, from the outset, this is exactly what the kidnappers told Alicia. They said to her: "You sell your husband short. He's not one hundred percent the man you think he is. You may think he's lily-white, but his hands are far dirtier than you think. Than perhaps even he realizes. You and he have been deliberately selected."

Alicia is terrified. Jerome is terrified. Who are the kidnappers and what do they want? What do they mean when they say that Jerome is not the man Alicia thinks he is? What do they have in mind and why is it that this couple is part of their nefarious plans?

What a thrilling book! Imagine being woken from a deep sleep. Guns pointed at you. In this case, a gun pointed at Jerome. A gun pointed at Alicia. Instructions given at the outset, and that included no police involvement. Jerome became a desperate man. A man desperate to save his wife. A man desperate enough to take any action imagined or unimagined as long as it meant one day soon having Alicia in his arms again.

While this story was fast-paced with an uncertain conclusion, one thing rang clear - Jerome and Alicia loved each other beyond words - and it was that love that gave them strength as they found their way back to one another. Factor in their strong bond and the actions Jerome took, and this exciting story came to a thrilling conclusion.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John Ryder is a former farmworker and joiner. He’s turned his hand to many skills to put food on the table and clothes on his back. A life-long bibliophile, he eventually summoned the courage to try writing himself, and his Grant Fletcher novels have drawn inspiration from authors such as Lee Child, Tom Cain, Zoe Sharp and Matt Hilton. When it comes to future novels, he says he has more ideas than time to write them.

When not writing, John enjoys spending time with his son, reading and socialising with friends. A fanatic supporter of his local football team, he can often be found shouting encouragement to men much younger and fitter than he is.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnRyder101

Website: https://johnryderauthor.com/