Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” —Groucho Marx

Friday, November 29, 2013

A Criminal Defense by Steven Gore...a Review

Good Morning Peeps and fellow readers!   Did you all enjoy your Thanksgiving yesterday?   Thirty three years ago yesterday, I gave birth to my darling daughter...Happy Birthday Amanda!  There was no mystery at all about that event.   She was 2 lbs heavier than her beautiful brother and by the time it was time to push, it was a dry birth and I was exhausted!   And if it hadn't been for her father, she probably would have been born at home as I was sure it was false labor.   There's always a story, isn't there?

I have a review for you today and we'll start as usual with a synopsis from Goodreads:

Betrayal wounds.Revenge destroys.

Over three decades, Hamlin's practice devolved into just another racket: intimidating witnesses, suborning perjury, destroying evidence, laundering money. But is he the victim of murder—or of a dangerous sexual encounter gone wrong? And when law enforcement believes justice has already been done, who can be trusted to find out?

Once again in the city where his career came to a shattering end, former detective Harlan Donnally resolved it wouldn't be him. He had no desire to immerse himself in the deceit that was Hamlin's career . . . nor entangle himself in the corrupted loyalties that turned the dead lawyer's associates into both co-conspirators and suspects . . . nor make himself the proxy for the hatreds and betrayals Hamlin left behind.

But the presiding judge demanded otherwise—and that might cost Donnally his life.

From My Perspective:

This was my first read of Steven Gore and  therefore my first Harlan Donnally read.   It was definitely a well plotted mystery as I was clueless until into the last 100 pages or so.  The writing was intense and a bit overwhelming with the number of characters introduced.

I felt the writer presented those of less than ethical character well.  I didn't feel that same representation for Donnally's character.   Other than I perceived he was ethical and faithful to his girlfriend.   I just didn't feel he came across as strong as the bad guy.  

I did enjoy the novel, once things started to be narrowing down to who had actually committed the murders and why.


I will definitely try another Harlan Donnally novel to see if I get a better sense of the main character.

I rated this a three wink read.


Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Reunion by Dan Walsh....a review

 Good Morning Friends.    Today, I am pleased to bring you a review of Dan Walsh's, The Reunion.   As always, we'll start with the synopsis from GoodReads.

Synopsis:

There are people in this world we pass right by without giving a second thought. They are almost invisible. Yet some of them have amazing stories to tell, if we'd only take the time to listen . . . 
Aaron Miller was an old, worn-out Vietnam vet, a handyman in a trailer park. Forty years prior, he saved the lives of three young men in the field only to come home from the war and lose everything. But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Aaron is about to be found. And the one who finds him just might find the love of his life as well. 
Expert storyteller Dan Walsh pens a new tale filled with the things his fans have come to love--forgiveness, redemption, love, and that certain bittersweet quality that few authors ever truly master. Fans old and new will find themselves drawn into this latest story about how God cares for everyone.

Meet Dan Walsh:

(also from GoodReads)
 Dan Walsh's debut novel, The Unfinished Gift, rec'd a 4.5 Stars/Top Pick rating from RT Book Reviews and won 2 Carol Awards. It continues to be an Amazon bestseller during the Christmas season 4 years later. 

With the sequel, The Homecoming, book reviewers began to liken his writing to NY Times bestselling author, Nicholas Sparks. Dan's 3rd novel, The Deepest Waters, earned his 3rd Carol Award for Best Short Historical. His 4th novel, Remembering Christmas became his first bestseller. 

Since then, Dan has written 4 more novels. The Discovery and The Reunion were both finalists for RT's Inspirational Book of the Year. The Reunion has also been optioned for a movie by a Hallmark producer.

The other 2 novels, The Dance and The Promise, are co-authored with Gary Smalley, part of a 4-book series. The Dance has already become a CBA and an ECPA Bestseller.

Dan lives in the Daytona Beach area with his wife, Cindi, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. They've been married for 36 years and have 2 grown children and 1 grandson.

From My Perspective:

I could be no happier.   I love to sit down with a good book and read to my heart's content.  Dan Walsh has written a beautiful story about a VietNam war veteran that is touching and satisfying.  I am so thankful that I read it.  His is a book that just reaches out and hugs the reader!

I was a little concerned with the number of characters I was meeting as I read and thought I might have trouble keeping track of them.  But it soon became clear who each and every one of them were and what their importance to the story was.  Aaron Miller was the main character and he had at one time been a man bent on self destruction.   He was an ordinary man who worked as a handyman at a trailer park.   He was friendly, but mainly kept to himself unless he felt prompted by God to help an individual in the park.   He was quiet and preferred not to be in the limelight...a very private man.

He also had won the medal of honor for his service in the marines, which Dave Russo hoped to write about in his book about VietNam Heroes; those who had been overlooked.   For Dave, it was a mystery as to where Aaron Miller might be.  Since Dave's own father had been killed in VietNam when he was a toddler, meeting Aaron had special meaning to Dave.    Reuniting Aaron with war buddies and family also became a beautiful challenge for Dave.

This writing is definitely Christian themed book; it says much about the folks we encounter each day.
What do we really know about their trials and tribulations?   How is what we see different from how God sees us individually?  It was written beautifully and I fell in love with these beautiful characters and their lives.   I'm rating this book  5 WINKS as I loved it.   Books that make me feel...it's what I love!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.  I did purchase this book myself.



Monday, November 25, 2013

The Bargain by Christine Feldman--a review

Greetings my Peeps!   Hope you are having a wonderful day today!
I want to share a review of The Bargain today.   I was excited to read this short romance and I am rating  it 5 WINKS.   We'll start with the synopsis from GoodReads:

Tomboy Shannon Mahoney has always been a lot more comfortable with power tools than high heels or lipstick, and she wishes she could reinvent herself and finally tell her perfect boss, Drew Kingston, she has had a crush on him since high school. But she is just as tongue-tied and awkward around him now as she ever was, and long-familiar patterns are hard things from which to break free…

Ladies’ man Michael is a former bad boy looking for redemption. He is desperate to atone for past mistakes that he made with his family, but younger brother Drew has cut him out of his life and refuses to even speak to him. Which means Michael needs help getting to Drew.

And so he approaches Shannon with a proposition: If she will get Drew to agree to hear him out, Michael will mentor Shannon in how to win his brother’s heart. Suspicious of Michael’s motives, Shannon initially enters into the bargain just to make sure Michael isn’t actually in town to cause trouble for Drew, but the two unlikely allies are surprised to discover they enjoy each other’s company far more than either expected.

Shannon starts to realize that maybe love isn’t about reinventing yourself after all. It’s about finding your perfect match.


From My Perspective:

This was a one sitting read and a most enjoyable romance.    The characters were quite human, flawed by their own beliefs of themselves, and able to grow and overcome their limitations.   Always having been attracted to bad boys myself, I absolutely enjoyed Michael's character and secretly hoped he would win the heart of our heroine, Shannon.

I find Christine Feldman's writing style to be quite refreshing as the stories she creates are clean romances and allow the reader's mind to fill in were it necessary.   I liked the premise and the storyline.    I liked that although Shannon was a "nice" girl and everyone wanted to protect her, she was willing to go out on the "proverbial limb" and take a chance.   

This was definitely a very enjoyable read.

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Just Add Spice by Carol E Wyer...a Review and Giveaway

Just Add Spice by Carol Wyer

Just Add Spice by Carol Wyer on Tour November 2013

 
Book DetailsGenre: Romantic Comedy Published by: Safkhet Soul Publication Date: 25th July 2013 Number of Pages: 184 NOTE: Explicit sexual scenes Purchase Links:    

Synopsis:

Escape from reality comes in patent-leather Prada kneeboots Dawn Ellis needs to escape from her painfully dull existence. Her unemployed husband spends all day complaining about life, moping around, or fixing lawnmowers on her kitchen table. The local writing class proves to be an adequate distraction with its eccentric collection of wannabe authors and, of course, the enigmatic Jason, who soon shows a romantic interest in her. Dawn pours her inner frustrations into her first novel about the extraordinary exploits of Cinnamon Knight, an avenging angel -- a woman who doesn't believe in following the rules. Cinnamon is ruthless and wanton, inflicting suffering on any man who warrants it. Little does Dawn realise that soon the line between reality and fiction will blur. Her own life will be transformed, and those close to her will pay the price.

Read an excerpt:

Cinnamon Knight ground the stub of her Benson and Hedges’ cigarette into the pavement with the heel of her Prada leather motorcycle boot, where it now joined a small pile of tab ends. Strategically placed in a shop doorway, she watched the top left window of a block of flats opposite. She had been there almost two hours. Rain beat steadily on the pavement, drumming against the gutter with constant thuds, but this did not deter her. Her patience was rewarded as the light blazing from the window was finally extinguished. She sauntered across the road to the BMW parked in front of the block of flats along the kerbside, sandwiched between a Peugeot 205 and a C Class Mercedes. Dressed completely in black, face partially obscured by her North Face hooded jacket; she was almost invisible next to the dark car. It took only a minute to fiddle with the lock, open the door, and slide into the car. She lowered herself down in the driver’s seat, casting a cursory glance out of the window. The streets were empty. The weather was on her side and no one was braving the downpour, not even the old man at the end of the road who rarely missed taking his dog out for an evening stroll. She leant forward and pulled off the cover below the steering wheel with one deft movement. Extracting the screwdriver from a neat case, she stabbed it into the ignition lock. A quick fiddle, one sharp twist, and the car burst into life; the persistent thudding of the rain against the pavement hid the initial coughing of the engine. She pulled away from the kerb swiftly and headed up the road at speed. Pushing the hood away from her head, she checked her face in the rear-view mirror. That’ll teach him to mess about with women, she thought. No one, but no one, messes about with Cinnamon—the rat!
 

Author Bio:

Carol E. Wyer is an award winning author whose humorous novels take a light-hearted look at getting older and encourage others to age disgracefully. Her best-selling debut novel 'Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines' won five awards for humour. 'Surfing in Stilettos' which follows the further adventures of Amanda Wilson as she attempts to inject some fun into her life, was a Costa Award nominee. Safkhet Publishing released 'How Not to Murder Your Grumpy' June 1st 2012, the first of three books in a 'Grumpy' series. Carol has featured on numerous shows discussing 'Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully'. She has had articles published in national magazines such as Woman's Weekly' and on-line magazines. She writes regularly for The Huffington Post and author website Indies Unlimited. She is a signed author with ThornBerry Publishing and Safkhet Publishing. facebook_512 twitter_512 rss_512

Tour Host Participants:

From My Perspective:

This was my first read of author Carol E Wyer and it was most enjoyable.    I read Just Add Spice in one day...Woo Hoo!  I love a fun fast read.I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of the book.   Dawn Ellis was your everyday housewife whose life was invested in raising her son, caring for the home, preparing meals for the much too involved husband with his work.   But as always happens, the kid grew up and was leaving home.   As sometimes happens, the husband found other avenues of interest and grew apart from his wife.   Dawn had grown her own interests as well; she was taking a writing class in hopes of writing a novel.  Wanting to really connect with her main character, she hired a trainer and began to exercise, toning up an learning kick boxing.

I loved Dawn's journey and her growth from ordinary housewife to a strong, healthy  and successful woman.  As a writing student, we were treated to bits and pieces of her novel where Cinnamon Knight was the main character and the kind of woman, Dawn wanted to be.   We got to read Dawn's award winning story, winner of the Green award.   Dawn was a great character who had room to grow and change and she was very likable.

The only thing that slightly bothered me about this book was the fact so many characters had dealt with the wrong kind of men.   Unfortunately,  a lack of morals seems to be on the rise, from both men and women.

 It was an enjoyable read and the author has offered a free E-copy of the book to one lucky winner/reader of this blog.   Just enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win!   Meanwhile, I've rated this read as 4 WINKS.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio...A Review

Good Morning Peeps!   Hope this finds you all well and well read :).

Before we get started with this review, Let me wish my best work friend, Jeanne a Happy Birthday which occurred on the 4th and to my friend Frieda, Happy Birthday on the 7th!   I told you we have many birthdays to celebrate in November.

When you participate in virtual book tours, you do get a lot of reading material for free, with the author or their agent seeking a favorable, and honest review.   Frankly, if I can't find something good about the book, I will not publish a less than 3 wink review on my blog or anywhere else.   It is fortunate for most, that I love to read and I enjoy most books.

I have to tell you though, I have set a goal and I want to meet in person Sarah Jio.   I think she is one of my all time favorite authors and I believe she always will be.   She never fails to deliver!    She stirs my heart like no one else can!    When and if this 61 yr old woman ever grows up and writes her own novel, I hope Sarah will enjoy it as I have enjoyed her books.   I want to follow in her footsteps....enough said....(I am not a stalker).

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In 2011, Sarah Jio burst onto the fiction scene with two sensational novels--The Violets of March and The Bungalow. With Blackberry Winter--taking its title from a late-season, cold-weather phenomenon--Jio continues her rich exploration of the ways personal connections can transcend the boundaries of time. 

Seattle, 1933. Single mother Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, goodnight and departs to work the night-shift at a local hotel. She emerges to discover that a May-Day snow has blanketed the city, and that her son has vanished. Outside, she finds his beloved teddy bear lying face-down on an icy street, the snow covering up any trace of his tracks, or the perpetrator's.
Seattle, 2010. Seattle Herald reporter Claire Aldridge, assigned to cover the May 1 "blackberry winter" storm and its twin, learns of the unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth. In the process, she finds that she and Vera may be linked in unexpected ways...

Meet Author,  Sarah Jio:

Sarah Jio is the New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST CAMELLIA, BLACKBERRY WINTER, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (a Library Journal Best Book of 2011), THE BUNGALOW, and the forthcoming, MORNING GLORY (11/26/13), all from Penguin/Plume. Sarah is also the former health and fitness blogger for Glamour.com. She has written thousands of articles for national magazines including Redbook, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Fitness, Marie Claire, and many others. She has appeared as a commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition. Sarah lives in Seattle with her husband and their three young boys. 

From My Perspective:

Sarah Jio has the amazing ability to traverse time in a unique and distinctive manner.  Blackberry Winter is just such a novel.   It begins during the1920,s when a young woman fell in love, conceived a child with a man above her class in society, realized she couldn't survive in his world or he in hers.  In
1930, their child was three and she was desperately trying to support them.   A terrible snowstorm struck their town in May and she left the three year old home alone.   When she returned he was gone.   And Vera's young life definitely took a turn for the worst.

The story is told from alternating points of view, Vera the young mother from the thirties and Claire, a journalist with an assignment to write about another cold front and blizzard in May some eighty years later.   Claire lost her firstborn in the eighth month of pregnancy.   During her research, she found the story of the missing boy, Danny and vowed to find what had happened to him and his loving mother, Vera.

Back in those days, everything was a struggle of class.  If you were poor, the law was not in your corner.   If you were high society, your secrets would be kept and you were safe from investigation.
Definitely not a time I would have appreciated living in.  Sarah was able to define the character's of these two women who shared the loss of their children.   She developed her characters carefully and exposed their inner strengths, their weaknesses and their dreams.

This is a story of hope and love that transcends time.  Tears stained my cheeks as I read through this tragedy, especially the last third of the book, where mysteries were brought to light and resolutions occurred.    It is certainly a love story told from a compassionate heart!    I give it a 5 WINK rating!

I am only regretting it took this long to get to read it!   I'll be thinking about this read for quite some time!  If you haven't read it yet, stock up on tissues and read this amazing book.

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I actually purchased this in paperback.   

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Murder Has Consequences by Giacomo Giammatteo (a PICT VBT and giveaway

Murder Has Consequences

by Giacomo Giammatteo

on Tour October 1 - November 30, 2013


Book Details:

Genre: Mystery/Suspense Published by: Inferno Publishing Company Publication Date: 2/20/2013 Number of Pages: 383 ISBN: 9780985030254 Note: Excessive strong language, Graphic violence, Explicit sexual scenes Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

For a select few people, friendship lasts forever. Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan were friends like that, but that was years ago. Now Frankie’s a detective in Brooklyn’s Homicide department, and Nicky is a reformed hit man. But when Frankie gets in trouble—and the law can’t help him—he turns to Nicky. The problem is that Nicky promised his family, and God, that he’d go straight.

Read an excerpt:

Murder Has Consequences Friendship & Honor, Book II By Giacomo Giammatteo “Oaths are something you swear to when you’re young, and wish you hadn’t when you get old.” ~Nicky Fusco Introduction Wilmington, Delaware Actions have consequences. I learned that long ago.
  • I learned it when I was five years old and got caught stealing cigarettes.
  • I learned it when Mikey “The Face” Fagullo beat our asses for not giving him a cut of the smokes we stole from a boxcar.
  • I learned it when Father Tom caught us playing cards instead of attending mass.
  • Mostly I learned it when I shot Freddy Campisi. That lesson cost me ten years in prison.
Different actions yield different consequences. Do something wrong—get sent to prison. That’s one kind of consequence. But that’s the easy one. If you go to prison, you do your time and get out. It’s over. Done with. But there is another, far worse, consequence—the one you have to live with day in and day out. The kind of consequence you beat yourself up over. The kind that won’t go away. I did my time for killing Freddy Campisi. The other things I’ve done I have to live with. Those are between me and God. They are my cross on earth. Nicky Fusco Chapter <$n> Restraint Wilmington, Delaware I looked out my window toward Front Street, then lifted my head until I caught sight of the steeple of St. Elizabeth’s Church. On a good day, when my window was open, I could hear the bells ringing. All I heard today was traffic. I picked up the phone and dialed Angie; she’d be expecting me for dinner. Adapting to my new life had been tough. I had traded excitement and danger for the routine of a family and a steady job. All in all a good trade, but at times I still itched to do something. Angie answered on the fifth ring. I always counted because I hung up if no one answered after ring five. “Hello.” Angie had the best voice in the world. Strong and forceful, but…gentle too. “Hey, babe, I’ve got to check a job tonight, so I’ll be a little late. You and Rosa eat without me.” “I’ll wait for you,” she said. “Rosa’s eating with a friend.” “Okay, if you don’t mind. I’ll see you later.” I grabbed my briefcase, a thin black leather one Angie gave me for my birthday, put the blueprints inside and headed for the door. “Sheila, tell Joe I’m going to check that new site.” “Which one?” “The new condos.” “Okay, see you tomorrow.” I hated lying to Sheila. Hated lying to Angie even more, but this was something that had to be done. I checked my watch as I started the car—4:45. That should give me plenty of time to get there before Marty Ferris left work. He was Rosa’s scum-sucking ex-stepfather who needed to be taught a lesson. This meant I’d have to get up early to check those condos before work tomorrow, but that would be all right. I liked seeing the site, making sure there were no surprises. It wasn’t just the bricks and mortar I needed to calculate, but also how much scaffolding and how many planks and braces we’d need. All of that mattered. I was thinking about how lucky I was to have this job when I suddenly realized Union Street was coming up. I put on the blinker, turned left, and headed south, pulling into a parking spot just north of Sixth Street by my favorite water-ice stand. After checking the time again, I got out and grabbed a drink then got back in the car. Marty Ferris would be out soon. He was going to pay for what he did to Rosa. It had been more than six months now, and I had abided by all the rules my old hit-man mentor, Johnny Muck, had taught me. No matter what I had promised Angie, it was time for Marty to learn a lesson. *** Marty Ferris came out of the bathroom, washed his hands twice, dried them, and tossed the paper towels into the bin. It was almost time to quit, and not much made him happier than that. Another day hacking at slabs of meat with a cleaver had earned him enough for his weekly bills and a few beers at Teddy’s. Not nearly what he deserved for putting up with all the assholes who came in demanding special cuts, or trimming of fat, but it was the best he could do considering the economy. At times he felt like taking one of the knives and cutting some fat off a few of the customers, especially Mrs. Mariano. What a pain in the ass she was. That woman was never satisfied. She came into the shop every Thursday, walking as if she had a t-bone stuck up her ass. ‘Don’t forget to cut off all the fat, Marty. All of it.’ Her nagging voice grated on his nerves, staying with him long after she left. Stupid bitch should realize it was the fat that made the meat taste good, but he’d never tell her that. Marty finished wrapping a few chops for the customer he was waiting on, and cleaned his knives as he waited for the day to end. The clock chimed—it was five-thirty, the first thing since lunch that put a smile on Marty’s face. He untied his apron and headed for the back room. “Time for me to go, Sal. See you tomorrow.” “See you, Marty.” After scrubbing his hands he exited the building, got in his car and headed south on Union Street. He wanted to go home and shower, but he hadn’t had a beer since Tuesday night, and he was itching for one. He thought about stopping at the bar, but then remembered it was Thursday, his day for subs at Casapulla’s. *** I sat in the car a block north of where Marty worked, still sipping on my water ice to cool off. There wasn’t much better than water ice on a hot day. As I thought that, I marveled at the genius of combining sugar, ice, and lemon into a drink that is damn near addictive, tasted good, and actually quenched your thirst. Water ice was one of the things I had missed most when I lived in New York, and missed even more in prison. I hadn’t been all over the country yet, but so far I hadn’t found anyplace that had water ice like Wilmington. For such a little city it had a lot of special things, particularly when it came to food. Someone I didn’t recognize was walking north on Union Street. I could tell he knew me by the way he stared, leaning down a little to get a better look at who sat behind the wheel. His face was familiar, but I couldn’t put a name to it for the life of me. Frankie was always the best at that. I don’t think there was anyone Frankie forgot once he met them. Even ten years later he could instantly spit out a name. I always wanted to be able to do that, but never could. I sighed as the guy headed toward me. There was no way I was coming up with his name in time. The guy stooped over, leaned toward the car and smiled. “Hey, Nicky. Good to see you again.” I reached my hand out and shook his, then started to fake a forgotten-name moment, but I ended up doing what I always did when faced with this situation. “I know I should remember your name, but I don’t.” The guy laughed, probably to cover up the embarrassment that he was forgotten. If only people knew it wasn’t them, just a common thing. “It’s Howard. Remember, ninth grade, Sister Louise?” I thought a second, then shook my head. “I don’t, Howard. I’m sorry. I barely remember Sister Louise.” He smiled, laughed some more. “That’s okay. Good to see you anyway. Take care.” “Yeah, take care, Howard.” As he walked up the street, I repeated the name in my head, hoping to remember it in case we ran into each other again. Within a few seconds I started looking for Marty again, focusing on the cars going south on Union Street. A minute later I saw his car, letting it pass before pulling out and falling in a few blocks behind him. We went past Front Street, past the park, past the street where he lived and over the bridge into Elsemere. As soon as he headed over the bridge I knew where he was going; on Thursdays Marty usually treated himself to a cheesesteak at Casapulla’s. Most people thought Philly had the best cheesesteaks, but little old Wilmington, Delaware, made the best subs and steaks, bar none, and Casapulla’s was king. Had been for more than fifty years. Originally I’d planned on torturing Marty, but something inside of me wouldn’t let me do that, so while I waited in the car, I decided I’d just have a talk with him. If that didn’t work, I’d shoot him to get it over with. I had planned on doing it before he got his food, but despite how much I hated the guy, I couldn’t justify killing him on an empty stomach. Everyone deserved a good last meal. Rather than risk being seen, I turned around, deciding to wait for him by his house. I went back across the bridge and was lured in by a McDonald’s sign boasting the billions they’d sold. It flashed at me on the left, so I turned into the parking lot and waited. Marty lived in Canby Park, just across the street, and from here I could see him coming. If he kept to his routine, he’d go home to shower then go out for a few beers. Perfect. I’d wait for him to leave the bar and take him then. After half an hour, I began to worry. It shouldn’t have taken him that long to get a sandwich, not even if they were busy. I waited ten more minutes then started the car and drove to Casapulla’s. Marty’s car wasn’t there. Shit. How did I miss him? I turned and drove back past Marty’s house. Not there, either. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. I never thought stuff like that, so perhaps it was an omen. Angie had been after me with constant reminders not to do anything illegal, and while I promised her I wouldn’t, this was one thing I’d promised myself long before that so it didn’t count. Maybe she was right, though. Even guys like Marty deserved a second consideration. I pulled to the curb, put the car in park, and took a quarter from the change slot under the radio. Tails. I flipped the coin, a toss to determine Marty’s fate. Heads. I nodded. All right, Marty lives. I popped the car in gear and headed home, a good feeling in my gut. Sister Mary Thomas would be proud. As I drove home I wondered what I would have done if the coin had landed on tails. It took less than five minutes to get home. Angie and I had moved into a single-family home on Beech Street. It was only a few blocks from where we grew up, but the houses were nicer and still within the St. Elizabeth’s school district. It also put me a few blocks closer to where the guys hung out and played cards. Doggs was still around, and still running games, and Patsy the Whale and Charlie Knuckles were there too. Mikey the Face was serving time, and Pockets had gotten killed in an armed robbery. Some of the others had just moved on. I parked the car, threw the bag in the trunk, and headed up the sidewalk to the house, then climbed the steps to the stoop two at a time. When I reached the top, I pushed open the front door. Angie stood in the center of the room, hugging Rosa. They were crying. I nearly ran to them. “What happened? Are you all right?” “It’s Marty,” Angie said. “Rosa met him for subs and they got into an argument. He hit her.” My body tensed. Fists clenched. That fuckin’ prick is gonna pay. Rosa broke away from her mother and grabbed me, hugging. “Dad, don’t do anything. I’m okay. Nothing’s wrong. Don’t hurt him, okay?” I held her close. Patted her back. All I could think of was what Mamma Rosa used to say to me when things got bad. “Non ti preoccupare, Rosa.” “English!” she hollered. “Speak English.” “All I said was don’t worry.” Inside though, things churned. Thoughts of what I’d do to Marty when I got him, and how much I’d make him suffer. I thought of nails and screws and hammers and acid… Then I felt her pinch me. “Dad. Dad, are you listening?” I looked down at her and rubbed the back of her head. “What?” “Did you hear me when I said don’t hurt him? I meant it.” Her eyes were red from crying and her cheeks were tear-stained, but her face was that of an angel. How could I refuse. “All right, Rosa. But I swear…” “Don’t worry. It will never happen again. I’m through with seeing him for good.” I pulled her to me. Hugged her. You’re right, Rosa. It will never happen again.

Author Bio:

Giacomo Giammatteo lives in Texas, where he and his wife run an animal sanctuary and take care of 41 loving rescues. By day, he works as a headhunter in the medical device industry, and at night, he writes.

Catch Up With the Author:

From My Perspective:

 Giammatteo presented the reader with a polished and masterful mystery.   Who killed Bobby Campisi the night of Frankie Donovan's father's wake?    And that's a question for only one of the mysteries needing to be solved in this mystery!  Detective Jimmy Borelli had Frankie Donovan in his sights as Campisi's murderer and told him not to leave town.   But since Frankie was a cop with Boston PD, he was needed in Boston to help on a diabolical case.

The storyline moved quickly, encompassing both the Wilmington murder and the Boston murders in this fast paced mystery read.    Again Giamatteo captured the essence of the Italian culture and community with his story of family, love, grief, greed and reaching out within the community, taking care of their own.  Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan went way back --friends from childhood.   Each had taken a different path, Nicky as a hit man and Frankie as a police Detective.    Their childhood bonds of friendship would last a lifetime, be that for the good or the not so good.

I read all but a few pages in one sitting and found nothing to criticize .   The warnings above indeed need to be cautioned.   There was definitely strong language, graphic violence, and explicit sexual scenes, so definitely what I'd call an adult read.   The book encompassed dual mysteries in two different cities with somewhat shocking resolutions.    I enjoyed this 5 Wink read immensely!


Every eBook received for review on the tours for Partners In Crime are given in exchange for an honest review. The eBooks are sole property (copyrighted) of the author and should not be sold, distributed to, or exchanged among other people not part of the tours, nor should they be listed on file sharing sites. Failure to comply with this disclaimer, will result in removal from all future tours. 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Coming Home by Christine Feldman--a review

Happy Birthday today to my childhood friend Judy!   Hope she has a really great birthday.   It seems that a lot of my favorite people have birthdays this month.   Hope I can keep up with the birthday greetings!

I was fortunate to be given a copy of Coming Home by the author in exchange for an honest review.  So let us see the synopsis from Goodreads first:

Synopsis:

No woman ever really forgets her first love. Callie Sorenson is no exception. Hers was tall, tanned, and—as her older brother’s best friend—completely off limits.

Danny McCutcheon.

It’s a name that Callie hasn’t spoken in years, even if the man to whom it belongs has never really been all that far from her thoughts. Or her heart. But now a twist of fate will bring her back to the childhood home she left behind years ago, and to the hometown boy for whom she secretly longed.

When her mother takes a bad fall and breaks her hip, Callie leaves the bright lights of New York City to fly back west and help with the rehabilitation. It’s a tense homecoming due to a long time estrangement between mother and daughter, and it drives Callie to confront both a painful personal loss and her unanswered questions about the father who abandoned her when she was just a child. 

It also brings her face to face with Danny again, and Callie quickly realizes that old feelings die hard.

But for Danny, it’s new feelings that are a problem. Callie is not the young girl he remembers but a woman now, and a very desirable one. They both have reasons to fight the growing attraction between them, but the temptation may just prove to be too much to resist, despite some very real risk to their hearts. The past casts a long shadow over the future, though, and Callie will have to overcome it or else face losing the one man who means the most to her.

From My Perspective:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I agreed to this review, but I can certainly say, I enjoyed the reading of this story.   Ms Feldman wrote a delightful little romance tale about a young woman with daddy issues...as in daddy left home, ne'er to return when Callie was age 4.   Now she is 24 years old and thinks she may be a chip off the old block with commitment issues and a sense of running away.  She needs to confront her father and understand why he left them so many years ago.     Callie's character was well developed and well written.   Issues with her mother had caused her to run and explore the world on her own terms four years earlier.   Now her mother's accidental fall from a ladder and her broken hip brought Callie home and face to face with a lot of buried emotions.

Danny McCutcheon was portrayed as the boy next door, turned into a hunk of a man.  He was as attracted to Callie as she was to him, but they both knew, she wouldn't stay in their home town after her mother's recovery.  

This was a very well written clean romance.   Both main characters had issues to overcome, conflicts to resolve before they could allow themselves the desire of their hearts.   From start to finish there was growth in both main characters. And I found this to be a lovely romance with a satisfying conclusion!

Thank you Christine Feldman.   You held my attention and I loved your characters as well as the sweet romance that developed!    I rate this at 4 Winks!

 

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, November 1, 2013

What I read in October

Hello my Peeps and good morning to all of you!   The sun is shining and I just finished reading my 94th book of this year!    My goal is to complete 120 or more books in 2013 and I think  can do it!  My mom and I challenged each other this year and so I will be quite interested in how we compare our reading at the end of this year.   She loves romance and reads shorter # of pages than I read, but it's a love we share,  reading!   I love to challenge my grandsons in their reading pursuits as well.

What I read in November is pictured below.




A murder mystery that is a little cheeky!

Two sweet and saucy Christmas romance stories!   I love Christmas!     These reviews will be posted during the month of , make that December please!






A Historical Romance set in England during WWI and from the perspective of a modern thinking woman....very interesting.





















A very good Sci-Fi/Adventure tale.


The second installment of Jen Minkman's Island tales...great fiction read that made me think what if?

Probably the most heart pounding and reflective pychological thrillers I have read this year.   The Preservationist felt like a bucket of cold water hitting me in the face.   And I mean in a good way---a very gripping read!















This is the reading I like to do, variety.   Reading can take me places I couldn't go any other way.  I love to be warm and fuzzy and  love a good mystery.   I love my reading to challenge my thoughts and beliefs and on occasion a well written thriller, can do exactly that, thrill!   I thank God for eyes that can still see and read the written word.   I hope your next month will cause you to 'feel" and reflect as you read books you can enjoy!

Happy November my friends!