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

Friday, August 30, 2013

Reese's Leap by Darcy Scott/ aPICT VBTour

Reese's Leap

by Darcy Scott

on Tour August - September 2013


Book Details:

Genre:  Mystery Published by: Maine Authors Publishing Publication Date: March 23, 2013 Number of Pages: 216 ISBN: 978-1938883347 Purchase Links: Series: Island Mystery Series #2 - Can be read as a stand-alone (You may also request/review #1 Matinicus) Disclaimer: Excessive strong language
Recently, Matinicus (prequel to Reese's Leap) has won both the "Best Mystery," 2013 Indie Book Awards and the Bronze Prize for Regional Fiction from the 2013 IPPY Awards!

Synopsis:

In this much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning "Matinicus," five longtime friends—briefly freed from their complex lives for an annual, all-female retreat on Adria Jackman’s remote, 200-acre enclave of Mistake Island, Maine—are forced to put the partying on hold to host the hard-drinking, bachelor botanist, Gil Hodges, stranded there for what could be days. A hopeless womanizer, Gil is secretly pleased at the layover, but soon finds Mistake’s deeply forested interior deceptively bucolic and the women a bit too intriguing for comfort, stirring both glorious memory and profound regret. When a diabolical stranger appears out of nowhere, insinuating himself into the fold to exact a twisted kind of revenge, it falls to Gil to keep the women safe, despite a dawning awareness that not everyone will make it off the island alive.

Read an excerpt:

I’m slow coming to in the early-morning stillness—arm slung over my eyes, something lumpy under my butt I only now realize has been digging in for some time. It seems I slept fully clothed, too—something I never do—but the damp chill beneath me makes even less sense, the fusty smell wafting from my bedclothes not quite the permeating fug of the hammock I’ve grown used to. I could crack my eyes and get a visual, I suppose, but that would involve prying the pasty things apart first—something that’s beyond me just now. The shamelessly chipper bird sounding off just above me and the dry whisper of field grass are what tip me off. The meadow. I spent the night in the fucking meadow. My groan is of the just-how-big-an-asshole-did-I-make-of-myself variety, chased by the kind of creeping, morning-after dread I’ve come to know so well. I vaguely recall a bottle of tawny Port, unearthed by Adria from some secret stash of her father’s after everyone else had gone to bed—which was earlier than usual, thanks to the pall Brit and Pete cast over the evening. Just the two of us, then—well, three, if you count the bottle. Pure liquid ambrosia, if memory serves. No doubt I went a bit overboard. But it wasn’t the booze or the thought of another night crammed onto that miserable hammock that got me out here, I recall now, but the fear of what I might do about Nora’s tempting proximity while I lay in such a weakened and vulnerable state. Still, I’ve no clue how I managed it. Could have walked, could have flown, could have been wheeled in a barrow. But however I did it, I slept like the proverbial rock. No reason to get up now either, I figure—at least not ’til the mosquitoes find me. Another hour, I plead, rolling over, which is when I see Pete down on his haunches studying me, face not a foot from mine. “Jesus!” I bark, adrenaline powering my scramble to clear the sleeping bag I apparently dragged out here with me. “Don’t do that!” He cocks his head, rising to meet me as I stand. Not a good idea as it turns out, this standing business, considering the explosion of pain at the top of my head. At six-two, I’m five or six inches taller than this guy—something that would normally make me feel pretty good, only nothing feels good just now. My legs are so wobbly, it’s all I can do to remain vertical. I glance down at the cool breeze running over my left foot. My sore, bare left foot. Where the fuck is my shoe? “Piece of advice,” Pete says, glancing toward the mountain, gaze flat and unreadable as he swings it back my way. Think Clint Eastwood’s slow burn, but with none of his style. “Right now we got no real beef, you and me. Keep out of this and it’ll stay that way.” What this? There’s a this? “Let me guess,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose against the vise slowly tightening at the top of my head, the forks carving out the backs of my eyeballs. The things I do to myself. “This is about your brother, right? What—you were too busy lobbing the n-word at Adria to hear her say she wasn’t around? That none of these chicks know anything about this?” “They know,” he assures me. “Just not sayin’.” “They—as in...” “All of ’em, probably.” Of course. Conspiracy among the conifers. I’ll have to remember to suggest this to Duggan for the title of whatever mystery or thriller he’s hoping to eke out of all this. “Come on, man. You saw the looks on their faces—total fucking surprise.” “Brit said they come out here every year—same women, same week in July.” Good old Brit. “I wouldn’t know.” Nor do I care. Once around with this shit’s more than enough for me; besides, I desperately need to keep the sun from hitting my retinas just now. Shades, I think. I pat my pockets. “Earl was killed the week they were here. July 21st.” “July 21st what?” “Day he died.” “You can’t possibly know that,” I say, carefully lowering myself to rummage in my rucksack for those miserable Maui Jims. Sliding them on makes things marginally better, but mincing my way back to my feet brings stabbing pains from the sole of the shoeless one. Man, it hurts. What the hell did I step on, anyway? Glass, rock—what? “So, okay,” I say, cranking the foot up stork-like to peer at the dried brown goo stuck to the bottom. Mud? I wonder, hopping awkwardly to stay upright. Blood? “Say you’re right, and he was here. Doesn’t mean they knew he was here.” Gently probing the most tender places for lacerations, protruding foreign objects. “If Adria even suspected he was camping on the island, she’d have booted his ass off. You’ve seen the way she is about this place.” “Earl don’t listen to nobody when his mind’s set. Kind of his trademark.” More of that unremitting Eastwood gaze, which is frankly starting to piss me off. Out of nowhere, another piece of yesterday slips along the edge of my mind—something weird about the timing of all this. And then it hits me. If Earl died two years ago, why’s this guy just turning up now? “You were in prison when it happened.” Pure hunch, of course, but it fits. Explains why he seemed so hinky from the start, that vague whiff of what I now recognize as recent and intimate acquaintance with Maine State Corrections. I do the mental math, take a stab. “You and Earl were sent up together; only he got out early. Drugs would be my bet. That or a juicy little B&E.” “Fuck them bastards. Bullshit’s what it was. Lousy pot bust. My second time, so the judge bumped me a couple extra years.” “So Earl gets out, comes here to revisit the old stomping grounds, and ends up dead.” “I knew there’d be trouble, what with me not around to keep him in line. It was me always looked out for him.” “Plus, you landed him in jail. What a bro. But hey, at least you knew where he was; there’s that.” Screwing with him like this probably isn’t smart, but I’m still kinda punchy, and I need to piss. Besides; I really, really, really don’t like this guy. Pete cocks his head. “This funny to you?” Fucking hilarious, actually, only it’s fast becoming clear that leaving Adria et al alone while a deluded nut like this is wandering the island wouldn’t be smart. There’s my conscience to consider, what’s left of it anyway. “So you got sprung—what—a month ago? Two?” “Sat in that shitty jail two years knowin’ he’d been murdered, countin’ the days ’til I got out.” “Accidents happen, pal. You’ve seen the cliffs out here—dangerous as hell in the wrong conditions.” “Earl never went near them cliffs. Hated heights. No, somethin’ happened out here. I’m gonna know what and I’m gonna know why. I owe him that. You bein’ here just complicates things.” “Yeah, well, only person leaving the island is you,” I say, trying to sound all bad-ass as I fight the urge to toss my cookies. “I’m not going anywhere.” He considers. “Your decision. Things been put in motion. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” A smirk as he nods toward the sleeping bag. “Nice.” I glance down, following his gaze. A faded field of blue dotted with yellow and pink flowers, the darker hue of a minimally sullied ball gown and white-gloved hands—all this capped with the lemon yellow orb of Cinderella’s hair, her face lit with a saccharine smile. A little girl’s sleeping bag, I realize. Swell. “So here’s what you do,” he says. “You and the other girls have a meetin’. You explain how things are gonna get really ugly, really fast, if I don’t find out what went down.” With that he trots back into the brush like something out of The Last of the Mohicans—all that bouncy action enough to set my eyeballs aching. What the fuck was in that bottle, anyway? Nothing for it but to head to the house and fill Adria in, come up with some kind of plan. After I find that fucking shoe.

Author Bio:

DARCY SCOTT is a live-aboard sailor and experienced ocean cruiser who’s sailed to Grenada and back on a whim, island-hopped through the Caribbean, and been struck by lightning in the middle of the Gulf Stream. Her favorite cruising ground remains the coast of Maine, however, and her appreciation of the history and rugged beauty of its sparsely populated out-islands serves as inspiration for her Maine Island Mystery Series, which includes 2012’s award-winning "Matinicus" and the newly released "Reese’s Leap." Book three, "Ragged Island," is currently in the works. Her debut novel, "Hunter Huntress," was published in June, 2010 by Snowbooks, Ltd., UK.

Catch Up With the Author:

 From My Perspective:

Reese's Leap is part two in the Gil Hodges island mystery series and it was every bit as enthralling as the first book.  In this story Gil accompanies his friend Duggan to Mistake Island where several ladies have gathered for their Island Women's getaway.   Men are not welcome, but one has mistakenly invited her man and thus his friend by default.    But everything seems to be against their leaving when an uninvited guest shows up, seeking revenge for his brother's death.   Darcy Scott can spin a great tale and I enjoy reading her very distinct writing style and the mysteries, layer by layer construed to intrigue the reader.   Nothing is ever straight forward and direct, it is always like pulling the truth from a cement encasement!   Her work is just unputdownable!!   And we're fortunate to be giving away a copy of Reese's Leap in E-Book form to one lucky winner,   Just enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win as we love to giveaway books!
a Rafflecopter giveaway



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.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Mantinicus by Darcy Scott--a review


Meet author,  Darcy Scott!!  DARCY SCOTT is a live-aboard sailor and experienced ocean cruiser who’s sailed to Grenada and back on a whim, island-hopped through the Caribbean, and been struck by lightning in the middle of the Gulf Stream. Her favorite cruising ground remains the coast of Maine, however, and her appreciation of the history and rugged beauty of its sparsely populated out-islands serves as inspiration for her Maine Island Mystery Series, which includes 2012’s award-winning "Matinicus" and the newly released "Reese’s Leap." Book three, "Ragged Island," is currently in the works. Her debut novel, "Hunter Huntress," was published in June, 2010 by Snowbooks, Ltd., UK.


Catch Up With the Darcy:


Mantinicus synopsis:

Praised by Kirkus Reviews as "The kind of book readers will tear through, only to find themselves hungry for more," this century-spanning double mystery steeped in Maine island lore pits a renegade fishing community against an unhappy child-bride of the 1820s, a defiant twenty-first-century teen, and a hard-drinking botanist—Dr. Gil Hodges—who escapes to the island of Matinicus to avoid a crazed ex-lover and verify a rumored 22 species of wild orchid, only to find himself hounded by the ghost of a child some 200 years dead.

If Gil’s hoping for some peace and quiet, he’s clearly come to the wrong place. Generations of infighting among loose-knit lobstering clans have left them openly hostile to outsiders. When a beautiful, bed-hopping stranger sails into the harbor, old resentments re-ignite and people begin to die—murders linked, through centuries of violence, to a diary whose secrets threaten to tear the island apart.

Discover why Cruising World Magazine calls Gil "The best male protagnist to come along since Lee Child's Jack Racher!"


From My Perspective:

Wow, Mantinicus is an absolutely must read for anyone who loves a good mystery and characters you can totally relate to.   I get that small towns and islanders are a lot alike in that they each know everybody's business and have their own peculiar ways of dealing with things.   And Darcy Scott sets the reading stage to perfection.   Our protagonist, Gil Hodges, has his flaws, although he is trying to improve himself, drinks a little too much, is an outsider, and he has a consceince, albeit, it is often GUILTY!    But he's one of those guys you just gotta love!   And he tries to help solve the island murders, but isn't prepared for the island justice that follows.    Nor is he prepared for the twisted surprise ending which was awesome.    One of the best mysteries this year in my humble opinion!  It took a bit of reading to get to the hook, but from then on, I couldn't let it go and I'm not one bit regretful of this fascinating story by an excellent story weaver!

5 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, August 23, 2013

Home to Whiskey Creek by Brenda Novak--a Review

I am so excited to review Home to Whiskey Creek by Brenda Novak.  It is the second book by this author that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed.

SYNOPSIS:  

Sometimes home is the refuge you need-and sometimes it isn't.  Adelaide Davies, who's been living in Sacramento, returns to Whiskey Creek, the place she once called home. She's there to take care of her aging grandmother and to help with Gran's restaurant, Just Like Mom's. But Adelaide isn't happy to be back. There are too many people here she'd rather avoid, people who were involved in that terrible June night fifteen years ago.

Ever since the graduation party that changed her life, she's wanted to go to the police and make sure the boys responsible-men now-are punished. But she can't, not without revealing an even darker secret. So it's better to pretend....

Noah Rackham, popular, attractive, successful, is shocked when Adelaide won't have anything to do with him. He has no idea that his very presence reminds her of something she'd rather forget. He only knows that he's finally met a woman he could love.


From MY Perspective:

Fifteen years ago, there was a graduation party.   Addy was told she could not attend, but she snuck out and went to the party anyway.    This was a night she would never forget;  it changed her and it changed the lives of five boys in the graduating class.    Nothing would ever be the same again.   After Addy graduated two years later, she left Whiskey Creek and those horrid memories behind her, hoping not to return again.

A lot happens in thirteen years and she did return home to help her elderly grandmother and to help with Gran's restaurant.   Some people weren't too happy to see her back in town. She herself, was not too happy about it.   Her first week back in town, she received a very unpleasant warning  which placed her in the bottom of a mine shaft.  That warning was loud and clear.   Her high school crush became her Prince Charming and happened to hear her cries for help.   He gallantly pulled her from the mine and you guessed it, he fell in love with her.    Ok, I've made this sound like a fairytale--it wasn't but it was a pretty good romance read.  It was a very sweet romance read as Addy wanted to protect Noah from her dark secrets of the past as much as she wanted to forget it all.

Brenda Novak has a way of stirring the heart within the pages of her books.   She creates strong and believable characters.  She addresses issues from rape to a character coming out of his gay closet.  And the reader is deeply invested in the story each character has to tell.  I love reading her novels and just can't put them down once I've started them.   She is sure to be one of my favorite authors.  If you get a chace to read her books, do so.   It's an experience waiting to happen!!     5 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.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Treasure Among the Shadows by Marie Romero Cash--a PICT VBTour and Give Away

Treasure Among the Shadows

by Marie Romero Cash

on Tour July - August 2013


Book Details:

Genre:  Mystery Published by: Camel Press Publication Date: June 1, 2013 Number of Pages: 310 ISBN: 978-1603819077 Purchase Links: NOTE: This book is the third in a series but is completely stand alone.

Synopsis:

A woman is strangled and shot. She was last seen alive at a casino near Santa Fe. Forensic Psychologist Jemimah Hodge is on the case, as is her new boyfriend, Sheriff Rick Romero. The trail has already grown cold when another woman is murdered under similar circumstances. The first dead woman left behind a disgruntled ex-spouse but no other obvious suspects. Gilda Humphreys, the second victim, is another story. First there is her househusband, then there are all her co-workers … It seems no one is shedding a tear for Gilda. While going through Gilda's field notes, Jemimah discovers that the woman was experiencing a sexual renaissance. Could one of her lovers have killed her? Then there is Tim McCabe's treasure hunt. A wealthy gallery owner and collector, McCabe has buried a chest filled with valuable coins and jewelry and challenged the public to find it. When Gilda wasn't dressing down her co-workers or dallying with lovers, she was searching for McCabe's treasure. Was it greed that killed Gilda? A scorned lover or vengeful co-worker? With so many suspects and so few clues, Rick and Jemimah face one of the most challenging cases of their careers. Treasure Among the Shadows is the third book in Jemimah Hodge Murder Mystery series.

Read an excerpt:

It was a typical February Day. Locals referred to the month as Febrero Loco, crazy February, because the daily weather was as unpredictable as a roulette wheel. It was unseasonably warm and just to be on the safe side, the air conditioning at Buffalo Thunder Casino, north of Santa Fe, was cranked up. The casino was gearing up for the upcoming Valentine’s Day, pulling out all the stops with promotions geared toward attracting patrons with the cherry red Toyota Camry give-away. Blackjack modules formed a large circle around the Craps and Texas Hold’em tables. The electromagnetic field and the thousand flashing lights could easily illuminate an entire city. Waitresses attired in short frilly skirts and low cut tank-tops stopped at each console to offer cold sodas, water and coffee, and friendly smiles to encourage tips. She walked through the automatic doors, the strong odor of cigarette smoke assaulting her senses. Vanity precluded her from wearing sorely needed eyeglasses and she squinted her eyes in hopes of seeing a familiar face, preferably male and old enough to buy her a drink. She navigated her world in a blur, peering out of heavily made-up brown eyes and beneath thin, perfectly arched eyebrows. Dark red lipstick and a heart-shaped face framed by recently touched-up auburn hair completed the picture. She was dressed in black pants, a sparkly jacket and stiletto heels. The first was to hide the extra ten pounds she carried and the second was to give her four-eleven height a boost. She found her favorite slot machine in a corner next to the lounge, where she could sometimes score a few drinks and maybe a place to stay for the night. Of late, she frequented the casinos on Highway 85staying until closing and hitching a ride back to Santa Fe, where she hung out in the laundry rooms of motels on Cerrillos Road. She was not a hooker. She was a forty-year-old woman down on her luck, having burned all the bridges behind her. She was desperate to win a jackpot to get her back on her feet. She glanced through the corner of her eye at the man playing next to her. He was exactly her type—brown-skinned, tall, sleeveless t-shirt to show off bulging biceps, tattooed arms, long hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. Before the night was over, they were snuggled in a corner of the lounge, sipping rum and Cokes. If she played her cards right, she had a good idea where the evening was going to end up.

Author Bio:

MARIE ROMERO CASH was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to a family that would eventually number seven children, and has lived there most of her life. After graduating from Santa Fe High School, she took a job as a legal secretary, a field that would provide a lifetime of employment. But then, in her mid-thirties, she discovered the traditional arts of northern New Mexico. After twenty years of creating award-winning art, she began to write about it, but decided she needed a higher education to do so. At fifty she enrolled in college and, five years later, graduated with a degree in Southwest Studies. In 1998, she received the prestigious Javits Fellowship to pursue her education. Since then Marie has written several books about the art and culture of the southwest, including a memoir about growing up in Santa Fe. Treasure among the Shadows is the third book in the Jemimah Hodge Mystery Series, which began with Shadows among the Ruins and Deadly Deception.

Catch Up With the Author:




From My Perspective:  

How do you go from one murder with no clues, to two murders with ever so few clues as to who dunnit?  With Marie Romero Cash's mystery, Treasure Among the Shadows, you will find out how it's done and inevitably who dunnit!   What a read this was..Part One of the book was a wordy read and provided a lot of background information.   But with the beginning of the second part of the book, things got quite dicey and maintained high interest on the part of the reader.   Chapters were told in third person by varying characters within the book and  it was like watching a puzzle be put together...one small piece at a time.

Characters were well developed, from Sheriff Rick Romero and Dr, Jemimah Hodge to Gilda Humphries and Tim McCabe.  McCabe, a rich retiree and land owner and his friend Burke decided to bury a treasure.  McCabe published a book with a poem and hidden clues throughout the book and the buried treasure was bound to be found by someone with time and perserverance on their side.   So why not Gilda, the state archaeologist?   She had as much of a chance at finding it as anyone.   As for the Sheriff and Dr Hodge, the forensic psychologist, had an equally daunting task of solving two murders.   Theories abounded, but proof positive was another thing altogether, until the crucial piece of the puzzle fell into place.  Although Gilda was a malcontent and therefore grumpy with everyone she came in contact with, I felt sorrow at her demise. No one seemed to care.   No one shed a tear for her.

It was a good mystery read and quite an enjoyable read.   Once I got into part two of the book, it was quite difficult to set it aside, so I'm rating it at 4 WINKS!!!   Thank you Ms Cash for an excellent mystery read!

Now you have an opportunity to win am E-Copy of this Treasure Among the Shadows, by Marie Romero Cash by entering the raffle copter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Love Me If You Dare by Kate Laurens---Review

Good Morning Peeps!

I have a special treat for you today.   Kate Laurens has written a Beautiful story about Kaylee and Dylan, a love story of two young people who survived the death of Ella, with differing responses that separated them for three long years.   Here's the Synopsis from GoodReads:

SYNOPSIS:

Some things change...

It’s been three years since Kaylee Sawyer has been home—home to the alcoholic mother she can’t handle, home to the painful memories of her sister Ella... and home to the guilt she’s carried for years. About to enter her final year of college, she is determined to come to terms with the mess of her past—and to ignore the guy whose single kiss has been tattooed into her mind forever.

Some things stay the same...

Dylan McKay is still golden haired and dangerous, the flame Kaylee was always afraid to touch for fear of getting burnt. But despite the damage that’s been done, she finds that she still can’t stay away from the one person who accepted her the way she was.

Some things are meant to be.

Kaylee is no longer the innocent girl she once was. Though tragedy ripped them apart before, one look from Dylan brings all of the old feelings rushing back. Torn between her past and her future, she’s not sure if a person can ever truly go home again.

But Dylan doesn’t plan to let her go without a fight.

Recommended for mature readers aged 17+ due to language and sexual content


From My Perspective: 

I always find it odd that when I read, it seems that if I read one archaeological thriller, the next book is a similar read.    The book last read before Love Me If You Dare   was about teen suicide.   Laurens book is a new adult romance story about those who lived past the suicide of a teen, Kaylee Sawyer's twin, Ella had died due to drugs and depression.  Her best friend, Dylan and her twin Kaylee each faced and dealt differently with her suicide.   Kaylee went off to college and stayed away for thee years, determined to let her sister live on through her.   Dylan dealt with his demons and straightened up his wild, bad boy reputation, becoming a responsible adult.  But when Kaylee comes home for the summer, both are in for the ride of their lives, revisiting the past and actually sharing one anothers' misunderstood  responses.

I loved the story.  The premise of Ella's death was revealed in snippets throughout the book and not given all at once.   I liked that as it held your interest in wanting to know what had happened.   Kaylee had assumed that Dylan and her sister had more in common that being best friends...were they also lovers?    Did Dylan see Ella when he looked at Kaylee?   These were questions she needed answered.   Laurens handled the story content with compassion and allowed the characters to mature as their relationship went to new heights.  

I'm giving the book four winks as it was very interesting and had a positive ending.  I also loved the romance.  An underlying message to the reader.....learn to communicate with those you love.   Be honest and open rather than sweeping things under the rug and ignoring them.   Not talking promotes misunderstandings and hurt that is hard to heal, although possible to do.    A very good read indeed and short enough to read in a day!!


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.


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Murdock Tackles Taos--PICT VBT--Review & Giveaway



Synopsis: 


A dead girl with an arrow sticking out of her back sends Matt Murdock and Helene Steinbeck on a killer-hunt that takes them to Angel Mountain where a cold-blooded steely-eyed killer has hypnotized some rich people into funding a naughty habit involving pretty girls, young women in great shape from the worlds of Art and Professional Sport. The odds are fifty to one that they won't get out of this mess alive.

Author Bio: 

Robert J. Ray is a writer/ teacher with six Matt Murdock Mysteries, three volumes of The Weekend Novelist writing series, a tennis story, a thriller about diamonds, a small business textbook that has gone through five editions, and short pieces for magazines. He spent a dozen years teaching college students how to write better. He spent five years teaching tennis, using techniques like Inner Game.

Catch Up With Robert:

 

  From my Perspective:

I must admit to thoroughly enjoying this mystery thriller featuring Matt Murdock  who was hired to find and return the daughter of a friend who went missing from an art colony in Taos, New Mexico.   What a mesmerizing read this turned out to be!

Strong characters, thrilling adventure, psychological deviancy, (is that a word?), strong, well thought out plot and storyline...an absolutely intriguing read!  I don't know what else could have made the story any better.  Helene Steinbeck  was an author attending a writer's workshop in Taos and while photographing flowers, stumbled across a warm dead body.   At this discovery she met Murdock who saved her from becoming a corpse herself.    Their alliance is forged in the fires of survival and mutual attraction.   And from there, the reading was almost manic to solve the mystery with the two main characters!

You can read this excellent book for yourself by entering the rafflecopter drawing below.   The winner will receive an e-copy of  Murdock Tackles Taos.   SO Good Luck!   I'm rating this mystery-thriller a 5 WINK read.


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.
 

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Rocking Chair by Steven Manchester a Providence VBTour review

Book Details
Genre: Fiction
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Number of Pages: 242
Purchase Links:    

Synopsis:

Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone. Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.
A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, The Rockin’ Chair is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

From My Perspective:

When I received my copy of The Rocking Chair, I immediately launched into it.   I wanted to read it so bad and see what magic lived and breathed between the covers.   I wasn't disappointed.  It was an absolutely awesome book!

The story evolves around John McCarthy and his family.   Wife Alice was part Indian and was in declining health when the book starts.    She had been afflicted by Alzheimers;  John faithfully protected her and kept her at home in her last remaining days.   With those last days approaching he called his three grandkids to come home.    Manchester had a very good writing style and easily described a love between John and Alice that lovers everywhere would recognize.    Their love stood the test of time, each completed the other, and they had a world of memories which John would remember for both of them.

Talk about well developed characters?   This book was full of them.   John represented an era of men who seldom spoke their feelings....allowing how they felt to shine through and never comprehending how his son would take the actions for other than what they were intended.   In Hank's, his son, own family, he patterned his father and had some misunderstandings with his own sons and daughter.

The writing was easy to read and flowed flawlessly, stirring emotions deep within the reader and in the characters as well.The storyline was so sweet and sensitive.....John had some chores to finish before he could join his precious "squaw", Alice.    All three grandchildren needed healing and guidance from their beloved grandfather.   Hank, John's Boy, needed the biggest fixing of all and John prayed there would be time to fix them all.    I couldn't have enjoyed or loved this book more.  I'm giving it 5 winks.   Yes, I teared up in places....I FELT the story.    As I told my mother, a book that makes me cry, lets me know I am still human.   Thank God, I am still human, today.   As the front cover says, Family is the foundation for everything.    Thank you Steven Manchester; this will be a favorite for years to come!

Read an excerpt:

Elle picked up Evan, Tara and Lila at the airport. As she approached the threesome, she gasped at the sight of her emaciated daughter. For a few moments, Tara’s eyes scanned every inch of her mother’s face before she spread her twig-like arms. Elle hugged her, then pulled away and peered into her sunken eyes. “Are you sick?” she asked.
While Tara shrugged, Elle grabbed Evan for a hug. “I’ll explain it on the way,” he whispered in her ear.
Lila stood there, looking up at her grandmother—curiously.
Elle bent down and smiled at the baby. “Hello, my love,” she whispered, “Grandma’s waited much too long to meet you.” The little girl was a living doll. She had Tara’s strawberry blond curls and the same dark eyes as Alice.

Author Bio:

 

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller Twelve Months, Goodnight, Brian, and several other books. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early
Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Catch Up with Steven: rss_512 facebook_512


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’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Don't forget to sign up--Birthday Giveaway!

Morning Peeps!   

Birthday Giveaway

 Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter for a chance to win a $10.00 Amazon giftcard....only two days and fourteen hours left and only one entry, so your CHANCES are Very good to win.

All you have to do is comment with your guess as to which day in July is my birthday.   You don't have to be right to win!

Have fun guessing!!



Friday, August 2, 2013

White Chalk by Pavarti K Tyler / Pixel PR VBTour--Review


Good Morning Peeps!   This mornings review feels like it will be painful, but please bear with me.   I am uncertain that I can convey the feelings this book stirred within me, or the importance of the subject material.   I'll do my best, so let's begin with the

Book Blurb:

Book Blurb:
Chelle isn’t a typical 13-year-old girl—she doesn’t laugh with friends, play sports, or hang out at the mall after school. Instead, she navigates a world well beyond her years.
Life in Dawson, ND spins on as she grasps at people, pleading for someone to save her—to return her to the simple childhood of unicorns on her bedroom wall and stories on her father’s knee.
When Troy Christiansen walks into her life, Chelle is desperate to believe his arrival will be her salvation. So much so, she forgets to save herself. After experiencing a tragedy at school, her world begins to crack, causing a deeper scar in her already fragile psyche.

From My Perspective:

When I was thirteen, I thought I knew it all and that I was ready for life as an adult.   And my hormones were totally wonky and out of control.   Fortunately, I lived in the country, so I wasn't around boys except while at school.   Chores took my time before and after school and I also had horses to fill my summer days with new foals and riding around the conutryside.   Those were the good ole days for sure.   I would be gone with the horse for hours on end and no one questioned the safety of it, back then.

White Chalk by  Pavarti K Tyler was a chilling and haunting story about a young teen-ager in far different circumstances than mine at that age.   Chelle was a loner.   Her mother was always working; her father was an alcoholic.  Her pain was released by cutting.   She wasn't close to anyone at school except her friend Morgan and even that friendship diminished with the arrival of Troy Christiansen.   She was immediately drawn to him; they had enough in common to become best friends.    As is usually the case a male and a female cannot keep it strictly platonic.  One or the other feels more in the relationship than the other, and heartache results.  Teen age angst, low self esteem and a feeling of being less than important to anyone contributes even more pain for our protagonist.

Ms Tyler's characters were so real and the plight of Chelle was heart breaking as she sought acceptance and love amongst her peers and the adults who influenced her decisions.    Her many meetings with the vice principal at her school, left the reader feeling helpless and defeated....Her screams for help were unnoticed and unanswered, because she could not determine how to voice her real need.   This is a heavy read, but the writing is smooth and flows smoothly.   The story is so interesting and as the reader, I sought for Chelle's happy ever after ending that never came.   The theme of the book is one that needs attention.   I think every parent could benefit from reading this book if for no other reason than to be able to recognize some of the issues with teens and how to recognize when their kids may be in trouble.   Yes, we get busy with our lives and we each have our own demons to deal with, but the fact that we provide in depth care for our newborns and toddlers should not end when they grow into adolescence.    We need to be there for them just as much during those very difficult years.    This book made me think and I do not think the heaviness will lift any too soon.    This book earned 5 WINKS!!!


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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, August 1, 2013

What I Read in July

Only 5 months til Christmas!    We're on the downhill slide, so I read these two Christmas stories, one shared the real life experiences of a mall Santa and the other told a tale about a community divided about a name change for the beloved town, where Christmas lived in the resident's hearts all year round!
Suspense - Thriller with a lot of suspense and a touch of romance!

A somewhat humorous romance which was quite enjoyable!

Romantic suspense at it's besst....chilling
A father's love was put to the test.....how far would you go to protect your child? 
A novel about sexual exploitation of a child...where were her adult protectors...haunting
Romance story...sassy, fast and fun....fairytales can come true.



 < Archaealogical Thrillers>





                 Best romantic read of the month--HOT!!>


Besides being a great month for reading many diverse books, it was also my birthday month.   I think it means it's time for a GiveAway!   Join the rafflecopter below and guess which day of the month is my actual birthdate.  If you're right doesn't mean you will win, but just guess for the fun of it!   Good Luck and I hope you win the $10.00 gift card up for grabs!



 a Rafflecopter giveaway