Heroes Ever Die by J.A. Crawford Book Review/Blog Tour

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

This is certainly a different take on your “typical” murder mystery. Ken Allen had a one-time not-quite-starring role as Jove Brand. Needless to say, the movie flopped and he went on to become a private investigator. Through his role of Jove Brand, he met special effects guru, Ray Ford, and they formed a friendship … all these many years later. Fast forward to present day when some mysterious deaths occurred not just a one production company but also at a rival production company. Enter Ken Allen’s not-so-great abilities as a private eye to find out what’s or who is behind these deaths and to help his friend, Ray Ford, get out of the pickle he finds himself in.

Because this is a character-driven book based on superheroes, the jacket that Ray Ford designed for Ken is full of all kinds of gadgets that he uses to incapacitate the “bad” guys he’s after. This tale takes him on some pretty farfetched adventures, but I think that is the point … it is farfetched because aren’t comics farfetched? I found myself chuckling just a bit at some of the antics Mr. Crawford has displayed in this tale of whodunnit.

Mr. Crawford maintained his creativity and his fun tone throughout this entire tale, but again … some of the antics that Mr. Allen and others found themselves in are pretty farfetched and are certainly good for a chuckle!

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Ever-Allen-Super-Sleuth/dp/0744305748/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1655049011&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heroes-ever-die-a-crawford/1140546917?ean=9780744305920

 

Find J.A. Crawford:

Website: https://www.jacrawford.net/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-crawford

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1503633.A_Crawford

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josephoforb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephoforb/?hl=en

 

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/

 

The White House by Sean Christopher Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. (Picture provided by author.)

Do you like political intrigue? Then this book might just be for you!

Dominic Colletti, FBI agent, dad to Vanessa and Ashley, husband to Candy. Partner to Vasquez.

Current president, Randall Scott, up for re-election. Presidential hopeful, Alex Hamilton. Not only are each of these men dealing with campaign issues, they also both have troubled relationships in their personal lives, advisors and campaign managers who think they know best.

There’s an incident at Yale University that happened just after Dominic dropped Vanessa off, not having the best of goodbyes. He has to go back to Yale to find out what happened. He finds himself confronting the officer in charge, which does not turn out well for Colletti, and in the end he goes out on his own. Vasquez, as always, has his back. Dominic finds himself in all sorts of situations. The other thing behind the Yale incident is the kidnapping of three students and one professor, one of the students being Vanessa. The other two students who were taken came from moneyed families, so the question of this incident being money driven is ever present. And the professor? You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

I normally don’t read political “thrillers,” but this one was quite interesting with all the other stories intertwined … from the Yale incident, the dysfunctional family relationships, the it-really-could-happen scenarios, the mysterious notes, the past history that connects the bad guys, the greed. I was most intrigued with Dominic and Vanessa’s story. A difficult relationship for sure, but a dad who just wants to find his daughter and a daughter who wants her dad to find her.

If you are looking for a new author in the political thriller genre, give Mr. Christopher a try.

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight Book Review

 

Molly Sanderson is married to Justin, daughter Ella. Molly and Justin have just moved to the neighborhood where Justin is a professor at Ridgedale University and Molly is a reporter for the Ridgedale Reader, not reporting on anything majorly exciting, until she gets a call from Erik. This is the opportunity she has been waiting for to prove herself as a full-on reporter.

Sandy is Jenna’s daughter. Jenna moved her daughter back to the area after hopping around from place to place.

Barbara is married to Steve who is the chief of police. They also have a couple of children, Hannah being their daughter. Hannah is also Sandy’s tutor, having been introduced to each other through Rhea who saw something in Sandy.

This tale is based around what happened to the baby who was found. This is a twisted tale of how the past meets the future in a not-so-kind way. Being an up-and-coming reporter, Molly starts asking questions. The more questions she asks the more she uncovers about a past event that happened in the exact same area. She starts to unravel the truth that has been buried for a long, long time and certain people don’t want the truth to surface.

I enjoyed the twistedness, the little bit of darkness in the telling of this tale. If you haven’t read Ms. McCreight’s work before, give her a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Out of the Rain by V.C. Andrews Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Saffron Anders has just lost her grandmother, leaving her alone in the only world that she has ever known. Off she goes to reunite with her father who walked away from her a few years prior, not knowing what to expect. Her father has a new wife and another daughter whom Saffron knew nothing about. Her father was surprised to see her on his doorstep. He immediately sends her to the local hotel, which coincidentally is owned by his family … or rather, his wife’s family, who has quite a lot of pull in the local area. Saffron’s father meets with her and, much to her surprise, has come up with an elaborate plan to integrate her into his now family. The question is why.

This story reminded me quite a lot of the first series I ever read by V.C. Andrews, that of Flowers in The Attic, with the secrets held onto by a family. The truth always reveals itself.

The Umbrella Lady is book one in this new series, with Out of the Rain being book two (The Umbrella series). I don’t know if there will be more books in this series, but I certainly hope so.

Dead In The Alley by Sharon Michalove Book Review/Blog Tour

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

You know you’re in trouble when you start a book at lunchtime and are immediately pulled in by the little blurb in the beginning. This story takes off with a bang and keeps throwing curve balls.

This tale revolves around Bay and Derrick having moved back to Bay’s hometown of Sherburne where they opened a restaurant, much to Bay’s parents’ chagrin. They wanted more for Bay, but absolutely loved Derrick. It is not a spoiler to say that this tale starts out with the tragic death of Derrick, in the alley behind their restaurant. Let the police investigation begin. Enter Greg Musgrave, who works on the police force and, as fate would have it, knew Bay back in high school.

Bay finds out that her husband had secrets. She is forced to move back home with her parents. Her two sisters and brother are also in the picture, but they all have troubled relationships for various reasons. While Bay sets out on a new venture with another local business owner, the police continue to dig into her husband’s death, finding more and more clues but not getting any closer to the answer. The truths Bay learns about Derrick and those around her leave her stunned and angry.

The action keeps moving along at a relatively fast pace in this tale that will keep readers turning pages. If you are looking for a story that encompasses a marriage based on lies, friendships that are tested to their limits, a family hiding secrets of their own, a subtle yet undeniable attraction that has smoldered for years but is rekindled, give this one a read.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Alley-Sharon-Michalove-ebook/dp/B09P8QWC31/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10EHR6YF3WLWX&keywords=dead+in+the+alley&qid=1655048302&s=books&sprefix=dead+in+the+alley%2Cstripbooks%2C176&sr=1-1

Find Sharon Michalove:

Website: https://www.sharonmichalove.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sharon-michalove

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2128144.Sharon_D_Michalove

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdmichalove

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

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/

 

Prey No More by Lee Matthew Goldberg Book Review

I was able to grab a copy off of Book Sirens and am providing a review. (Not my picture.)

After reading Immoral Origins and finding myself immersed in the story, I find myself wanting to read this series. In Immoral Origins, we are introduced to an organization called The Desire Card. The Desire Card will fulfill anyone’s fantasy … whatever it is, no matter the cost. The employees, if you will, of The Card are each assigned the identity of a famous and recognizable actor, the leader being Clark Gable. All employees are carefully recruited which is how J.D. Storm came to The Card (identified as James Dean), through a lady he met one evening. She thought he was the perfect candidate as did Mr. Gable.

In Prey No More, we learn more of J.D.’s story of origin. He finds himself coming into close contact with his conscience while he is on a job. He then becomes prey to The Desire Club. On the run, he meets Bud, a truck driver, who gives him a lift all the way to Killenroy, Washington, where J.D. reunites with his once-girlfriend, Annie. After eight years, they are both shocked to see each other. Through Annie, J.D. (now Marcus) meets Abram who wants to do a job which will get Marcus a couple of things he needs, one being money, so he can escape The Desire Card. Or can he?

This story takes us on Marcus’s journey, of sorts, in his trying to escape from The Desire Card. Some of his encounters are rather hilarious in their telling, a bit unbelievable, some are just the opposite. In the end, the question is who is really the prey - J.D. (Marcus) or The Desire Card? I look forward to book three, All Sins Fulfilled. If you like dark humor, I recommend you give this series a try.

Series in Order: Immoral Origins, Prey No More, All Sins Fulfilled, Vicious Ripples, Desire’s End.

Depths of Deceit by Laura Oles Book Review/Blog Tour

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

While reading this book the character Jamie Rush seemed very familiar to me. I still haven’t figured out why, but the relationship she and Cookie have is one of respect and friendship. Those two things are important considering they are business partners. They are in the business of tracing down skips for repossession. Skips are those folks who have … wait for it … skipped out on payments of one sort or another. This book centers around Renata’s request of Cookie, Renata being a friend to Cookie. Her sister, Leah, has been ghosting her and she thinks something is wrong as Leah at least keeps in touch with Renata and it is unlike her to not so much as answer a text. To add to this mix is Alastair Finn who is back in the town of Port Alene where this tale is set (Texas). Alastair is no stranger to Cookie and is a rival in the skip business, having dusted Jamie and Cookie on a couple of their cases. While Renata’s case doesn’t generate any income for Jamie and Cookie, something they desperately need as their pockets are running on empty, the take it on. This case gets more and more interesting the more Jamie and Cookie uncover and, much to their dismay, they need Alastair’s help to bring this case to resolution.

This is quite an entertaining read. While there is a case involved that Jamie and Cookie need to solve, there are issues with Jamie and her mom and dad (Alex and Stella), her sister Grace, and Cookie’s family has quite a drama club going on as well, though that is not explored in great depth. There is the animosity between Alastair, Jamie, and Cookie, though there is also a mutual respect in the end. And, then there is Deuce. Deuce is Jamie’s bulldog; he makes for a delightful character addition. Marty is the bartender who watches Deuce during the daytime while Jamie is out solving crimes; he is also Jamie’s landlord, having rented the loft above his bar to Jamie.

It will be interesting to follow this series to see what other cases Jamie and Cookie get involved in. I’m sure Alastair will be right there with them, ready to scoop up their bounty! And Deuce, the bulldog, will be soaking up more attention than he could possibly imagine.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Depths-Deceit-Jamie-Rush-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09YJ1PNCG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GK81KBTAS6J6&keywords=depths+of+deceit+laura+oles&qid=1655048698&s=books&sprefix=depths+of+dec%2Cstripbooks%2C227&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/depths-of-deceit-laura-oles/1141375595?ean=9781948051859

 

Find Laura Oles:

Website: https://lauraoles.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-oles

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3182365.Laura_Oles

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauraoles

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

 

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/

 

The Killings Begin by Bradley Pay Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. This is book 1 in the Spectrum series.

This is an interesting take on a not-so-typical murder mystery. In this tale, you will meet Gia. Gia is a young lady who has run away from her family to escape an arranged marriage. One evening, while sitting in a bar, she meets three long-time friends – Raul, Joseph, and Sal. She comes up with an idea to help them with their predicament of never having time to date, let alone have any sort of serious relationship. She comes up with the idea of a “contract” so she can be their “date,” if you will, no strings attached.

Through this “contract,” these four individuals, over the span of a few years, become friends. As well, Gia has experiences she never would have had otherwise from galas to dinner parties to openings of businesses to travel. As well, Gia has a best friend, Mari, who encourages Gia to pursue her own dreams and not focus so much on this “contract.” Gia does just that and pursues her architectural degree as she is fascinated with and has a passion for buildings, their history, how they were made.

This is only one story contained within these pages.

There is also the story of Judge Tracey Lauch. He’s retired. He’s bored. He decides to travel. He takes a cruise where he meets Mari and Gia. He also meets Charlotte, which surprises him. There is a dark side to Judge Lauch.

If you like to travel vicariously through characters in a book, this may be just the one to help. It does, however, take a while for all the affected parties to come together, so it is a slow burn (at least for me it was), but you will finally have the a-ha moment when everything ties together. You may even find yourself wondering … why?

 

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/

 

Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble Book Review/Blog Tour

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

This is the first book in this new series for Ms. Coble, featuring Annie Pederson who is a law enforcement officer/ranger. There are many underlying layers in this tale. Annie’s ‘nightmare’ began when she was just a little girl and her sister disappeared. All these many years later, twenty-four to be exact, Annie is still searching for Laura. She now has her own little girl, Kylie, and is also dealing with the deaths of her parents and her husband, Nate, as well as some past regrets which come to the surface when Jon Dunstan returns to Rock Harbor.

Annie –Since her parents’ death, not only is she a ranger, she is also the owner of her family’s campground/resort.

Kylie – Annie’s daughter who is dealing with her father’s death along with losing her grandparents, and a diagnosis, not fatal, but shocking to Annie.

Jon Dunstan – Annie’s teenage boyfriend. Things didn’t turn out so well back then, Jon left Rock Harbor to pursue his medical career, and only returns to get his father’s cabin ready to sell. His dad accompanies him to Rock Harbor and is not blind to Jon’s affection for Annie, even after all these years.

Laura – Annie’s missing sister.

Taylor – An interesting character. Annie hires her to be Kylie’s nanny and to help out around the resort.

Bree and Kade – Readers of Ms. Coble will ‘know’ Bree from a previous series. She is present in this series as well, but more as a background character. She and Kade have three children of their own, Davy (Bree’s son) and a set of twins.

Anu – A local shop owner.

And the police force whom Annie works closely with. There are also many background characters who are essential in the telling of this tale.

When Jon returns to Rock Harbor, both he and Annie are forced to deal with regrets from the past. The more Annie investigates a particular case, the more ‘warnings’ she gets. Taylor is not all she seems to be. What exactly is Taylor up to? Kylie is diagnosed with celiac disease which makes Annie question certain aspects of her past. Both Annie and Kylie are dealing with the trauma of losing family members, compounded with Annie not only being a ranger but also the owner of her family’s resort/campground. Not to mention a new puppy! Kylie is dealing with meeting Jon and just exactly what he means to her mom, making her a very relatable little girl.

This is going to be one interesting series, especially if there are as many underlying stories running through the pages as there are in this first book. I am looking forward to more of Annie’s adventures.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Dusk-Annie-Pederson-Novel-ebook/dp/B09MBSG5NL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XK4A0GESS7KM&keywords=edge+of+dusk+colleen+coble&qid=1655047682&s=books&sprefix=edge+of+du%2Cstripbooks%2C141&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/edge-of-dusk-colleen-coble/1140521224?ean=9780785253709

 

Find Colleen Coble:

Website: https://colleencoble.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-coble

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/33227.Colleen_Coble

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colleencoble

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

 

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

 

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/