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Archive for December, 2017

Detective Blanchett Mysteries

Her Final Watch
A Detective Blanchett Mystery Book 2
by Marguerite Ashton
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Speaking second-hand truths can be deadly …
Detective Lily Blanchette will stop at nothing to solve a murder. Her current
case involves the killing of an undercover cop working to bring down
the mob for prostitution and drugs.
But Lily’s usual laser-like focus on the case has been disrupted.
Two weeks earlier, she learned she was pregnant by her murderous husband
whom she’d killed in self-defense. Unsure whether to keep her baby or
place the child of this cruel man up for adoption, Lily keeps the
pregnancy a secret from her colleagues.
Under mounting pressure to solve the case, Lily arranges a sit-down with a
local mob boss only to find out her suspect is also wanted by them.
But before Lily can warn her team, she and her new partner, Jeremiah,
are shot at, and another body is found.
When she discovers Jeremiah has a connection with the underworld, she is
pulled into a conflict that swirls around the boss’s son who’s
hell-bent on revenge.
To add to the complexity of the situation, Lily learns that her victim
might still be alive if it wasn’t for opportunistic Assistant
District Attorney, Ibee Walters, who has a twisted vision of
justice.
As Lily gets closer to finding the killer, she unravels ugly secrets
that point to Ibee and Jeremiah – placing Lily’s life and her unborn
child in danger.
**On sale for .99 cents!**

My Review

4 stars

Detective Ariel Weeks is working undercover to being the mob down on charges of prostitution and drugs. But just before she is done she is discovered murdered. Lily gets the case and with her new partner Jeremiah Mills. But Lily is still shaken from learning of her pregnancy and discovering the ultimate betrayal of her husband.

She decides to have a meeting with the mob when she learns that her suspect is also someone the mob boss is looking for. But the more Lily learns the more she feels alone. Her partner has connections to the mob and Ariel may still be alive if not for Assistant District Attorney Ibee Walters.

I really liked Her Final Watch. Lily is shaken after her last case but has to get on with the new investigation. But this is not going to be a simple case when it is clear the mob bosses son is out for revenge. Plus Lily has a huge distraction with her pregnancy, should she keep the baby of a murderer?

With a great story that will keep you guessing, lots of twists and turns, and a strong female lead, I would say that Her Final Watch is a great mystery thriller. I loved every moment of it and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Excerpt for Her Final Watch

Chapter 1

December 10, 2015 4:13 p.m.

Detective Ariel Weeks stabbed at the small block of ice until it split into several pieces across the counter. She tossed the jagged cubes into the glass and made her client a drink.

In less than twenty-four hours, Ariel would no longer have to use the name Jasmine and keep men company to protect her cover. All she needed to do was make it through this last night, and she’d be allowed to be who she was; a mom just doing her job.

After gathering evidence and recording all the data she had, it would be hard to detach. Towards the end, she’d learned things she’d wished weren’t true, leaving her stomach in tattered knots.

Back at home, there were two reasons Ariel would never take on another undercover assignment.

Click.

Ariel ground her teeth as the door to Cabin D opened and closed. She could feel Mikey Surace, the mob boss’s son, staring at the backless white dress she wore at his request.

The man who smiled at the sight of blood was standing behind her, breathing heavily.

She turned and handed Mikey his drink. “Your gin and grapefruit.”

Mikey took the drink and pulled Ariel down on the bed next to him. His hand, smooth like velvet, traced over her dark brown skin, along the length of her arm and rested on her thigh. “I had a shitty day.” He loosened his tie, removed his gun and put it on the ottoman.

Ariel stole a glance at the weapon, thinking of ways to grab it before he did. Just in case. “Wanna talk about it?”

“I had my talk with Pop. He wants me to get married and have kids so I can take over as head of the family soon. He wants our family to be seen as more law-abiding than the other three families.”

“Nowadays, no one gets married to have a family. Would he accept a long engagement?”

“No way. My old man still believes in marrying now, ask questions later.” Mikey took a sip of his drink and sat it down on the nightstand table. “My father asked my mother to marry him on her seventeenth birthday.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a woman who’ll accept you for who you are, who won’t care about the lifestyle you lead, and who knows when not to ask questions about your business.”

“You always say the right things. Why won’t you let me take care of you?” he asked, planting a kiss on Ariel’s full lips. “This is my third time asking you to be with me.”

Ariel wanted to wipe off the lingering citrus taste from her mouth but didn’t out of fear. She had already been spotted by one of Surace’s men and couldn’t believe that she was still alive. Probably because Ariel, at any moment, could tell the boss things that the other person was doing, clearing herself from any suspicion and allowing her to keep her cover. Even that wasn’t a guarantee.

Drops of rain peppered the window facing out at the bare branches of a willow tree. Wind hissed against the cabin.

Ariel stared into Mikey’s almond-shaped eyes. The olive tint of his skin masked his fiery temper. Things were getting heavy and out of control for a first time U.C. like herself.

She undid the strap on her stilettos and let them drop to the floor. “Because your ex-girlfriend is in charge of my money and I need every penny. I wanna make my money and maybe one day get out. It’s a dream of mine to stop escorting and waiting tables at the club.”

“If you get with me, you won’t need money.” Mikey cupped Ariel’s chin and squeezed. “Why do you keep turning me down?”

“I’m not turning you down.” She pulled out of his grip and rubbed her chin. “I don’t want to ruin my friendship with your ex. She’s my bestie and the only one I can trust in this business.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“You’re a dangerous man.”

“I’m only dangerous to those who cross me.”

Ariel wanted to ask Mikey if he’d kill her but decided against it. It was best to redirect the conversation and talk about what he enjoyed the most. Him. “What’s it like to kill someone?”

Mikey pulled Ariel back on the bed and laid on top of her. “When I put my finger on the trigger, it’s like foreplay. With each pull of the trigger, that’s the build-up. Once my target is dead, I’m satisfied. For me, it’s a lot like sex.”

“Has anyone told you you’re crazy?”

“Yeah. They never lived to say it again.”

Promised Lies
A Detective Blanchett Mystery Book 1
Detective Lily Blanchette has a lot on her plate…
Her sister Celine has recently been murdered and her parents are on the
brink of divorce. Now she’s lead on a multiple murder
investigation.
Six months after Lily’s sister’s death, the bodies of two young women
are discovered. One look at the way the bodies have been posed and
Lily knows her sister’s killer is back.
And she’s determined to get him.
When Lily visits the family of victim Tanya O’Neal, she learns the woman
had arranged to meet a man going by the handle CtryGeek23 on the
social networking site Scatter.
Lily thinks finding the man behind the account is key to solving the
case.
But CtryGeek23 is very clever, and Lily has her work cut out for her. As
she digs around, clues point her to a local brewery where she
discovers the body of another young woman.
The more Lily digs, the more she thinks there is more than one murderer
at work, and CtryGeek23 is the mastermind.
But who is he?
And how will they catch him?
As the investigation comes to life, death hits closer to home, and Lily
discovers she may not be who she thinks she is at all.
Filled with plot turns, suspense and mystery, Promised Lies will leave you
wondering how well anybody knows anyone…
**On sale for .99 cents!**

 My Review

4 stars

Lily Blanchett wants nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of her detective father. But after the murder of her sister Celine, nothing is the same. Her parents are about to be divorced and Lily married a reporter that she barely knows. Then she gets the case of two girls that have been murdered in a similar way to her sister.

Lily starts looking into the deaths and comes across the online profile CtryGeek32. It seems that the killer has been using this profile to get the girls he murders. But the more Lily digs up, the more trouble she is in. It seems she is closer to the killer than she knows.

This was a great story with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Of course you have some seriously dark secrets and lots of drama on the job, at home, and with her family. Lily is hyper focused on the investigation and determined to bring justice to her sister’s killer.

This is a great mystery thriller that kept me engaged and has me curious about where Marguerite Ashton is going to take Lily in Her Final Watch.

Excerpt for Promised Lies

Lily leaned on the steering wheel and squinted at the tall figure in her headlights. She eased her foot off the gas pedal and watched as the figure dragged something off the road. “Did you see that?”

“It could’ve been road kill,” Morgan said.

Lily slowed down. She pulled the truck off to the side where she peered at an object lying on the pavement. “It’s a cellphone.” Throwing the gear into park, she hopped out.

“Wait a second. Let me call it in.”

Lily squatted down next to the cellphone.

Morgan came up next to her. “They’re sending out a car.”

Lily put her hand up. “Backlight’s going out. Phone was just used.” She stood and scanned the cornfield. “Someone’s out there and most likely in trouble.”

Lily’s heart raced as she ran back to her truck, collecting her gun and badge from underneath the seat. She placed her gun in her hip holster and clipped her badge on the opposite side onto her belt. “That wasn’t an animal.”

“You’re not going out there,” Morgan said.

Lily grabbed the flashlight from the side pocket on the door and sprinted over to spot where the figure had disappeared.

She turned on the flashlight and drew a circle using the light rays near her feet. “It looks like drag marks.”

“Back-up is coming. It’s dark. No way we’re going hunting in some damn cornfield.”

Lily sighed. Morgan was right, but whoever had been hauled off was in trouble and running out of time.

A piercing scream erupted in the distance. Lily took off toward the sound, using her flashlight and the dull glow from the city lights to guide her.

In a matter of seconds, her feet pounded the soft soil leading away from the safety of her truck.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw her partner running parallel with her, but staying closer to the road.

On the other side of the fence row, footsteps matched hers in beat as they trampled the pile of fallen leaves scattered among the field. Lily picked up her pace, running hard and fast, tussling with buck thorn branches as they swatted her face and throat.

Strings of hanging barb wire nipped at her clothes as she dodged several leaning fence posts. The chilling wind penetrated her torn clothing and lapped at the slits in the fabric on her thigh and calf.

A few seconds later, a prickly burn in her leg forced Lily to stop. It felt like thin shards of glass sliced into her raw flesh, imbedding themselves into the jagged gashes. She hiked up her pants leg and shined the light on the wounds. Those damn branches.

Lily’s chest heaved with exertion as disappointment overwhelmed her. The footsteps tapered off into the darkness. He was getting away. She fell to her knees and clutched her injured leg in agony.

Lily glanced over at the road. It was silent. And she was alone. Where did Morgan go? The terror that lay beneath her bold judgment to rescue someone had surfaced.

Then, several yards away, Lily saw an outline walking towards her. Instinctively, she reached back, gripping her nine millimeter, giving her the reassurance she still had control. “Stop! Police!”

The outline continued toward her.

Lily unfastened the holster and the person stopped, sheltered by the trees. She could tell by the masculine build it wasn’t Morgan.

“Get down on the ground and put your hands behind your head,” Lily demanded.

“Lily?” Morgan shouted, coming up from the rear.

Relieved to hear the voice of her best friend, Lily exhaled, but kept her eyes front, ready to pull her firearm and shoot if he dared to make one move in her direction.

As Morgan approached, the unidentified man turned and fled in the other direction.

“Are you all right?” Morgan offered her hand.

“Terrified.”

As Lily and Morgan made their way out to the road, they heard movement near the fence. Lily stopped, aimed her light and followed the beams over a pile of clothing, then upon a woman’s face.

The victim moaned and threw up her arm to shield her eyes from the light.

Morgan jogged over to the young lady and stooped next to her to ask a few questions.

Exhausted, Lily limped to a grassy patch and sat down. She could still see Morgan. For the moment, that was all that mattered.

Lily looked at the stretch of road she’d traveled on several occasions; one of those occasions jabbed at her memory like nails being pounded into hard recycled wood.

Celine’s funeral.

A snapping sound brought Lily out of her thoughts. She looked toward the hazard lights flashing on her truck and saw a yellow strip flapping in the wind a few feet away from her.

She rose, took a couple more steps, and squinted at the bold black lettering printed on the tape, which kickstarted her heart.

County Road K.

She was near the crime scene.

When Marguerite Ashton was in her twenties, she took up acting but
realized she preferred to work behind the camera, writing crime
fiction. A few years later, she married an IT Geek and settled down
with her role as wife, mom, and writer. Five kids later, she founded
the Crime Writer’s Panel and began working with former law
enforcement investigators to create; Criminal Lines Blog, an online
library for crime writers who need help with their book research.
She’s a workaholic who hides in her writer’s attic, plotting out her next
book and stalking Pinterest for the next avocado recipe.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Marguerite grew up in Colorado, but is
now happily living in Wisconsin and playing as much golf as possible.
She can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Guest Post

Tell us about a favorite character from a book.

One of my favorite characters is Detective Lily Blanchette in Promised Lies. She’s got a lot going on. So, I’d like to think about what a day in Lily’s life would be like if her life weren’t in so much chaos.

My main character Lily is a workaholic like her dad, Collin.  She works at a medium-sized police station in rural Wisconsin with her best friend and partner, Morgan. Between chasing leads—the coffee shop and McGinley’s Irish Pub is the local hangout for law enforcement professionals when they need to relax and blow off steam.

At home, she wakes up with her new husband. They are still getting to know each other’s personal spaces in their marriage. If her husband has time in his schedule, he tries to impress his wife with his culinary skills while she focuses on her latest remodeling idea for her Victorian home.

On Lily’s day off, she enjoys time with her dad, which is sometimes hard when their two schedules don’t match up. While enjoying their favorite pastime together, fishing along the banks of the Rock River, their conversation would be:

“Hey Dad, watch your pole you’ve got a nibbler.”

“Nah, the river is running fast near the bottom so it just looks like it. Crank up 2 reels off the bottom and you’ll see.”

“There’s more to the Bagdenol case. That wasn’t a suicide.”

“Lily, this is our time to relax our minds, and put a filet in the skillet for supper tonight.”

“Sometimes it’s hard to relax.”

“I understand. Just remember one thing, always go with your gut instinct. By the way, I agree with you about the Bagdenol case.”

“Thanks.” As Lily adjusted her fishing pole, she felt a firm tug. “Wait, get the net. I think I’ve got one.”

“Reel him in. I want fish tonight, not another meatloaf.”

Describe your writing style.

When writing my books, if an idea for another book hits me, I jot it down in one of my many notebooks. When it’s time to go over the notes, I talk it out with my husband. For the law enforcement side, I contact my cop friends to see if I can get away with the story line.

Sometimes I’ll be editing one manuscript, or working on the latest promo and the idea hits, and I write the scene. But it helps me to let it flow, then organize it later.

What are you passionate about these days?

The arts and becoming a foster mom for dogs until they find their forever home.

Advice they would give new authors?

Being a writer isn’t easy. Our job is to write every day and be prepared to repeat the process of creating a book over and over. My tip to writers is to give it your ALL.

A – Ask questions about yourself and your writing. Make sure that this is something you want to do.

L – Listen to the answers. Sometimes the reply is not what you’d expect or want to hear.

L- Learn from those answers. Then take the appropriate steps to master your art.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?  

When writing my books, if an Idea for another book hits me, I jot it down in one of my many notebooks.

When it’s time to go over the notes, I talk it out with my husband. For the law enforcement side, I contact my cop friends to see if I can get away with the story line.

Sometimes I can be editing one manuscript, or working on the latest promo and the idea hits, and I write the scene. But it helps me to let it flow, then organize it later.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book? 

It’s a process…Writing Her Final Watch was tricky. I had to find a way to work Lily’s pregnancy in the story and allow her to work in the field. That’s when I turned to my friends in law enforcement. They helped me understand what my heroine, could and couldn’t do. After I did my research, I put myself in Lily’s shoes and focused on what would be important to her. No matter how much she loved her job, her motherly instincts would kick in. And I think I’ve managed to find a balance between the two.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!

Addicted to avocados.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

For me, there was never that one moment. I had several. A lot of it had to do with my self-doubt as I tried to decide if I was making the right decision. My strong desire to write was something I felt from the inside. For me, I have to write every day. Even if it’s just making notes on another book or working on my blog.

If I miss more than a day, I start to get cranky.

The one thing that keeps me writing is David Baldacci. His story helped remind me that success can come with persistence and continual improvement.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

Coming up with a title for any of my books is a process. I’ve tried to make it easier, but I haven’t had any luck.

I write down the first words that come to my mind and start crossing out the ones that don’t work for me. If I run out of suggestions, I go to my husband or mentor. It took me three days to come up with Her Final Watch. Promised Lies took a year.

Who designed your book covers?

Endeavour Press designed Promised Lies and Her Final Watch. Judy Bullard is the designer for my YA mystery series.

Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, I do see writing as a career. It’s very important to me and the challenges that come along with it.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, I wouldn’t change anything. In fact, it kept me focused on what to write in my upcoming book, The Parolee.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead? 

Gabrielle Union as Detective Lily Blanchette.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers? 

I want to thank you for giving Detective Lily Blanchette a chance to invade your personal reading space.

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 Make sure to check out the giveaway for your chance to win a Swag Pack or a $10 Amazon Card
 I received  both Promised Lies and Her Final Watch from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of these books.

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Working Stiffs

37457861

Working Stiffs by Scott Bell

At a time when civil liberties have been eroded and unemployment has exceeded Great Depression levels, nanotechnology provides the ability to reanimate the recently dead. Far from zombies, but nothing like their former selves, “Revivants” are a ready source of cheap labor able to perform simple, routine tasks. Great news for some sectors, but for many, the economic and social impact is devastating.

Enter Joe Warren—an unemployed college dropout, who is self-absorbed and disinterested in the world’s problems. All Joe wants is a job, food on his table, and a cure for his girlfriend’s lingering illness. What Joe gets is a stint in jail with a bunch of self-proclaimed freedom fighters, and coerced to become an informant by federal government agents.

Joe is forced to examine his me-first attitude, and in the process learns that some things just might be worth fighting—or dying—for.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

 Scott  Bell

Author’s Bio

Scott Bell has over 25 years of experience protecting the assets of retail companies. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice from North Texas State University.

With the kids grown and time on his hands, Scott turned back to his first love—writing. His short stories have been published in The Western Online, Cast of Wonders, and in the anthology, Desolation and Person Suit. He has three new novels with three different publishers scheduled for release in 2016.

When he’s not writing, Scott is on the eternal quest to answer the question: What would John Wayne do?

Website     Facebook

My Review

5 Stars

The year is 2050 and the country has gone to hell. People are stuck in poverty, healthcare is failing badly, and a new company has created Revivants. Nanotechnology is created that will revive the dead to work as cheap labor further crumbling everything. Of course you have those that are filling to fight the government and run the risk of being turned into zombies. But this story is not about them.

Joe Warren is an unemployed, selfish jerk that only cares about himself. He tries his hand at robbery and finds himself wrapped up with Special Agent Ramirez that forces Joe to infiltrate The Children of Liberty and help bring them down. But when he gets into The Children of Liberty he is surprised by how everything is working. Now he has to decide if he is going to help them rebel or if he is going to help Ramirez take them down.

This book feels rough and is a bit all over the place. You have a dystopian story that is a little slow to draw you in. Or at least it was for me and I think that is because Joe just irritated the heck out of me. Worthless, lazy, self-centered, argh!!! Then we go off as the fighting starts and Joes has to figure out which side he wants to be on.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I liked the combining of genera’s and the use of zombies. I did like seeing Joe extract his head from his butt and start looking for more than just himself. This is a wonderful story and one that I would recommend checking out.

I received Working Stiffs from Red Adept Publishing for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Seekers

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Seekers (Mud, Rocks, and Trees – 2) by RA Denny

Killer monkeys lurk in the woods. Treacherous watchers skulk the underground tunnels. An evil emperor’s minions control the archipelago city.

Brina is proficient in archery. Moshoi skillfully wields the swords he crafts. Amanki has mastered sailing. But those skills aren’t enough. The three young adventurers must make choices. Choices that mean life or death. Choices with no safe answer.

The Society of the Word has given them tools: wise sayings, moral stories, mysterious prophecies. But their faith will be tested. Will the star guide them to their destiny or lead them to their doom? Who will survive?

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

 R.A. Denny

Author’s Bio

RA Denny is the author of the six book epic fantasy series:  Mud, Rocks, and Trees.   The first four novels in the series are available.  The last two are coming soon!  Get updates here.

While beginning her fantasy series, RA was a criminal prosecutor by day and escaped to the world of Tzoladia by night.  She left her day job as an attorney in 2015.  “Do what you love!”

She enjoys horseback riding, painting, inventing, writing, swimming, kayaking, cycling, reading, and traveling.  She has always been fascinated by ancient history and loves random useless information. RA Denny plays games of many kinds including tabletop games and thrashball (which is a blend of volleyball, tennis, and badminton).  Her two wonderful sons share her love of creative endeavors.

RA Denny grew up in Bethesda MD.  She graduated from University of Maryland College Park and Duke University School of Law.  As a trial attorney, prosecuting juveniles in court for more than 20 years, she was dedicated to eradicating abuse in its many forms.  In the mid-1990s she became interested in bullying prevention and was a pioneer in the movement to bring public awareness to the issue.   She authored numerous workbooks and directed a movie, Strings of Fear, to help prevent bullying.

R.A. would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact her about writing, blog inquiries, or random interesting things!

Website     Facebook

My Review

5 stars

We continue the quest of Amanki, Brina, and Moshoi. They are all told to “Bring the seals together in Tzoladia and you will learn their secrets.” The kids are on their separate paths with friends and family but are not just going to be able to simply meet up, assemble the seals, and save the world.

Amanki is with his friend Manhera in Tzolachia during the Harvest Festival of the Berserker. He leaves to find the priest Baskrod but when he returns Manhera and his seal are gone. Moshoi is with his brother Tuka in the underground city of Rhabdom. They discover that those supposed to protect the hibernating people have instead been killing them.

Finally we have Brina who is traveling with her friend Barque. She is still reeling from her banishment and she has no idea how she is going to get to Tzolchia. She is traveling to a new colony but is going to find herself in more trouble than she expected.

This is an amazing world and fantastic story. You have three people from such varied backgrounds on a supposedly simple quest to unite three seals. But there are forces working against them and just when you think things couldn’t get any worse, hang on they will.

This is a great story for younger teens through adults. There is a little bit for everyone and a clean read. There is a killer cliffhanger that will leave you screaming for the next book. I love the Mud, Rocks, and Trees series and can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on the next book.

I received Seekers from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Book Details:

Book Title: Twofer Murder by Lauren Carr
Category: Adult fiction, 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: November 17, 2017
Tour dates: Dec 4 to Jan 19, 2018
Content Rating: PG + M (Please be aware that TWOFER MURDER is a murder mystery. There are depictions of murder and some violence–though easy on the gore contents. No f-words but there may be some mild profanity, and mild religious expletives such as “damn”, “hell” and “Oh God!”. Some depictions of brief sexual content (kissing). No drug use or underage drinking among the protagonists.)

Book Description:

Twofer murder? What’s a twofer murder?

Twofer Murder is a treat for fans of best-selling author Lauren Carr’s fast-paced mysteries! Lauren’s latest novel contains the main characters from her three successful series: Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose mysteries. The guys go away for a fishing weekend only to get caught up in the murder of a journalist investigating fraud at a timber company. Meanwhile, the ladies are spending the weekend in the presidential suite at a posh resort where Jessica Faraday is to accept a lifetime achievement award for her late grandmother at a murder mystery writers conference. But before they have time to get their facials, they get wrapped up in their own real mystery when an up and coming author ends up dead!

Lauren Carr’s Twofer Murder is a 2-for-1—making it a must-read for any mystery fan!

To read more reviews, please visit Lauren Carr’s page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:
 
Watch the trailer:
Meet the Author:


Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

 

What are readers saying about Lauren Carr’s mysteries?

Guest Post

If You Want My Body …

By Lauren Carr

Writing is hard work. I’ve mentioned that before. Maybe not to you, but I certainly tell my family that a lot because to them it always looks like I’m playing around on my laptop.

It only looks like I’m goofing off watching all those puppy and kitten videos on YouTube. What I’m really doing is research.

So, after a long hard day of preparing for my Twofer Murder book tour with iReadsBook Tours, I really needed a break.

Now, you know how when you hear a tune on the radio and it keeps going through your mind over and over again? Well, the other day, that tune I had heard was:

If you want my body and you think I’m sexy, come on, Sugar, let me know …

So, after hours of being chained to my desk, writing one blog post and answering one interview question after another, I needed to cut loose … and I had this song going through my mind, which proved to be a dangerous combination.

With a sense of devil may care, I rose from my chair and made my way to the top of the stairs leading down to my husband’s study. I felt like Demi Moore in Striptease as I ripped open my blouse and dropped it to the floor. (Okay, maybe I didn’t actually rip it open.)

“If you want my body…” I sang at the top of my lungs while shedding one item of clothing after another on my way down the stairs to his study door.

“… and you think I’m sexy …”

I threw open the study door and strutted in wearing nothing but a smile!

“… come on, Sugar, let me know!”

The dogs flew out of the study like bats exiting hell.

I struck the sexiest pose possible for a middle-aged mystery writer, who doesn’t feel like cleaning up the kitchen.

My husband spun around in his chair. His jaw dropped open—so did the phone he talking on. “I’m on the phone!”

“Is now a bad time?” asked the guy on the other end of the line.

With a heavy sigh, I made my way back upstairs, gathering my clothes along the way—thanking God that it was not a Skype call my husband was on.

On the bright side, during dinner, my husband told me that the guy he was talking to had said I could go over to his house and serenade him anytime.

 

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Secrets

Secrets?
Stockholm Sleuth Series Book 2
by Christer Tholin
Genre: Mystery Crime Thriller

“Dammit!
She’d made a huge mistake. She’d never make it out of here – they
were going to kill her.”

In the crime novella SECRETS?, fledgling private investigator Elin
Bohlander takes on what looks like an easy assignment — at first:
to determine if her client’s boyfriend is having an affair with
another woman. To do this, Elin follows him to a secluded cabin in
the woods, where she soon discovers that what’s actually
transpiring is stranger than anyone thought. Having ventured too far,
she’s stumbled upon a hornet’s nest and put her life at risk. But
it’s too late. Can Elin win the unequal fight against a gang of
brutal child molesters?
SECRETS? is the second, standalone book from Christer Tholin’s
Stockholm Sleuth Series.
In the previous novel VANISHED?, Elin and her colleague Lars solve
their first case together.
If you like fast-paced action and
surprising twists and turns, then you will love Christer Tholin’s
sleuth series.
My Review
5 stars

Elin has worked for Secure Assist for two years with the promise that she would be trained to be an investigator. Her boss has shown no effort in training her but another investigator, Lars, has asked for her help. Elin finds herself looking into a boyfriend possibly cheating. Although she tells the woman that hired her that her boyfriend is not cheating on her, there is something that keeps her following him.

Elin then follows the boyfriend to a secluded cabin in the woods and what she sees there put’s her in harm’s way. It seems the boyfriend is part of a brutal child molesters that are willing to do anything to keep up their nightmarish games.

This is a quick read but really good. It does have some horrible scenes. But you will be kept on the edge of your seat hoping that Elin can stop these sick people. I loved Vanished and I am glad to see Elin take a more starring role in Secret. She shined in Vanished but here you can see that she has what it takes to be a good investigator.

This is a great story, even if it is short. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how it was going to end. I strongly recommend Secrets and the first book Vanished. I can’t wait to read the next book by Christer Tholin.

Excerpt from Secrets

Another day at the office went by with nothing special going on. But Elin was now on fire, and she constantly checked her mail in the hope of finding a new request, but there was nothing. It was enough to drive her insane! She so wanted another assignment, one that would truly challenge her—one that was even more interesting than Helena’s. Elin had driven to the cabin a third time and seen the men there, but since nothing new had come of it, she decided she was done with it.

Now back at her apartment, she had changed into something comfortable and eaten a snack. She was standing in the bathroom washing her hands when Maja came home.

“Elin!” Maja was screaming. The door to the apartment slammed shut. Maja’s bag made a loud noise as it landed in a corner, and her rapid footsteps could be heard crossing the living room floor. Elin hurriedly dried her hands. This was not at all like Maja, who was usually the image of calm itself. Something must have happened. Elin opened the door to see Maja standing before her, her hands on her hips. Her face was red; her breathing, quick and shallow. She stared at Elin, furious: “What have you done? Where did you go with my car?”

“Maja, calm down! What happened?”

“I will not calm down! I want to know where you went with my car. Damn it!” Her dark eyes flashed at Elin.

“Fine, no problem. I’ll tell you. Come on, let’s sit down.” Elin stepped toward Maja and tried to take her in her arms, but Maja pushed her away.

“What? I haven’t done anything to you. Whatever it is, I didn’t do it intentionally. What’s going on with the car? Is something broken?” Elin looked at her, distraught. She had never seen Maja like this before. Usually, it was Maja who had to calm Elin, not the other way around. “Come on, let me hold you in my arms. I love you.”

That seemed to work. Maja lowered her eyes, and her shoulders dropped. Elin put her arm around her and drew her close. What was going on? Maja was sobbing. She embraced Elin and held her tight. Her shoulders jerked, and she was howling like a hyena. God Almighty, this must really be bad. Maja seldom cried, and never this hard. Elin was getting seriously worried. What had happened here? After all, she had parked the car in the courtyard, and everything had been fine. Unless someone had tried to break in, but that would have happened later. And why did Maja think Elin was to blame? That wasn’t like her at all.

Gradually, the sobbing subsided. Elin led Maja into the living room and sat her down on the couch. Squatting down before her, she looked into her tear-filled eyes.

“Now tell me everything, and if I’m to blame, I’ll admit it right away. Promise! And I’ll formally apologize. But I honestly have no idea what could be wrong with your car. I borrowed it again the day before yesterday, but then I parked it in the courtyard, as usual. Everything was still fine at that point. I swear!” Elin raised her right hand.

The corner of Maja’s mouth twitched briefly into an unsuccessful smile. She dug around in her pants pocket, produced a tissue, and blew her nose. Then she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Luckily, she wasn’t wearing any makeup, or she would have looked even worse.

“I was attacked,” she finally gasped.

“What? Are you hurt?” Elin couldn’t believe it. Maja was extremely well trained—she could perform any self-defense move in her sleep. And what did this have to do with the car?

“No. They only threatened me.”

“That’s lucky.” Elin breathed a sigh of relief. At least, Maja was unharmed. “But who threatened you? Now please! Tell me the whole story from the beginning.” Elin gave her a penetrating look. “All right, Maja?”

Maja blew her nose once more and leaned back. “Yeah, OK. So I was walking out of the studio on my way to the underground. Since it was still so light out, I took the shortcut through the park. There was no one in sight other than that guy who’s been following me for the past few days. He was sitting on a bench in the middle of the park. I was trying to decide whether to turn around. But then I thought, ‘This is my chance to find out what this is all about,’ and I walked right up to him. He immediately stood up, and it was only then that I noticed he was wearing a mask. I wanted to go back right away, but when I turned around, there were three other guys standing before me, all with masks as well. I tried to escape to the right, but these guys already had a knife at my throat, and they were restraining me on all sides. Then they pulled me off the path and down into the bushes, and one of them whispered that I should keep my trap shut. I was sure they were going to rape me, and I was desperately trying to figure out how to break free. But then one of them—a tall guy, definitely over six feet—said that they just wanted to talk to me. I didn’t really believe that, but I waited to see what they would say.”

Elin stared at her, spellbound.

“I need something to drink,” Maja said.

Elin rose and went to the kitchen. She had an uneasy feeling for some reason. Four guys, of all things, and one of them very tall. That was surely no coincidence. But why?

Elin handed Maja a glass of water. Maja drank eagerly. “And what did they want?” asked Elin.

“They claimed I’d followed them in my car. And that they didn’t like having someone sneaking around behind them. This would be their first and final warning. If they saw either me or the car nearby again, our next meeting would proceed without a lot of talking. They said they’d make short shrift of me.” Maja had tears in her eyes again, and she let out several sobs. “I had to confirm that I understood. I obviously said yes. After that, one of them hit me in the stomach full force, and I blacked out. When I came to again, the four of them were gone.”

“God, how awful! I’m so sorry—I’m sure they were the same guys I was observing. I just don’t understand why they reacted so viciously. I’ve already put the whole thing to rest. Honestly, Maja, I didn’t want to pull you in. I’m sure it was me they were after.”

“Yeah, that much was clear to me by then. But did you go back to the cabin another time? You only told me about two surveillances. And the men didn’t see you at all, did they?”

“Well, yes, they did. The second time, they stopped briefly next to my—I mean, your car. I ducked right away, but they might have written down or photographed the license plate number. I’m sorry—that was my mistake. The first time, I did better and parked around the corner. I’m sure they didn’t see the car that time. Then the day before yesterday, I was there again for the third and last time because I just couldn’t get the whole business out of my head. I wanted to get through the surveillance quickly, so I drove the car down the dirt road to the fork where it turns off to the cabin. On their way back, they obviously drove by your car, but I was hoping they didn’t see it.”

Maja sighed. “But they did. Did you find anything out?”

“No, that’s why I put the whole thing to rest. The assignment is done. I just wanted to make sure one more time that nothing new had come up. But it was the same game as the other times: working together on their computers, four guys in two cars—nothing more.”

Maja was calmer now. Her breathing was steady again. “I’m sorry I lit into you earlier. It’s clear that it wasn’t your fault. I just needed to vent my frustrations on someone.”

“No problem. I probably deserved it, anyway. When I think of how they could have attacked me instead, then I know that I got off lightly with your tirade. But that should be a lesson to me: I’ll no longer use your car for detective work. I see now what comes of that. But tell me, can you describe these guys at all?”

Maja shook her head. “No. They all had on black masks, hoodies, jeans, and sneakers. The one who was following me earlier was wearing a brown parka, as usual—otherwise, I’m sure I never would have recognized him. And as I said, one of the other three guys was very tall. Aside from that, I didn’t notice anything special.”

Elin thought it over. “It fits in any case. I mean, who else could it be? I just don’t understand why they would make such a big deal out of it. If all they’re doing is playing harmless computer games, they wouldn’t have had such a violent reaction. Something about the whole thing stinks—I’ve had that feeling from the very beginning. Four guys who meet in secret in a secluded place several times a week … that can’t possibly be harmless.”

Maja sat up. “You’re not really thinking of pursuing this further, are you? To be honest, I’ve had enough. I can usually put up a good fight, but four men armed with knives—I’d rather not risk that again. And I can tell you: they meant what they said.”

Elin raised both hands in defense. “Stop worrying! Under no circumstances do I want anything to happen to you. But it bothers the hell out of me that they could get away with this intimidation act so easily. In my view, our best move would be to bring in the police. They’d definitely find something interesting here—if only I knew what it was.”

“Thanks, but I really have no interest in dealing with the police. You know how overworked they are. And since nothing serious happened to me, I can imagine what priority they would give this incident. Also, if these guys ever caught wind that the police were involved, they’d get in their heads to make good on their threat. I really don’t need that, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, I know. But this situation doesn’t exactly feel safe, either. I mean, how do we know that they’ll leave us in peace, even if we just lay low? Think about it. You run across one of these guys by chance. You don’t even recognize him, but he alerts the others, and there you are again with a knife at your throat.”

Maja looked at Elin in horror. “Do you have to be so graphic? I’ve got chills running down my spine.”

“Sorry.”

“You’re right, though. It’s still a risk. Let me see how I cope with it. Ask me again in a few days—maybe I’ll change my mind. But please do not do anything without my consent! This thing concerns me now, too. You can’t make the decisions on your own.”

“All right, Scout’s Honor. I’ll discuss everything with you beforehand.”

Elin could easily understand Maja’s point. And she would keep her promise. On the other hand, her detective instincts had been aroused, and she wondered what lay behind this thing. Just what sort of plot were they hatching in that cabin?

Elin rose and walked to the window. She looked down at the entryway to the house on the other side of the street. There was no one there.

“At least, they seem to have called off their surveillance. I don’t see anyone there.”

“Sounds good. That’s something, anyway.” Maja made no effort to check Elin’s observation but instead went straight to the kitchen. “I need to eat something now. And a glass of wine would also be good. Now that I think about it, more like several glasses.”

That was something Elin could fully endorse. Right now, a little normalcy and relaxation were just what they both needed.

 

Vanished?
Stockholm Sleuth Series Book 1
He could only hope he’d get out of here in one piece.”

To come to terms with his recent divorce, Martin, an attorney in Berlin,
plans a peaceful vacation – two weeks in a Swedish summer house
seem to be the solution. It won’t be peaceful, however, and those
two weeks will change his life forever. He takes a liking to Liv, a
Swedish woman whom he meets in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, they
don’t get to have their first date – Liv disappears under
mysterious circumstances. Martin begins his search but soon realizes
he can’t find Liv in a foreign country by himself. He hires two
private investigators, and their discoveries make everything seem
even stranger.
The complexities in this suspenseful criminal case lead to a hunt across
Sweden. Martin comes close to finding answers, but his search lands
him in very real danger, eventually leading to the first deaths. Soon
he‘s wondering if he can get Liv and himself out of this situation
alive.
 My Review
4 stars

Martin is an attorney in Berlin and has recently finalized his divorce. He decides to go on vacation in Sweden to help get over the divorce. He happens to run into a beautiful lady, Liv a couple times and he invites him over to her house for tea. But when he gets there she is gone and it is clear that there was a struggle involved.

Martin tries to go to the police but it seems that they don’t really care about Liv. Martin then decides to investigate himself. The only problem is that he doesn’t speak Swedish and ends up hiring Lard and Elin to look into the disappearance of Liv.

This is a great introduction to a new Swedish mystery series. There is so much happening that you will be kept guessing at what is really going on. It was so easy to get into this story. Martin is trying to get over his divorce even though him and his wife have been apart for two years. His meetings with Liv started innocently enough but he finds himself in trouble soon enough.

I really enjoyed Elin. She is trying to become an investigator and this is a great case to get her feet wet. She quickly shines in her role. I really enjoyed this story. I think it is a great start to a new Swedish mystery and can’t wait to see what is going to happen to Lars and Elin next.

The author grew up in the North of Germany, Schleswig-Holstein. Today, he
lives together with his family in Stockholm, Sweden, where he works
as management consultant.


Already for ages he has been a great fan of crime stories and therefore, had
the desire to write his own crime story with the characters acting in
Sweden. This crime-fiction is now available under the title
“Vanished?”.
The crime novel starts at a slower pace – like Martin’s holidays, but the
tension goes up more and more. It comes to a number of surprising
turns giving new impulses to the story. Apart from that, the lovely
country Sweden is described with the view of a foreigner.
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!
 I received both Vanished and Secrets from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of these books.

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Murder and More

29748751

Murder and More (Carson Reno Mystery Series – 14) by Gerald Darnell

Carson’s feud with a local crime reporter continues, and then suddenly the husband of his client is brutally murdered – a husband he’s been hired to investigate. Mysterious characters weave a web of blackmail and suspense, while leaving Carson with more clients than he can handle.

The Memphis police have warned Carson to back off, but an employee of a friend is missing from a murder scene and he’s determined to find her and the killer.

Follow Carson to New Orleans, Humboldt, Memphis and Florida where he chases numerous suspects trying to track down a missing person and the killer he’s been hired to find.

Enjoy this unusual adventure for Carson Reno, as he struggles to solve the case of ‘Murder and More’.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

Gerald W. Darnell 

Author’s Bio

A Florida native, Gerald grew up and attended high school in the small town of Humboldt, Tennessee. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee, he spent time in Hopkinsville, KY, Memphis, TN, Boston, MA and Newport, AR before moving back to Florida – where he now lives.

Gerald worked as a Senior Manager with several Fortune 100 companies, before officially retiring in 2007. His non-fiction book, ‘Don’t Wake Me Until It’s Time To Go’, is a bio-narrative including humorous stories and events spanning his life from pre-high school to retirement.

His fiction books are what he calls ‘Fiction for Fun’. They use real geography and include pictures and characters some readers might recognize. The ‘Carson Reno Mystery Series’ are adventure mysteries set in the early 1960 time period, with the primary geography being Memphis and small southern towns. Core characters continue through each book, along with new and unique characters for each story.

During the early 70’s the author worked from an office in the Memphis Peabody Hotel, so many of the events about the hotel in Carson Reno’s stories are real, as well as many of the characters you meet.

His books are available at selected bookstores, gift shops, on-line and through Amazon and Barnes and Noble . e-books are available at Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook formats.

Website

My Review

5 stars

Dr. Henry Beaumont is a well-known surgeon and has been married to his wife Ava for ten years. But Henry is not faithful to his wife and has been seeing Olivia Hartley. Ava suspects something is up and hires private detective Donovan Tanner to dig up some dirt on Henry that she could use in her divorce. But Donovan finds some really good dirt and decides to blackmail Ava. Ava then turns to Carson Reno to deliver the blackmail money and get the documents. Unfortunately things go sideways and Carson ends up investigating who killed Henry.

This is the first book from Gerald Darnell that I have read but it will not be my last. This is a great mystery based in the 60’s that rings true with classic private detective stories. I loved the pictures scattered through the book to give it that classic 60’s feel. The description in this world makes it easy to find yourself right there with Carson as he is chasing down a murderer.

This is a great mystery with a classic detective feel. You have intrigue, mystery, killers, and a good looking dame. I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to go back and catch up on this series. I recommend checking out this book.

I received Murder and More from Ari at Candid Book Reviews for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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One Red Bastard

One Red Bastard

by Ed Lin

on Tour November 20 – December 31, 2017

Synopsis:

One Red Bastard by Ed Lin

It’s the fall of 1976, and New York’s Chinatown is in turmoil over news that Mao’s daughter is seeking asylum in the U.S. Robert Chow is a detective in training, and he is thrilled when his girlfriend Lonnie scores an interview with the Chinese representative of Mao’s daughter. But hours after the interview, the man is found dead. Lonnie, the last person to see him alive, is the main suspect.

As Lonnie is subjected to increasing amounts of intimidation from his fellow policemen, who want to close the case, Robert is tempted to reach into his own bag of dirty tricks. Will he stay on the right side of the law, or will his loyalty to Lonnie get the better of him? Find out in this exciting and fast-paced mystery set in one of New York’s most fascinating neighborhoods.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Witness Impulse
Publication Date: November 21st 2017
Number of Pages:
ISBN: 0062444204 (ISBN13: 9780062444202)
Series: Detective Robert Chow #3
Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

Read an excerpt:

The woman was standing in a pool of wet ashes, her hands at her sides. She was about five seven but that was with heels on. Her thick black hair cascaded over her ears and shoulders, and she did something to it to make it shiny. A light brown coat stopped above a skirt that stopped midway down two taut thighs in stockings with a dull glow.

I smirked because I was sure that she had spent some time thinking about how she wanted to look from the rear. To men.

But this was no time for amusement. I came in close to her forehead and growled under my breath, “Barbara, what the hell are you doing here!”

When she turned around I saw my head and torso in her two black, sparkling eyes. Her face was long and not too narrow and came down to a chin that fairy princesses had. Her red lips, usually curved like a little blossom, were pulled taut into a wide smile.

She grabbed my arm and said, “Robert!”

“This is a crime scene! Now let’s get out of this thing!”

“I’m so sorry!”

She continued to hold on to me as we stepped over the tape together, matching leg for leg. I had lost part of my mind in Nam, but she had lost a lot more. Barbara used to be the prettiest girl in Chinatown. Now she was its prettiest widow.

“You know anything about the fire, Barbara?” I looked into her face. There was lightning behind her dark eyes.

“No. I don’t. Can we stop whispering now?”

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter at this point,” I said in full voice.

“Look, I didn’t mean any harm. I just had to see the place up close. Artie Yee published my first story, back when I was in grade school.”

“I didn’t know about that.”

“I brought it into school to show everybody. Don’t you remember?”

“How am I supposed to remember that one thing? You always had something to show off in school. If it wasn’t a story you wrote, it’d be a story about you.”

She snorted.

“Did you stay in touch with Artie over the years?” I asked.

“I’d run into him from time to time.”

“Were the two of you friends?”

“Oh, no, no. I learned to keep my distance from that one. Did you know that he asked me to marry him when I turned eighteen?”

“He wasn’t much better looking back then, was he?”

“He looked like a younger walrus.”

“You’re not enemies with Artie, though, are you?”

“I’m not one of them, but he has many enemies,” she said. “You know that.”

“He did his part in pissing off all areas of Chinatown.”

“Artie doesn’t respect authority. That’s a good thing for a journalist.”

“Then how come you didn’t keep writing for him?”

“Artie doesn’t respect women.” She shivered and then slapped my arm. “I heard Paul got into that program at Columbia.”

“Thanks to you,” I said.

“Thanks in part to me, anyway.” She paused. “Doesn’t that mean you’ll take me to dinner?”

“Maybe Paul should.”

“Get serious. Actually, maybe Paul should come and meet my youngest sister. You know she’s up at Columbia because she got into Barnard early. Maybe she should stick to Chinatown boys, like I should have.”

“Hey, Barbara, let’s talk about this later. I have to get back to work here.”

“You’re going to call me?”

“I’ll get in touch.”

She walked off and I returned to my post.

Years ago, Barbara and her three younger sisters were the four little princesses of Chinatown. She liked to say that her parents never did get that son, but the truth was her parents learned to love all their daughters to death. They all had beauty and smarts, and because of that you knew they’d get out of Chinatown and never come back.

But Barbara did return after her husband was killed in Khe Sanh. The oldest, the prettiest, and the smartest of the sisters, she moved back alone into their old family home to find some comfort, I guess.

There was a brief period when I thought she was the love of my life, but it was a while ago and it ended embarrassingly enough. Thinking about it again put me in a bad mood.

“Hello Sunshine,” said Vandyne.

“It was Barbara,” I said.

“Oh! What the hell was she doing there?”

“She wanted to see the place up close. Artie published one of her stories back when she was a smart, little girl.”

“Seriously, though, could she have had anything at all to do with this?”

“Her? No way, man!”

“Do you know that for sure?”

“Yes,” I said. “I would bet my soul on it.”

***

Excerpt from One Red Bastard by Ed Lin. Copyright © 2017 by Ed Lin. Reproduced with permission from Witness Impulse. All rights reserved.

 

Ed Lin

Ed Lin:

Ed Lin, a native New Yorker of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards and is an all-around standup kinda guy. His books include Waylaid and This Is a Bust, both published by Kaya Press in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Snakes Can’t Run and One Red Bastard, which both continue the story of Robert Chow set in This Is a Bust, were published by Minotaur Books. His latest book, Ghost Month, a Taipei-based mystery, was published by Soho Crime in July 2014. Lin lives in Brooklyn with his wife, actress Cindy Cheung, and son.

Catch Up With Our Author On:
Website 🔗, Goodreads 🔗, Twitter 🔗, & Facebook 🔗!

My Review

4 stars

This story takes place in Chinatown in New York City in the 1976, which I know nothing about. Mao’s daughter is seeking asylum in New York. Chow’s girlfriend Lonnie is journalist and has the opportunity to interview the daughter’s representative. But when he turns up dead Lonnie becomes a suspect since she was the last person seen with him. Chow has been ordered to stay away from this case but he can’t idly stand by with his girlfriend as a suspect.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book of Ed Lin’s that I have a read and I really enjoyed it. I did not realize the political tensions around that time period and I learned a lot just from reading this book. This also adds another dimension to the story because of Chow’s heritage, his partner, and so much more. The mystery portion had me guessing until the end with several twists and turns.

If you are looking for a good mystery set in New York in the 1970’s look no further. This is a great story and one that any mystery lover will enjoy.

I received One Red Bastard from Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

Tour Participants:

https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=282071

Giveaway:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Ed Lin and Witness Impulse. There will be 5 winners of one (1) small incense box with a Chinese opera mask. The giveaway begins on November 20th and runs through December 30, 2017.

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Fairy Wishes 1-2-3

Fairy Wishes 1-2-3
by Michele Barrow-Belisle
Genre: Children’s Fantasy Picture Book
A tale of two little fairies of different ethnicities, backgrounds and
environments, who are envious of the things the other gets to do…from
catching shooting stars to playing the guitar.
They decide to trade places, but soon realize that being someone else
isn’t as much fun as they thought. The girls quickly discover the
importance of just being themselves.
**.99 on Amazon!!
My Review
5 stars

Two little fairies meet and would rather live the life of the other. The house fairy would rather fly high but the forest fairy would rather have a house over head. The two decide to make a fairy wish and change places. But they find not everything is as simple as you first see.

This is a wonderful story about two fairies that think the grass is greener on the other side of the lawn. But then they realize that there are other responsibilities than just flight or roofs. This story is beautifully illustrated and has a good moral to it.

This is a wonderful story and I think that anyone that loves fairies and thinks things are always easier for someone else. This is a great story and one that should be on everyone’s shelves.

I received Fairy Wishes 1-2-3 from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

A dreamer at heart, Michele Barrow-Belisle has always lived with one
foot in this reality and one foot in another, one of her own
imagining. So it follows that she would grow up to write about and
sculpt the characters from those enchanting worlds she knows and
loves so well. As a fan of everything romantic, her young adult
novels are populated with witches and vampires and faeries. Michele
resides in southern Canada with her hubby and son who indulge her
passions for writing, reading, lattes, and most of all
chocolate.
She also loves shoes.
Did we mention the chocolate?
 Sign up here for your chance to win a signed hard copy of Fairy Wishes 1-2-3
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

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Four Corners

Four Corners
Four Corners Trilogy Book 1
by Kristin Durfee
Genre: YA Fantasy
Levi always knew he was different. The
fact that he could smash a light bulb without touching it was only
one clue, but he’s about to find out how special he really
is…
Sought after by those in a magical land, he meets Aura,
Queen of Esotera. Her kingdom is in trouble and he’s the only one
who can help. But the powerful sorcerer who cursed Esotera will not
give up easily. A collision of magic and fates, sealed long ago, will
catapult the two into a race to save Aura’s kingdom. Will they make
it in time, or will they lose everything they love, and possibly both
their lives?
**.99 from Nov 22 – Dec 6th!!**
My Review
5 stars

Aura is the ruler of the kingdom of Esotera. But there is a curse on the kingdom that only the true heir can break. That heir is Levi, who is in a parallel world of modern conveniences. Levi has had trouble and is down on his luck when a strange man tells him about a parallel world of magic and fantasy creatures. Back in Esotera, it is up to Levi and Aura to fight together to break the curse and save Esotera.

I really enjoyed this story. Parallel worlds, magic, mythical creatures, and a great bad guy. You can’t go wrong. Aura learns of the curse that her father received after an encounter with the wizard Winester. Things are looking bleak when she hears of Levi and how he could help Esotera.

Levi has just kicked out of another school and been told by his parents that they expect him to move out and get a job. He meets a strange man that takes him to Esotera. There he meets Aura and tries to help her save Esotera. The fight doesn’t always come out the way they planned but they have to keep fighting if they plan on breaking the curse.

This is a great story and the first in a trilogy. Then ending was a great way to wrap everything up yet leave you wanting to know what happens NOW.

Two Worlds
Four Corners Trilogy Book 2
Four years after his adventures in
Esotera, Levi’s life is unrecognizable. Now an accomplished author
for his “fantasy” story Saving Esotera, a visit from someone he
never expected to see again has put his new future in jeopardy.
Esotera again needs his help. Familiar faces, along with some new
ones, greet him upon his return, but it’s not all happy
homecomings. A threat from their past is rising to power.
Will Levi, Aura, and the rest of our heroes be able to defeat their
enemies once and for all? Or will it not just be Esotera at stake,
this time, but the world as well?
**.99 from Nov 22 – Dec 6th!!**
 My Review
5 stars

It has been several years since Levi killed Lady Grustmiener. He has become a famous author with his story Saving Esotera. He is rather surprised to learn that Emily has been kidnapped and Lady Grustmiener is alive and planning on taking over the Four Corners and Earth. Levi is going to have to go back and fight with Aura and several others to keep the worlds safe.

I loved coming back to Esotera and meeting all the new people and coming back to those I just left, I was lucky enough to be able to read book one and two back to back. It’s heartbreaking to see those that have suffered from the last war. No one knows how to react to them so they have made their own area away from others. But things are not any better for those from Earth. They have their own issues and decide to step up to stop Lady Grustmiener.

I loved the continuation of this series. You are reunited with old friends, meet new friends and enemies, and lose people on both sides. This book just sucks you in like quicksand and leaves you rushing to the next page. Of course then ending is going to leave you confused and wanting to stop the inevitable from happening.

I can’t wait to see how this series is going to be wrapped up in book three.

Kristin Durfee grew up outside of
Philadelphia where an initial struggle with reading blossomed into a
love and passion for the written word.
She has also been
a writer since a very young age, writing short stories and poems,
though now is focusing on longer works. She is currently working on
several short stories and a novel for adults.
Kristin
currently resides outside of Orlando, FL, and when not enjoying the
theme parks or Florida sun, she spends most of her time with her
husband, son, and their quirky dogs.
She is a member of the
Florida Writers Association.
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 I received Four Corners and Two Worlds from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of these books.

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Close to Me

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Close to Me by Amanda Reynolds

Close To Me is a gripping debut psychological drama that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty’s bestselling The Husband’s Secret, Clare Mackintosh’s I Let You Go, and Linda Green’s While My Eyes Were Closed.

She can’t remember the last year. Her husband wants to keep it that way.

When Jo Harding falls down the stairs at home, she wakes up in hospital with partial amnesia-she’s lost a whole year of memories. A lot can happen in a year. Was Jo having an affair? Lying to her family? Starting a new life?

She can’t remember what she did-or what happened the night she fell. But she’s beginning to realise she might not be as good a wife and mother as she thought.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

 Amanda  Reynolds

Author’s Bio

Amanda Reynolds is an author and creative writing tutor. Her debut novel, published 2017 by Wildfire (a new imprint of Headline) as their first fiction title, is Close To Me.

Close To Me will also be published in the US, Russia, France and Italy and has been optioned for TV.

Amanda lives in the Cotswolds with her family and two very furry dogs.

She has worked as a goat milker, a teaching assistant and a sales trainer. More recently she was the book reviewer for The Cheltonian and taught regular creative writing classes and workshops.

She now writes full-time, taking a sabbatical from teaching to write her second book, due out in 2018.

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My Review

3 Stars

Jo Harding wakes up in the hospital and learns that she can’t remember the last year of her life. He husband, Rob tells her that she fell down the stairs but something seems strange to her. When she asks Rob or her children about events they are evasive in their answers. But the more Jo digs into the last year the more she learns that things were not as wonderful as she thought.

There are two timelines to this story. We follow along with Jo as she tries to remember the last year of her life. You are kept questing at what happened along with Jo as she keeps going in circles to figure out what happened. We also go through events prior to the injury and learn that this family is messed up, has secrets, and is nowhere near the great family they are trying to be.

I had a hard time with this story. I didn’t like any of the characters, it felt like Jo just kept going around and around and around with the same stuff, and the family drama did nothing for me. Now, just because I didn’t like the story doesn’t mean that it won’t appeal to someone. If you like the stories with family drama, spoiled kids, and infidelity I think you may find this a great story.

As for me, even the mystery portion was not enough to keep me interested. I think this is one of those books that will be either you like it or you don’t. Definitely give it a try, Amanda Reynolds may be your new favorite author.

I received Close to Me from Quercus for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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