Monday, October 27, 2025
Friday, October 17, 2025
Crime Writer by Vinnie Hansen Blog Tour and Book Review
I tore through this book … I was that invested. It’s an easy read, I thought, but Zoey … man, Zoey. What has she gotten herself into? You can see from the blurb where she lives, and that particular farm is owned by a fellow named Harvey. The why of Harvey letting Zoey live on his farm becomes clear when Rachelle is mentioned. There’s a story there.
Harvey also has a history with Ray. That’s an interesting
twist to this tale.
Camille – Zoey’s mother. A not-so-great relationship, but
when something happens to Camille, Zoey had to reevaluate their relationship.
Being close to my own mom, I can’t imagine being at odds with her.
Anywho, Zoey finds herself in the middle of some big trouble
and through this big trouble she meets Jimmy. She has some reservations about
Jimmy, which I appreciated, as Zoey has some trust issues that run deep. To me,
this made Zoey a very relatable, very realistic character.
One of the things I enjoyed about this tale is the realism
that the author was able to paint through description. Zoey finding herself
being chased by the bad guys and how she handled that, wending her way through
Harvey’s fields, hiding behind trees or down a steep incline. I enjoyed reading
about Zoey’s mistrust of Jimmy but ultimately deciding … I also enjoyed the
backstory of Harvey, Ray, and Rachelle; I’m sure there’s more to their story.
Harvey seemed like a gruff old man, but really deep down … plus, he had a dog,
Rambo. I even enjoyed the animosity between Zoey and her mom until Zoey made
her final realization about Camille.
I’m quite certain if there is a book two, Zoey will find
herself chasing another story as she is a writer after all and it’ll be
interesting to see how she gets herself out of another mess. And Harvey’s
scheming? You’ll have to read that for yourself.
Find Ms. Hansen:
Website: https://vinniehansen.com/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vinnie-hansen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/769812.Vinnie_Hansen
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crime-writer-vinnie-hansen/1148360241?ean=9798898200275
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Friday, October 3, 2025
Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills Blog Tour and Book Review
Therese and Blane find themselves immersed in a case where they
are looking for a little girl, Alina. This case is also complicated by the fact
that no one seemed to want to tell them the truth about what was really going
on, most especially Alina’s father, Rurik.
They also found themselves attracted to each other, something that
hadn’t died even though Therese had shut Blane down before.
What I really enjoy about this author’s writing is her style, the
story she weaves coupled with the characters in their doubts and their beliefs.
I like the fact that certain characters call upon their faith at the most
unexpected times, in the good times, and most especially when they are faced
with dangerous situations. The author is able to paint a picture that is so
true to life when it comes to faith and how we call upon our own in times of
trouble.
In this particular tale, I enjoyed reading about the father’s
apparent deception, Alina’s bravery for such a small girl, and the ultimate
outcome. This is truly a story of good versus bad, with the underlying question
of who would win. I sort of figured out who was behind it all, but it took most
of these pages to lead me there.
Purchase Links:
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/canyon-of-deceit-diann-mills/1147073373?ean=9781496485151
Find Ms. Mills:
Website: https://diannmills.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannmills
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann-mills#concrete
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81639.DiAnn_Mills#concrete
Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills#concrete
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannmillsauthor/
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Friday, September 19, 2025
The Girl in the Maze by R.K. Jackson Blog Tour and Book Review
Martha Covington finds herself in a predicament she did not expect. What I especially liked about Martha is her persistence, even in the face of her mental illness. Vince, her therapist, thought he was doing right by Martha by releasing her from therapy, so long as she stayed on her medications. The thing I appreciated about this side of Martha is that the author did not focus on her schizophrenia, but rather put her through some situations that she was able to handle on her own. And she did so with an internal strength that she didn’t know she possessed.
Now all she had to do was get someone to listen to her and
take her seriously.
She finds herself given the opportunity to do some research
for Lydia who was running the Historical Society of Amberleen, Georgia. She
wasn’t sure she could handle this, even on a short-term basis, but here she was
… doing it anyway. Lydia was so impressed with Martha and her thoroughness that
she gave her another opportunity.
This opportunity led Martha to learn about the Geechees. She
learned about a place called Shell Heap. She met Jarrell and his mother,
Astrid. She also met a very colorful character in Lady Albertha who held the
tale of Shell Heap and how it came to be. Lady Albertha also was able to reveal
some truths that Martha hadn’t yet uncovered in her research.
Near the end of Martha’s journey, she was caught in a storm.
What I really appreciated about this was the author was able to describe the
viciousness of said storm with words alone. I could almost feel myself being
trapped in the rising water right along with Martha, holding on to whatever she
could grab, and still having enough wherewithal to try something that I wasn’t
expecting her to try. No matter what happened to her and how badly people
treated her, there was still a goodness within Martha.
There was also a scene that involved Jarrell and, again, the
author was able to convey the severity of that incident with words alone,
painting a picture of Jarrell’s injuries and just how badly he was injured. It
was very easy to get a visual in my own mind of this particular instance, and
that is something that I appreciated from this author.
It will be interesting to see what Martha finds herself
mixed up in book two, Kiss of the Sun.
Find Mr. Jackson:
Website: https://randaljackson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkjacksonAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randal.jackson1/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-k-jackson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14104433.R_K_Jackson
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-in-the-maze-rk-jackson/1121903971?ean=9781101886410
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Monday, September 8, 2025
Deadly Sanctuary by Shannon Hollinger New Release (September 8, 2025)
Help me congratulate Shannon on her newest release! Here’s
the blurb:
She’s no stranger to trouble…
Deep in the heart of the untamed Florida Everglades lies a web of secrets,
danger, and deceit. For FBI Agent Cassidy Knox, it’s the only home she’s ever
known—one she vowed never to set foot in again. But after a harrowing
confrontation with a serial killer, Cassidy finds herself with no choice but to
return to the animal sanctuary of her youth. Grieving the recent death of her
beloved grandfather, Butch, on top of her own trauma, she hopes for a brief
respite to heal her wounds.
Only the swamp, where the past lurks just beneath the surface, has other plans.
When a neighbor is found murdered, the suspicion surrounding her grandfather’s
death intensifies, drawing Cassidy into a chilling investigation that threatens
everything she holds dear. With old friendships rekindling and new betrayals
surfacing, the lines between ally and enemy blur.
As Cassidy races against time to uncover the truth, she clashes against her
inner demons—and the boy who once stole her heart. With danger lurking around
every corner the only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t trust anyone.
Because the killer’s taking aim… and they have her in their sights.
Get ready to dive into a heart-pounding mystery where trust is a luxury and
survival is a game of wits. A gripping, heart-racing thriller that will leave
you breathless.
Friday, September 5, 2025
Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham Blog Tour and Book Review
Kit has found herself in an unpredictable situation. As an undercover agent, she found herself deeply entrenched in a situation she’d never been involved with before. She was only supposed to be an exotic dancer, but she was able to infiltrate other parts of this world … more quickly than anyone had anticipated.
I was quite taken by Kit’s character. She was able to
infiltrate into this organization, but she always maintained a sense of calm on
the outside … even when she wasn’t feeling it on the inside. She was always
able to maintain her sense of self and the job that she needed to accomplish,
even if she put herself right smack dab in the middle of dangerous situations.
The worst thing that could happen was to be discovered by the men she was
involved with … some really bad guys.
I liked the sense of danger that revealed itself throughout
these pages. I’d like to know more of Kit’s story, what makes her tick.
I enjoy reading tales such as this one … full of bad guys,
good guys, in-between guys, some random characters. I like how the author was
able to make some of the characters come alive, so to speak, with their
different personalities, especially some of the dancers Kit found herself
involved with and what they got up to. There were a couple of different ladies
who didn’t particularly care for Kit, which added, at least for me, another
layer of danger that Kit could possibly be facing. If this is a continuing
series, it will be interesting to see what Kit finds herself involved in next.
Find Mr. Brenham:
Website: https://alanbrenham.com/
Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/alanbe75
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlanBrenham/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanbe75
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alan-brenham
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6509203.Alan_Brenham
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whatever-it-takes-alan-brenham/1147413575?ean=9798317669768
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent Book Review
Revised edition: This edition of The Perfect Roommate includes editorial revisions.
I had an opportunity to re-read this one. It reminded me
what I enjoy this author’s writing style.
Meadow needed a place to stay, and Lauren’s empty room
seemed like the ‘perfect’ solution.
Enter Lauren’s friends who then suddenly became Meadow’s
friends. Elisabeth, one of Meadow’s clients through the cleaning service she
worked for, befriended Meadow – or did she?
It was interesting to read about Meadow’s transformation
from a wallflower into a full-fledged rose, so to speak. The transformation was
not so subtle. And all the well-kept secrets between these seemingly close
friends. The seeds that were dropped to make them turn against one another.
And that ending? I have to wonder if Meadow started doing
the same things over again in her new place with her new roommate, and who
exactly turned out to be the ‘perfect’ roommate. It leaves me to wonder.
The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson Book Review
Another book I’ve had sitting on my Kindle for quite a
while.
The premise is a couple of bodies found in a basement of the
Beaumont estate. A fellow everyone called Bronco found them, and that was the
least of what he was expecting. The thing is … there was a depression next to
these two bodies that seemingly was for a third victim, but what happened? Why
were these bodies in the basement? Who, what, when, where, why, how? All of
these questions come into play.
I like these kinds of stories … ones that I would consider
police procedurals.
There was also an incident involving a husband and wife –
Nikki, a reporter, and Reed Pierce, her detective husband. Enter Pierce’s
partner, Morrisette, and what happened to her, and you have some marital
strife.
Nikki always seemed to get herself in trouble chasing a
story. This only makes Reed worry about her and what he is going to have to get
her out of next.
Enter Pierce’s new partner, a rookie that he wondered about
– Delacroix. There’s an additional story to Ms. Delacroix.
I have to admit, I sort of figured this one out, just not
the why of it all. Overall, I enjoyed this one. I enjoyed the mix of the good
guys versus bad guys, the discontent between Nikki and Reed because of what
happened, Delacroix and her backstory, and the ultimate conclusion.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Circle of Strangers by Minka Kent New Release and Book Review
Help me congratulate Minka on her newest release! Here’s the blurb:
The lengths neighbors will go to protect their secrets
become downright frightening in a gripping novel of suspense by Minka Kent, the
Edgar-nominated author of Unmissing.
Camille and Will Prescott have relocated from San Diego to
Phoenix for a fresh start in a quiet gated community. After the traumas
Camille’s marriage survived, it’s just the sanctuary she needs. As for her new
neighbors, there’s Sozi, seemingly well intentioned if not for her invasive
meddling and her desperate overtures to make a friend. And Mara and Oscar, an
unstable couple around whom troubling rumors swirl.
Patiently listening to Sozi’s gossip and watching Mara and
Oscar ever so closely has become something of a hobby for Camille. But while
she obsesses about the cracks in everyone else’s lives, she begins to see the
cracks in her own. And when a monster from her past reaches out to reconnect,
it’s all Camille can do not to snap. Then one day she finds a dead body in her
garage lying in a pool of blood.
Camille is about to discover what’s really going on behind
the closed doors of this cozy cul-de-sac. And the worst is yet to come.
REVIEW:
This book kept my neck on a swivel.
Camille and Will – the newcomers to their gated community.
Camille thought it was perfect, plenty of security, plenty of fences, and
plenty of secrets. Georgie and Jackson, their children.
Mara and Oscar – the trouble married couple.
I was intrigued by the lengths that Camille felt she had to
go to in order to protect her family. Little did she know there was someone who
was better at the ‘game’ than she was. It was also interesting to find out that
Camille and Will and pretty much the same upbringing by two moms who had
difficulties of their own. This just adds another layer to their story.
Oscar and Mara – could there be a more not-so-perfect
couple, each of them showing what they wanted folks to see but inside trouble
was always brewing, sometimes at a simmer but always there.
Sozi – A very troubled woman to say the least. It was
interesting that she always talked about her husband and her son, but every
time Camille suggested a playdate, Ezra (son) always seemed to be suffering
from one ailment or another, and why did no one ever see Austin (husband)
except that one time?
The interesting thing about these neighbors is they all
harbored secrets, each one of them had something to hide, each of them had more
to their personalities than they dared show to outsiders. I thought I had this
one figured out but when it came to that plot twist … I was highly impressed at
the turn of events in this tale of who can outdo whom. I don’t know if there
will be a book three in this series, but I certainly hope so because I’d like
to see what happened to Camille, what consequences she took on when she did
what she did, and if there was still someone better at the ‘game’ than she
thought she was.
Friday, August 15, 2025
Throwing Shadows by Claire Booth Blog Tour and Book Review
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, book 7 in
the Sheriff Hank Worth series. It seems these can also be read as standalones,
but the characters’ personalities are well developed so I suspect reading this
series in order might not be a bad idea.
Sheriff Hank Worth – he’s not just dealing with the crime at
hand, he’s dealing with a couple of home situations that are totally relatable.
They involve his wife (Maggie), his children, and his father-in-law. There’s a
deeper story there, which makes me think book 6 would be a good one to pick up
for a better understanding.
Maggie, Hank’s wife – she works in the ER so every time a
case comes through the ER doors, she has to admonish Hank.
Sam – Hank calls him his young pup. He’ll be a good
investigator one day. And his girlfriend Brenna.
And my favorite character … Sheila. She works with Hank,
she’s supposed to be his partner but it seems she outranks him, at least that
was my take. There’s more to Sheila’s story as she walks around with a limp and
sometimes a bad attitude, but her sense of humor … that is something I
appreciated throughout this tale. She just drops these comments that are so
spot on, she gave me a chuckle or two.
There is some history in the telling of this tale that
involves Alf Bolin and what happened at what is called Murder Rocks. These
rocks are now located on the Fackrells’ land, their family having been there
for quite a long time. There’s a podcast. There are treasure hunters. There are
crimes involved which is where Hank, Sheila, and Sam come in. There are
innocent folks, guilty folks, and just a lot of things happening throughout the
solving of the crimes. There are some backstories that include the Worth family,
Sheila’s limp, and of course the podcast owner.
I liked all these tidbits of individual stories laced
together, coupled with Sheila’s sense of humor, to get to the end result. I
kind of figured out the whodunnit but I wasn’t sure of the why or the how. I’d
be interested in reading more of Hank and Sheila’s adventures.
Find Ms. Booth:
Website: https://clairebooth.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/clairebooth10
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claireboothauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claire.booth10
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/claire-booth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/875842.Claire_Booth
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/throwing-shadows-claire-booth/1146986151?ean=9781448313914
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Wednesday, August 13, 2025
The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson Book Review
This is another book I’ve had on my Kindle for quite some time. I shouldn’t have taken so long to read it.
This book has everything I like in this genre. It started
out right away with what happened twenty years ago. A very brutal, very
gruesome crime against a family.
Fast forward twenty years … we are taken through Kara’s
turmoil, how she meets Wesley Tate, and a couple of detectives who are assigned
to reopen this very old, very cold case. We are also introduced to one of Kara’s
stepbrothers, Jonas.
The other thing I liked about this one is that it takes
place in my home state, Oregon, so mentions of various cities throughout Oregon
took me back to my childhood for a moment.
I also liked the pacing of this one … it seemed to move
rather quickly in some spots, petered out when a clue would be a dead end, and
then picked up again when Detective Thomas caught an idea and had to follow it.
There were quite a few turns in this one which kept me guessing. I honestly
thought I had it figured out … no, I was wrong, turned out the whodunnit was
someone totally different than the one I picked out. That’s another thing I
liked about this one, the surprise of the whodunnit. I also liked the
relationships that developed between the characters through these pages, Tate
and Kara, Detective Thomas and Detective Johnson, Jonas and Kara, Jonas and Mia,
to name a few.
I will warn more sensitive readers that some of the descriptions
are quite vivid, not as vivid as some I’ve read, but still … there is one scene
near the end that is quite ugly to say the least. If you have a squeamish stomach
or have nightmares easily, just be prepared.
Monday, August 11, 2025
Red Flags by Lisa Black Book Review
Dr. Ellie Carr … how can she possibly have an unbiased opinion when the parents of Mason are her relatives? And, what happened to Mason? He was just a baby and couldn’t have done anything wrong. She expected the unthinkable.
Taylor – a very intelligent 11-year-old. She kept calling
Mason the ‘dragon baby.’ Why?
Becca and Hunter – Taylor and Mason’s parents. Becca is also
Ellie’s cousin, though they have been out of touch for quite a long time.
Rachael Davies – she works for the Locard Institute. Hunter
hired the Locard to help in assisting to find Mason.
Ellie and Rachael also had their own opinions about each
other. I liked those internal thoughts that were scattered throughout the
telling of this tale.
There was also another crime involved that I wasn’t
expecting, and the why of it made sense as I was finishing this book. As it
finally did to Ellie when everything clicked into place.
I liked the fact that Becca and Hunter thought they had to
be in control of everything and everyone in order to accomplish what they
needed to do. I liked the fact that Hunter and Becca came face-to-face with
each other when they were confronted with their wrongdoings, but yet continued
to maintain a united front. Odd really, considering the depths of one of their
crimes, but made for an interesting read.
And when it finally clicked for Ellie? I liked how it was
all tied up and explained in the end. It all made sense when the ending came
together, at least it did for me.
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli Book Review
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I’ve had it sitting on my Kindle for a while. Since one of my goals is to finish some of my eBooks, I gave this one a read.
It’s a ghost story! It’s a story with a crime or two or
three involved. It’s a story that has a message behind it.
I was actually entertained with the antics of Meghan,
Brecia, and Skye. As we learn from the blurb of this tale, they all had one
thing in common. Since all three of these ladies were in the afterlife their
way of getting around was so much easier. They haunted the guy who did them
wrong.
And he thought he was oh-so smart, trying to stay three
steps ahead of whatever organization was after him.
I’ve never read a book that was based on the opinions or
point of view of ghostly beings. I also found myself appreciating the larger
message that is in this tale. It may not always go by the name of Andrea, but
read those signs … follow your instincts … ask for help if you need it.
Every Kind of Wicked by Lisa Black Book Review
Leave it to me to read book 6 of 6 in this series. I found myself really enjoying the characters of Maggie and Jack.
Having never ‘met’ Maggie and Jack before, I was taken by
their relationship, one based on something that happened to Maggie … something
Jack did that neither one could forget or talk about. Enter Maggie’s ex-husband
Rick who wanted nothing more than to figure out Jack’s real motives. There are
a couple of other police folks in the mix since this is what I would consider a
police procedural.
There are crimes involving the worst of the worst and some
telephone scams that Shanaya had a hand in.
What I especially enjoyed about this author’s writing is the
sense of humor that came through, even in the worst of times. I also enjoyed
Maggie’s inner dialogue which seemed to be spot in, not to mention her thoughts
surrounding Jack, especially near the end of this tale. I also enjoyed that
there was essentially more than one story spread throughout these pages,
keeping my interest.
Having not read the other 5 books in this series, I have to
wonder if there will be more to Maggie and Jack’s story. Certainly this can’t
be the end when they are seemingly just now figuring things out between the two
of them.
Friday, August 8, 2025
They Came At Night by Westley Smith Blog Tour and Book Review
I don’t even know where to start with this one. I could’ve easily devoured this in one sitting had I had the time. I imagine this would be a really good audio book, especially if it included different character voices and the ghoulish vibe that this book possesses.
Essentially, Sandra is reconnecting with her family after
being absent for five years. She suffered a horrific trauma at the hands of
another and needed to get herself back together, learn to deal with her trauma,
and in the process of healing she also learned to defend herself so no one
would ever hurt her again – physically or emotionally.
In her absence, her niece, Emalyn, did not understand why
her Aunt Sonnie had disappeared. She was only a 9-year-old girl when Aunt
Sonnie left their family. Now, five years later, at the age of 14, she wasn’t
quite sure what to make of Sandra. Was Aunt Sonnie really under the tough
exterior?
Sandra’s sister, Carrie, and Carrie’s husband, William,
thought this family get-together was a good idea. And a surprise guest was
Sandra and Carrie’s mother, Janis.
Janis – the mother Sandra had come to dislike, and seemingly
Janis disliked Sandra. Wait until you find out why. Wait until you find out about
the incident that dissolved their hard feelings toward one another.
Helga – what a character Helga turned out to be. You’ll find
her and her boss, Richter, later in the book. This tale had to have a couple of
bad guys, and Helga … she was a master bad guy.
I have to warn more sensitive readers that some of the
scenes depicted throughout these pages are quite graphic. I am not a squeamish
reader, but some of the scenes described made me cringe just a little bit. This
is a talent that I have come to appreciate with this author’s writing style –
the way he can describe something so terrible with just words alone – he paints
a pretty grisly picture, beyond ugly in some cases. I liked the ghoulish vibe
that I got while reading these pages, oddly enough.
There is definitely a bad vibe that hangs over this small
town called Little Hope, which really is a masterful name for this small town.
And the big corporation who came in to take over? Rest and Relax (R&R for
short) … that just adds to the feeling that this small town would be peaceful,
but it is anything but. If you like a very dark read and aren’t afraid to read
past your bedtime with the lights off, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
Find Mr. Smith:
Website: https://westleysmithbooks.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CRF6PN74/about?ccs_id=d5f4fe0a-2dd4-4e6c-9576-640fd0577f95
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westleysmith100
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6848676.Westley_Smith
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/westley-smith
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsmithbooks/?next=%2Fwsmithbooks%2F
Purchase Links:
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-came-at-night-westley-smith/1147486224?ean=9781965546178
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Friday, August 1, 2025
Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle
Allye what have you gotten yourself into?
Allye apparently saw something that she wasn’t supposed to
when she left her studio one evening. This did not bode well for her as strange
things began happening. To top it off, Allye was also dealing with some health
issues that she was keeping a secret … even from her own family.
Eric … this is the kind of man you want around. Not only
does he work with the police, he is also a protector. He didn’t realize that he
had feelings for Allye until he was trying to piece together what was happening
to her … or was anything happening to her? He also picked up on the fact that
Allye just wasn’t Allye – looking tired, worn down, not her usual perky self,
not the Allye he had known.
There are also some intertwining smaller stories throughout
these pages – Corina and Bryce, Dion and Lucky, Chief McHenry and whether he
could be trusted, Allye’s mom and Mayor Jennings, Hailey and Wesly, Allye
getting ready for the annual arts festival (this endeared Allye to me as I
could relate to what that entails).
Allye also had an interesting habit. Whenever she was
feeling stressed, tired, or just needed to work something out, she would pick
up her knitting needles. She was so talented at it and knew her patterns so
well, she could knit with her eyes closed. That is a feat in and of itself and
made her a relatable character, I thought.
I liked how this story progressed and that there were many
other smaller stories intermixed that all blended together. There were some
happy endings and some not-so-happy endings when all was said and done. And the
whodunnit in this tale? Totally unexpected. It will be interesting to see what
Eric and Allye get up to the next time we read about them.
Purchase Links:
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadowed-witness-angela-carlisle/1146440692?ean=9780764242519
Find Ms. Carlisle:
Website: https://angelacarlisle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaCarlisle.Writer/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/secondary-target-the-secrets-of-kincaid-by-angela-carlisle
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43655940.Angela_Carlisle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelacarlislewriter/
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Friday, July 18, 2025
Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink Blog Tour and Book Review
The title of this book caught my attention and the cover too. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but who could go wrong with a title that would indicate a mountain on fire? I really enjoyed this read.
Kit Garrido owns her own trucking business and was minding
her own business when she picks up a hitchhiker, unbeknownst to her she picked
up more than just a hitchhiker. There’s a crash. There’s a stranger knocking on
her window. There’s an unexpected surprise in the back of her cab, and there is
Mount Ember erupting all around them.
Little did she know what was in store for her.
The handsome stranger Cullen. She surely wasn’t expecting
him. I liked the character of Cullen. He comes across as a strong fellow, one
who is determined to help others which is the main reason he returned to the
town Mount Ember was set on destroying.
Wait until you read about the surprise in the back of the
truck’s cab.
There are also a couple of bad guys in this tale, not caring
about Mount Ember and her temper.
What I really liked about this story is that it took me back
to my own recollections of when Mt. St. Helens erupted during my childhood. At
the time, I didn’t think much of the destruction that took place around that
area. I was too young to give it much thought. So, to read this tale of Mount
Ember and the author’s descriptions of the utter destruction, the telling of
the trees, rocks, dirt, and whatever other debris cascading down a mountain to
take out anything in its path really painted a picture in my own mind of what
things were like. To read about Kit and Cullen’s escape maneuvers was also
quite interesting, what they did to survive, how they clung to each other and
their faith. I liked that this was a true story showing and not telling what
was happening all around Mount Ember and her temper.
Find Ms. Mentink:
Website: https://www.danamentink.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.mentink/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana_mentink/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dana-mentink
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/202905.Dana_Mentink
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-mountain-dana-mentink/1146440699?ean=9780800746520
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney Book Review
I have had this one on my Kindle for quite some time. In trying to clear out my list of want to reads, I gave this one a try.
Amelia – she has secrets.
Adam – Amelia’s husband. He’s a writer and an adaptation for
the screen writer. And, he has secrets. Adam has prosopagnosia. I’d never heard
of it, interesting condition.
There are some letters intermixed between the chapters and
was I ever wrong about who was writing them.
Robin – now here’s a colorful character.
I actually thought Robin was a different character, but I
was wrong.
Essentially, Amelia received an email declaring that she had
won a weekend trip through a raffle they had at her workplace. It was a weekend
that turned out to be much more than either Amelia or Adam were expecting.
There were some twists between these pages that I was not
expecting. I thought it was a good read. Plenty of turns to keep one guessing.
If you’re like me, your guesses might turn out to be write and they might turn
out to be wrong.
The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James Book Review
Lately, I have been reading historical reads. This one caught my eye. I like the cover. This was, to me, a rather intriguing read. I didn’t know quite what to expect, but it wasn’t this … that’s a good thing.
We are introduced to June, the missing sister.
We also get to meet Fred, the husband of May.
Yes, you guessed it! These sisters were named after their
birth months.
We also get to meet May. To say May was not happy with her
marriage is an understatement so when she finally heard from June, off on an
adventure she went, but that adventure? It was not what May was expecting.
May found herself at the Kinima Theosophical Society. Now,
by all appearances, this was a place for folks to rejuvenate, to come to terms
with their life decisions essentially.
It wasn’t that.
It was worse.
I was intrigued with all the characters who had some good
vibes and some not-so-good vibes that jumped off the pages, the one especially
bad dude ran this society. He believed he had some sort of ‘magical’ powers. He
really had ulterior motives.
And we can’t forget about Vito. He was definitely not who
May was expecting to meet in her journey. And Hazel was an unexpected surprise
for her as well.
If you are interested in reading about a society that comes
across more as a cult, you’ll enjoy this tale. It’s full of intrigue, mystery,
good guys and bad guys, and a not-so-good vibe as I mentioned before. I don’t
think you’ll be disappointed. May turned out to be stronger than she thought
she ever could be; I liked that about May’s character. And the sweet love story
didn’t hurt either.
Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb Book Review
I enjoy this author’s writing. I like visiting the town of Wharton.
Kate Granger found herself going back to Wharton to visit
her cousin, Simon, one of the innkeepers of Wharton. She just needed to unwind
from her own life for a minute. She found that she was getting much more than
she bargained for.
What I enjoy about Wharton are all the ghosts that stay in
town … creating their own sense of mischief, but they’re mostly harmless.
In this case, one particular spirit visited Kate in her
dreams and wouldn’t let Kate ‘rest’ until she listened.
There is also a bit of a love story between these pages,
which is something I wasn’t expecting and I’m sure Kate wasn’t either.
I really enjoy the stories that unfold in Wharton. I like
the ghostly vibe the pages portray. I especially liked Kate’s character as she
was not going to give up until she found the answers that she was looking for.
The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead Book Review
I have to be honest.
I almost closed this book a few times.
There is so much abuse described throughout these pages it
began to make me not want to finish this tale.
I kept reading.
Mostly because I wanted to know what happened to Laurel and
I wanted to know the ending to Shay’s story. I also wanted to know how Jamie
fit into the picture; Jamie is a podcaster who also happened to know Shay and
Laurel way back when.
I want to add trigger warnings for the more sensitive
readers. I don’t understand why the women throughout these pages, and the men
too for that matter, would put themselves in such positions. Power? Money? I’m
not entirely sure, but this story evoked some emotions while I was reading and
I usually never ‘react’ so strongly to books I read.
Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright Book Review
This author continues to amaze me with her dual timelines. One of the things that impresses me is her ability to have the past collide with the present, and another thing is how she handles other topics throughout the pages she writes. I also like how she manages to have her present-day characters collide with those from the past, sometimes in rather unique ways.
In this tale, Marian Arnold corresponds with Remy Show who
is helping Elton write Marian’s life story, one that should dispel all traces
of Marian’s ghostliness. Felix from the past corresponds with Tate in the
present day, at least to me, in that both men want to protect the ladies they
have an interest in.
Enter some other colorful, and a bit shady, characters who
help round out this tale of butterfly magic. Not to mention Mullerian Manor
which put me in the mindset of the Winchester Mystery House here in California.
Imagine Remy’s surprise when everything comes crashing down
around her research to discover her own family secrets and the very essence of
the question why.
This author handles the subject of schizophrenia/mental
illness with such grace, without judgment. I did not realize that that was what
this book entailed. And the message Marian left beneath the statue? Bravo.
Friday, June 6, 2025
Swipe by R.G. Belsky and Bonnie Traymore Blog Tour and Book Review
Have you ever thought about joining a dating app and then swiping right or left? Sonya did. She found more trouble than she was looking for. She even went so far as to change her name and not reveal much about herself. She was highly disappointed in the dates she went on, even going so far as to come up with schemes to almost ruin the men who did her, or other women, wrong. I was entertained by the ideas she came up with – some more devious than others.
Enter Jake … once a crack reporter at a larger paper who
found himself working at a smaller paper, just waiting for his big break to get
back in the spotlight again. He found himself being told by his boss to write
an article about dating apps. Jake thought this assignment would go nowhere.
Along the way he had some pretty bad dates (all in the name of his article,
right?) and some pretty good dates, one being Sonya, one being Claire.
If there ever was a bad date in the history of dates, Jake
and Sonya found them. And the ideas Sonya came up with makes one stop and think
what they would do in her situation – ignore the bad date or do something else,
something that would make the fellow rethink his choices. It was interesting to
me that Jake was making connections between three different crimes as a
reporter that Detective Jeffries didn’t want to believe.
I was entertained by the twists and turns leading both Jake
and Sonya ultimately down the same path, not being able to ignore their mutual
attraction for one another. There are a host of characters that you’ll meet
throughout these pages, some more colorful than others. What I appreciated the
most is the fact that these two authors came together and were able to write in
the voice of Jake and the voice of Sonya, but the story melded as if only one
wrote the tale of these dates. I certainly chuckled along the way with some of
the antics that were portrayed.
It is going to be interesting to see if this author duo will write another book involving Jake and his journalistic instincts.
Find Mr. Belsky:
Website: https://www.rgbelsky.com/#news
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RGBelsky#news
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-g-belsky#news
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7382095.R_G_Belsky#new
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DickBel#news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dickbelsky/
Find Ms. Traymore:
Website: https://www.bonnietraymore.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/btraymore?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnietraymore/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnietraymore/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/bonnie-traymore
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22411066
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/swipe-rg-belsky/1147109068?ean=2940180034465
Friday, May 30, 2025
Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey Blog Tour and Book Review
This is book two in the Jeopardy Falls series. I am enjoying this series, so I am hopeful there will be more adventures for Riley, Greyson, Deckard, and Christian.
There was a random knock on Riley’s door and all she found
was a key. The question was who left the key and what did it go to? Of course,
chasing after the answers Riley found herself working closer than ever with
Greyson (Grey) and had to bury her true feelings for the man. Grey, in turn,
had to bury his feelings for Riley which was near impossible when she would sit
or stand close to him. Deckard and Christian (Riley’s brothers) were clueless
as to what was happening between Grey and Riley.
Kelly and Jared – what had they gotten themselves mixed up
in? And why did they do what they did?
All these questions led Grey and Riley down a path to a
spa/retreat not knowing what they would find, or if they would find Kelly and
Jared.
This is the kind of romantic suspense I like to read. There
is just enough unspoken attraction between Riley and Grey to keep me
interested, but it doesn’t go overboard. A few shared kisses and some honest
communication between them, even in the midst of their investigation. I liked
the fact that Riley had to face some of her childhood memories and be stronger
than the memories, facing them head on, never abandoning the case she was
working on. I liked the fact that both Riley and Grey would call upon their
faith in the midst of their troubles, hoping through that faith they would both
find the inner answers they needed.
There is a certain vulnerability to Grey that I found
relatable. He was afraid to pursue a relationship because of some of his own
inner turmoil. It made him vulnerable to admit to Riley how he was feeling,
what he was thinking. To me, this makes him an attractive character.
To be honest, I was more caught up with Riley and Grey’s
relationship than the actual investigation they were working on.
And that ending? I know there HAS to be more to this series.
Find Ms. Pettrey:
Website: https://www.danipettrey.com/#owm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniPettrey#owm
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dani-pettrey#owm
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5275947.Dani_Pettrey#owm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordanipettrey/
Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/two-seconds-too-late-dani-pettrey/1145837670?ean=9780764244599
Interested in your own book tour?
Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/
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