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:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH5Z4J75/?bestFormat=true&k=two%20seconds%20too%20late%20dani%20pettrey&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k1_1_17&crid=1QYEXS9OABCBA&sprefix=two%20seconds%20too%20l

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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They Came At Night by Westley Smith New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate Wes on his new release! Here’s the blurb:

In the five years since the fateful and horrific night that changed her life, Sandra Leigh has kept herself sequestered at the Compound, a trauma recovery/survival skill camp that helped her process her past and feel safe in the world again.

Now, the time has come for her to face life outside the Compound, and that starts with a family road trip to rebuild the relationship she once had with her young niece.

A weekend at a rented cabin in the woods sounds idyllic, but Sandra begins to notice that things are off. Strange sounds and shadows, combined with a less-than-welcoming atmosphere at the nearby small town, put Sandra quickly on edge. Is it all just her paranoia coming into play, or is there something truly dangerous happening?

When her niece discovers a cryptic message hidden in the cabin's guest book--THEY CAME AT NIGHT--Sandra realizes that her family is caught in the crosshairs of a heinously sinister plot, and she will need to call on all the skills she learned at the Compound to save them... if she can.

 

All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Book Review

When I first started this book, I thought ho-hum. I kept reading. I kept reading. I could’ve easily finished this one in a day if I had had the time. I devoured this one in less than a week. This is one that I could’ve sacrificed my usual bedtime for.

I really liked the fact that the author had characters that were true-to-life, in their mannerisms, their speech patterns, their relationships, down to Black versus white (sadly, that’s still a ‘thing’ these days).

Titus Crown, the sheriff. He had to deal with some pretty heavy-handed things in his life, broken relationships, grieving his mother, his father’s health and their relationship, the relationship he had with his brother, keeping his hometown of Charon together, and trying to figure out who brought the badness down on his town.

The more he investigated, the more he learned about things unheard of happening on his watch as sheriff, the more he learned about his own staff.

I liked the graphicness of some of the scenes portrayed between these pages as it brought a sense of realness to this tragic tale, and it really is a tragic tale.

I found this to be an example of good writing that is filled with controversial issues, but they are handled in such a way as to make the story believable and hold a sense of realism in the telling.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager Book Review

 

I easily could have devoured this family’s tale within a day if I had had the time. There are some books by this author that have not been a ‘hit’ for me and some have been a ‘hit’ for me. This one was definitely a ‘hit’ for me. I thought it was a very good read.

We learn about Lenora and Virginia, sisters, and the tragedies that fell upon their family all through their growing up years. We learn about their secret attractions to Ricky, a young man who worked at their estate when they were growing up.

We also meet Kit who was also down on her luck, as we fast forward to 1983. We are introduced to her father, Patrick. We even meet Carter who is another young man working as a gardener at the Hope’s End estate, which, as it turns out, is a really good name for this estate.

I was intrigued at Kit’s instincts and how she was able to piece everything together, even if she didn’t want to accept the truth of what really happened all those many years ago.

I liked the fact that this was written in the past and in the present, with one voice (POV) that I had entirely wrong. I enjoyed all the twists and turns and the ‘are you kidding me’ moments. I really liked the fact when the past and the present collided at the end, wrapping all the truths up with a bow.

Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright Book Review

 

Mill Creek, Wisconsin. The year 1946. We meet Imogene and her sister Hazel along with their two brothers, Chet and Ivan. Fast forward to present day Mill Creek, Wisconsin, when we meet Aggie (Agnes) and Mumsie. We all need a Mumsie … once we get to know her. As it turns out, Mumsie turned out to be Imogene of the year 1946. Present day we also meet Collin, an archaeologist, who was assigned to help re-establish a flooded cemetery. A cemetery that held secrets that no one was expecting.

Back in 1946, we also meet Ollie and the Pickett family (Sam, the brother; Ida, the sister). This was a time when all ‘the boys’ came back from the war and were forever changed, which added an element to the personality of the characters back in 1946. In words alone, the author managed to elevate their voices, their particular quirks.

The only reason Aggie returned home was because Mumsie sent her a note that was not 100 percent truthful and since Aggie had nothing left, back home she went. Little did she know what she would stumble onto in her new ‘career’ as the cemetery secretary.

Favorite quote: “She was like a burnt marshmallow that once had been sweet but had come too close to the fire and was left crispy and unwanted.”

To me, there was quite a bit of humor interlaced among the stories told throughout these pages, the author’s personality really shining through. I also appreciated the fact that the flooded-out graveyard very slowly let out its secrets so some answers of long ago could be unburied and grieved properly, almost as if Hazel was directing things from above, to finally let Imogene (Mumsie) get the peace in life she so richly deserved. The love interests of 1946 and present day also kept me highly entertained as well. It is no wonder that this author is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. She has a way of telling a story that holds my interest and keeps me turning pages.

Murder on the Mississippi by Erik S. Meyers Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Sally and her sleuthing. This time she has signed herself up for a cruise along the Mississippi river, hoping for some rest and relaxation from her bar in Berry Springs and finds herself getting more than she bargained for. There are a whole host of entertaining characters who also booked themselves on this cruise.

Brin – the social media influencer. She’s lost without her phone.

Hoppy – at least that’s what she preferred to be called. A doctor who wanted a vacation.

Francesco – a monk who was in a conundrum.

Niv and Aharon – a married couple, Niv being an author/bookworm; Aharon being the more outgoing of these two fellows.

The Wongs, Amy and Jason – Amy a chef and Jason a diplomat who recently was promoted to a new position.

Jim – another single aboard the cruise, though no one could understand why he picked this particular cruise.

The workers on the ship. The police and FBI. And of course … the crime.

Oh, but wait … there was yet another crime!

Sally really began wondering what was going on aboard the ship, but more importantly – why?

Brin, to me, represents folks of today being so connected to their social media accounts. There was also a love interest that happened aboard this cruise that I found interesting, especially after finding out what happened in the end, a couple that was least likely to have gotten together. Niv and Aharon and Amy and Jason – each of these couples snipping at each other, with a few eye rolls thrown in, enhanced their personalities, making them more realistic and easier to relate to.

What I like about Sally is she has a never give up attitude. She keeps asking questions until she is able to put things together. It took some twists and turns and some creative thinking on Sally’s part to figure this mystery out. I have to say that the whodunnit in this particular case was not entirely who I was expecting. I thought I had it figured out, then I thought I had it figured out again. I was wrong on both accounts, but when it did come together it made perfect sense. I wonder what Sally will find herself involved in next.

 

Find Mr. Meyers:

Website: https://www.erikmey.com/

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20487338

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Mississippi-Sally-Witherspoon-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0F1HVT9PY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14DRJ9WEXUL0W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._oEUm8C6fJBdJdQMbt6i8w.8WFUg8N3SUKeXMo5tBBektOdmtdJFpKgbjT95dGRtBA&dib_tag=se&keywords=murder+on+the+mississippi+erik+meyers&qid=1745242079&sprefix=murder+on+the+mississippi+erik+meyer%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-on-the-mississippi-erik-s-meyers/1147370922?ean=9781685129309

 

Interested in your own book tour?

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

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The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb Book Review

Amethyst Bell (Tess as she’s called) has decided to turn her grandmother’s home into a bed-and-breakfast in Wharton where she has decided to stay. Along the way, she meets Wyatt, Hunter, and Grant who help her tear down a door … a door leading to her late grandfather’s art studio. Little does she know what she will stir up in the dust and cobwebs that have been left alone for years … ever since her grandmother closed off that part of the house.

Many late nights and things going bump in the night the door is opened.

None of the Bell family was ready to unleash the truths that had been buried for so long, least of all Tess’s father, Indigo (Indy).

I liked the fact that the prologue and chapter forty-one were able to pull everything together in a neatly tied bow, making everything in between these pages make sense, explaining the reasons why, the truth behind what really happened at this family’s home. A bit of a love interest didn’t hurt either, two people destined to meet even under some very ghostly circumstances. I like a good ghost story vibe, and this fit the bill.

I also liked the fact that some previous characters in a previous book I’ve read by this same author made a tiny appearance; I was wondering why some of the things I read sounded familiar. This small town of Wharton has some pretty big ghosts haunting them.

And Then She Was Gone by Rosalind Noonan Book Review

 

I’ve had this book on my shelf for quite some time now, decided to give it a read. I had no idea what to expect as I didn’t read the blurb, just picked it up because it sounded interesting.

I will say that this book may be quite triggering to more sensitive readers in its content and how it explores what Lauren went through after being abducted from the neighbor’s front lawn because Kevin was not a nice guy.

Eleven years old and all she wanted to do was look at a hummingbird and, being an artist, the green grass and purple flowers caught her attention. She had to sketch them! Walking home from school should have been safe.

And this story is set in Oregon, my hometown.

I can only imagine how parents, in this case the O’Neil family, would feel not knowing what happened to their child. For six long years, Rachel (the mom) kept her faith that Lauren would return home to them.

The other aspect I found quite interesting, and quite realistic, was how Sierra (the younger sister) felt. I think the exploration through these pages of how she was coping/dealing with Lauren’s abduction and ultimately her being found was handled quite well. Not to add a spoiler, but Sierra felt she was overlooked because her mom’s energy went into finding Lauren, organizing search parties, her teaching job, etc. I think that was an especially important aspect to this tale because things like this don’t just affect the person who was taken, it affects everyone involved.

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate Ashley on her newest release! Here’s the blurb:

Two women haunted by their sisters’ unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.

“Sharp, slick, and chilling, with a whiplash ending you’ll never see coming.”—Jeneva Rose, author of Home Is Where the Bodies Are

Nicole “Nic” Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her for the last seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.

On the night Kasey went missing, her car was found over a hundred miles from home. The driver’s door was open and her purse was untouched in the seat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared in the same way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both cases eventually went cold.

Nic wants nothing more than to move on from her sister’s disappearance and the state it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into Nic’s life and offers her something she hasn’t felt in a long time: hope. What follows is a gripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find their missing halves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.

Swipe by R.G. Belsky and Bonnie Traymore New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate Mr. Belsky and Ms. Traymore on their newest release! Here’s the blurb:

Sonya's fed up with bad internet dates.

But she never meant to kill anyone.

After a stressful day at work and a creepy first meetup, Sonya Romano goes on a mission: teach a lesson to the smarmy guys she's meeting on her dating app. But when one of them falls to his death as a result of her confrontation--a married man posing as a single guy--she realizes she's gone too far.

Meanwhile, Jake Parker, former Pulitzer nominee, has hit rock bottom. His boss gives him an assignment: go under cover and produce a click bait story about dating apps. Things start to look up when another married man on the app is murdered, and Jake suspects that there may be a serial killer targeting cheaters.

With Jake hot on her trail, Sonya races to cover her tracks, until they finally meet. Fighting a powerful mutual attraction but suspicious of each other, neither of them knows that a deranged psychopath is closer than they think, and much more of a danger than either of them realizes.

Can they figure out what's going on, before one of them is next?

The Graves by Mike Donohue New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate Mike on his newest release! Here’s the blurb:

It's a thin line between survival and madness.

A pair of missing hikers. A dangerous obsession. And a wilderness that doesn’t forgive.

When a chance encounter in a sleepy West Virginia town thrusts Max Strong into a desperate search for two missing hikers, he's pulled into a world where reality bends and legends come alive. Max isn’t new to danger, but nothing could prepare him for what he finds in the depths of the Monongahela National Forest.

Jake Cotter and his girlfriend Sarah vanished without a trace, chasing an obsession with a place whispered about in hushed tones by locals—Grave's End. As Max and Sarah's sister Riley dig deeper, they realize this isn't just a simple search-and-rescue. There's something darker lurking in these woods.

With a ragtag team of unlikely allies, Max finds himself in a race against time and the elements. And maybe against each other. Strange things are happening and it becomes clear that someone...or something...is willing to do anything to stop them from going any farther.

The more Max uncovers, the more he's forced to confront the chilling possibility that two missing hikers are only the beginning. Some graves don't wait for the dead.