HFV Book Tours Book Review: His Castilian Hawk

 

His Castilian Hawk by Anna Belfrage

Publication Date: September 28, 2020

Troubador Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction

For bastard-born Robert FitzStephan, being given Eleanor d’Outremer in marriage is an honour. For Eleanor, this forced wedding is anything but a fairy tale.

Robert FitzStephan has served Edward Longshanks loyally since the age of twelve. Now he is riding with his king to once and for all bring Wales under English control.

Eleanor d’Outremer—Noor to family—lost her Castilian mother as a child and is left entirely alone when her father and brother are killed. When ordered to wed the unknown Robert FitzStephan, she has no choice but to comply.

Two strangers in a marriage bed is not easy. Things are further complicated by Noor’s blood-ties to the Welsh princes and by covetous Edith who has warmed Robert’s bed for years.

Robert’s new wife may be young and innocent, but he is soon to discover that not only is she spirited and proud, she is also brave. Because when Wales lies gasping and Edward I exacts terrible justice on the last prince and his children, Noor is determined to save at least one member of the House of Aberffraw from the English king.

Will years of ingrained service have Robert standing with his king or will he follow his heart and protect his wife, his beautiful and fierce Castilian hawk?

Available on Amazon

Review:  Anna Belfrage is one of those authors that I always go to when I want a book that I know I'll enjoy. I also usually need quite a bit of time to read them, because Anna Belfrage is the Queen of chonky books. I think I say this every time I read one of her books too

She always weaves perfect stories of history and fiction. In this one we go back to the time of Edward Longshanks with one of his loyal subjects and an arranged marriage that grows into so much more.

Robert and Noor have a wonderful love story, and it really becomes that. I loved the two of them, and their marriage faced so many struggles to become what it was, a true love match.

Robert had a mistress, Edith who is evil personified. I don't think I've ever read a book where I've hated a character so much.  Even if you aren't prone to having emotions towards characters, YOU WILL HATE HER and all those that surround her. Let me tell you you will spend a lot of time in this book hating her, because she's not dealt with until close to the end.

Then there's Noor. I love her. She's strong. She's driven by her heart which often gets her in trouble and she fights for what is hers.

I love the dynamics of this story. Its so much a family saga in some ways, with Robert's family and even with the things we learn about Noor's family, especially in relation to the Queen.

I loved so much about this book, because you get political aspect of the time, but you also get the court aspects and dramas surrounding King Edward and Queen Eleanor.

Its amazing reading really.

My only gripe was what happened to Noor's dog. I will say in most books...what happened would have been a deal breaker. I would have set the book down and never moved on, but I had to keep pressing on.

As always Anna leaves you wanting more and thankfully this is the start of a new series, so we can be guaranteed just that.

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.

More recently, Anna has published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. While she loved stepping out of her comfort zone (and will likely do so again ) she is delighted to be back in medieval times in her September 2020 release, His Castilian Hawk. Set against the complications of Edward I’s invasion of Wales, His Castilian Hawk is a story of loyalty, integrity—and love.

Find out more about Anna on her website or on her Amazon page. You can also follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Blog Tour Schedule

Saturday, October 24
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Monday, October 26
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

Tuesday, October 27
Review at Rajiv's Reviews

Wednesday, October 28
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Friday, October 30
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Sunday, November 1
Interview at Reader_ceygo

Tuesday, November 3
Review at YA, It's Lit

Wednesday, November 4
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Friday, November 6
Review at Passages to the Past

Monday, November 9
Excerpt at I'm Into Books

Tuesday, November 10
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, November 12
Excerpt at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Monday, November 16
Review at Reader_ceygo
Review at Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, November 17
Review at Books and Zebras

Wednesday, November 18
Review at Novels Alive

Thursday, November 19
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Friday, November 20
Feature at The Lit Bitch
Review at Bookramblings
Interview at Books & Benches

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of His Castilian Hawk! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open internationally and ends on November 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Castilian Hawk

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: A Very Witchy Yuletide

 

A Very Witchy Yuletide

by D. Lieber

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GENRE: Contemporary pagan holiday romance

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BLURB:

First love is hard to forget, and even harder to ignore…

Evergreen Pendre wasn’t planning on going home for Yule. But when her Mom tells her the old coven is coming for a visit, she wants to see everyone. Well, almost everyone.

After four and a half years, Sawyer Collins finally has a chance to reconnect with his first love, Eeva Pendre. He might have been too shy to tell her how he felt before, but he’s changed. And he’s determined not to let her slip away this time.

As the coven prepares for Yule, they are reminded that not everyone has the holiday spirit in this contemporary Pagan holiday romance.

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EXCERPTS 

Sawyer looked up just as Eeva stopped short upon entering the living room. She was still in her pajamas: flannel plaid pants with an oversized hoodie and fuzzy socks. Her long, brown hair was dyed a dark green, and it was still messy from sleep. 

His heart throbbed in his chest, and he held his breath as he met her deep ocean blue eyes. His memories hadn’t done her justice.

“Hey,” he said lamely. “It’s uh…been a while.” He cleared his throat, his own voice sounding hoarse and uneven in his ears.

She blinked as if she’d forgotten who he was then frowned. “Yeah, I suppose that happens in life… How is…everything? I mean, I hope you and your mom are doing all right.” Her tone was distant and polite. Formal.

His stomach clenched as his raised hopes deflated. “Yeah, everything’s fine. We’re both good. And you?”

“Same.”

As the strained silence grew between them, Sawyer grasped for something to say. Anything. “So…my mom says you’re graduating soon. What are you studying?” He knew very well she was studying history. It didn’t matter that he’d said more times than he could count that he didn’t care. The moment his mother mentioned her, he’d always internalized the information. And he’d taken more than a few glances at her social media profiles over the years, though he’d gotten better about that.

“Eeva!” his mother called, entering the room before they could struggle on in their conversation.

Review; I've never really read a book about "real" witches. When I've read witchy books..well it ends up being more like Sabrina and Samantha Stephens. 

But suffice to say I read this one and really enjoyed learning a bit more about the pagan religion. That for me set this book apart from my usual reads. Also its kind of new adult as our characters are in the college/just out of college age bracket, its also stepping out of my comfort zone a bit.

It was also nice to see a main character that has a disability, Evergreen is blind-ish. 

This is a friends to lovers romance with a twist. This isn't your typical holiday romance. This isn't Christmas. This is Yuletide. I love learning about religions.

But I will say that the relationship between Eeva and Sawyer frustrated the hell out of me for the most part. Its pretty much a clean romance until the last part of the book, when THEY FINALLY GET TOGETHER, but then they don't. At the halfway point of this book I was already yelling at them to just have sex already.

Rating: 4 flowers

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

D. Lieber is an urban fantasy author with a wanderlust that would make a butterfly envious. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She has been many places—from Canada to England, France to Italy, Germany to Russia—believing that a better world comes from putting a face on “other.” She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds.

Lieber lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox). 

Published Works:

Conjuring Zephyr June 2016

The Exiled Otherkin November 2017

Intended Bondmates June 2018

In Search of a Witch’s Soul (Council of Covens Noir, #1) March 2019

Dancing with Shades (Council of Covens Noir, #0) August 2019

Once in a Black Moon March 2020

A Very Witchy Yuletide October 2020

Links

Website: www.dlieber.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorDLieber 

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/dlieberwriting

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/d-lieber

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

D. Lieber will be awarding a hand carved tree of life tarot/jewelry/keepsake box (carved by DhewaDecor) to a randomly drawn winner (US ONLY) via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER:

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: No Gravestone Unturned

Author: Debbie De Louise

Title: No Gravestone Unturned

Publisher: Solstice Publishing

Publish Date: Oct 5, 2020

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

It’s October in Cobble Cove, and Alicia is busy preparing for the library’s Halloween party when she learns that John’s aunt from Florida has died and that John’s cousins and their spouses are coming to town to bury their mother. The day after the funeral, the caretaker’s son is found dead by John’s grandfather’s gravestone, from a blow on the head. The only witness seems to be Sneaky the library cat, who, having left the library, turned up at Alicia’s door with blood and dirt on him. 

As Alicia, Gilly, and Sheriff Ramsay investigate, a generation of family secrets is uncovered. Is one of the guests staying at the inn a killer? Will the humans solve the crime, and can Sneaky, Kittykai, and Salem, the inn’s guest cat, team up to help

Review: This is a short fun Halloween-y cozy. It was a little slow to start for me, but since I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, it was nice to get to know the characters better in that time.  Its book 5 in the Cobble Cove series, but like all cozies you can just dive into this fun mystery.

I really enjoyed getting to know Alicia, John, and their friends and furbabies in this book. The murder involve a lot of family secrets, which you learn about through some flashback scenes. Then there are the kitties, who are more than just family pets.  I love when the animals become actual characters. Kind of like the Sneaky Pie mysteries. 

There's a lot going on with Alicia and John as the mystery progresses. I really loved learning the family secrets and the connection to the murder and some other nasty goings on.

It was an entertaining read that kept me on my toes.

I loved that it kept me guessing too.

A perfect seasonal read!

Rating: 5 flowers

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writers’ Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Her novels include the four books of the Cobble Cove cozy mystery series: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Written in Stone, and Love on the Rocks. Debbie has also written a romantic comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, a paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow, and the standalone mysteries Reason to Die and Sea Scope. Her latest book, Memory Makers, is a medical thriller. She lives on Long Island with her husband, Anthony; daughter, Holly; and three cats, Stripey, Harry, and Hermione.

Author Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ All Author: https://allauthor.com/author/debbiedelouise/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie_writer/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiedelouise/ Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debbie-de-louise Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debbiedelouise Debbie’s Character’s Chat Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748912598599469/ Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog: https://Sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com Purchase Link - Amazon - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: Silver Bells

 

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB: Alice had to act, and she had to act fast: a girl’s life depended on it.

A series of coincidental events leave Alice with more questions than answers. Could the sick little girl in need of a bone marrow transplant be the daughter she gave up for adoption ten years before? To become close to the girl without revealing her identity, Alice develops a plan to cast the girl’s uncle, a chocolatier, as a contestant on a live Christmas Eve show.

A television cooking competition was never in Niko’s plans, but when his sick niece expresses her wish for him to compete on the show, he reluctantly agrees. His past as an MMA fighter taught him to guard himself from punches being thrown his direction, but he wasn’t prepared for the fallout of letting his emotional guard down for Alice.

When sparks fly between Alice and Niko in and out of the kitchen, will the secrets Alice keeps shatter the budding relationship?

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Excerpt:

Chloe let out a piercing little girl scream, and the whole crowd instantly quieted. She brought a pale hand to her mouth, her eyes shimmering with excited tears. A man rushed into the area behind the counter and stopped by the glass display case, his frantic stare locked on Chloe. Chloe looked from the man to Alice and pointed. “Uncle Niko, you’re gonna be on 3Square. You’re gonna be on the show!” Charcoal-grey eyes rimmed with black lashes turned in Alice’s direction and her heart beat a little bit faster. Niko Stavo straightened his tall frame and shifted a motorcycle helmet from his left to his right hand, confusion furrowing his brow. Instead of a chef’s jacket, he sported a black leather vest over a black long-sleeved T-shirt, and leather chaps over a pair of jeans.

Brooke was definitely right; there was something to be said about a man in chaps.

Niko looked in her direction, lifting one heavy eyebrow, its thickness disfigured by a scar. An ex-Mixed Martial Arts fighter, there was no denying the raw masculinity that he exuded.

The rebel in her responded to the call of the sexy man, alarm bells ringing in her head. Caught staring like some love-struck teenager, she lowered her gaze, set down the CG cups, and retrieved a business card. “I’m Alice Carlson with the EN Channel, and I’m the producer of 3Square. Our studio executive was so touched by your application question, he decided to create a Christmas special featuring only desserts.”

Niko leaned his hip against the counter. “There must be some mistake. I didn’t ask to be on any show.”

Alice’s stomach plummeted to the dark hardwood floor. There was no special without Niko Stavo. And without the special, she couldn’t stay in Seattle. And if she couldn’t stay in Seattle, she’d have to postpone the tests that might save a girl’s life. Possibly the life of the little girl right next to her. She risked a glance at Chloe, and a rock formed in her throat. The little girl who might be her own.

Review: If you are fans of holiday romance and cooking type shows, Silver Bells is the book for you. I adored the story which was a little different. 

Alice gave up a child years ago and Niko's niece Chloe is that child. She's suffering from leukemia and may not have long to live. Niko is reluctantly appearing on the show 3Square to help pay for her medical bills. (Its a food competition show)

If this isn't the recipe for a Hallmark Style Movie I don't know what is. I kept thinking...OMG,  I don't usually watch those kinds of movies, but this book..well it would make a perfect holiday film! 

Alice would give anything for the daughter she gave up, but she has to keep things from Niko and that's hard because the chemistry between to the two is electric.

Niko is a wonderful mix of tough guy and softie. He is a fighter turned chocolatier. His family background is great too.

Alice's life however has been far from great. She spent years in foster care and then looked for love in all the wrong places. The man who fathered Chloe....what a douche canoe!  

I loved the bits of the competition as well as Alice and Chloe's developing relationship.

This was really a heartwarming story with a bit of a steamy side to it.

Rating : 4 flowers

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Anne Shaw is the author of both contemporary and historical romances. She lives in western Washington with her four-legged friend Larry, a quirky cat who stares at her for hours on end while she loses herself in a world where a sexy hero, and bold heroine face unsurmountable odds to reach the ultimate goal, a happily-ever-after. If you like rom-dramedies, then visit www.Anne-Shaw.com.

Website: https://Anne-Shaw.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.shaw.501151 Twitter: https://twitter.com/anneshawcom1 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1423794.Anne_Shaw

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Anne Shaw will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Please use this rafflecopter code on your post: a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Book Review: The Signature of All Things

 Author: Elizabeth Gilbert

Title: The Signature of All Things

Publisher: Riverhead Books

Publish Date: Oct 1, 2013

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: In The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction, inserting her inimitable voice into an enthralling story of love, adventure and discovery. Spanning much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the novel follows the fortunes of the extraordinary Whittaker family as led by the enterprising Henry Whittaker—a poor-born Englishman who makes a great fortune in the South American quinine trade, eventually becoming the richest man in Philadelphia. Born in 1800, Henry's brilliant daughter, Alma (who inherits both her father's money and his mind), ultimately becomes a botanist of considerable gifts herself. As Alma's research takes her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, she falls in love with a man named Ambrose Pike who makes incomparable paintings of orchids and who draws her in the exact opposite direction — into the realm of the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. Alma is a clear-minded scientist; Ambrose a utopian artist — but what unites this unlikely couple is a desperate need to understand the workings of this world and the mechanisms behind all life. 

Exquisitely researched and told at a galloping pace, The Signature of All Things soars across the globe—from London to Peru to Philadelphia to Tahiti to Amsterdam, and beyond. Along the way, the story is peopled with unforgettable characters: missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, astronomers, sea captains, geniuses, and the quite mad. But most memorable of all, it is the story of Alma Whittaker, who — born in the Age of Enlightenment, but living well into the Industrial Revolution — bears witness to that extraordinary moment in human history when all the old assumptions about science, religion, commerce, and class were exploding into dangerous new ideas. Written in the bold, questing spirit of that singular time, Gilbert's wise, deep, and spellbinding tale is certain to capture the hearts and minds of readers.

Review:  Back when lockdown started, The Signature of All Things had been on a list of books to read during quarantine. I requested it from the library before everything got shut down, but I didn't get the book until recently. 

The Signature of All Things is one of those books that leave you wondering. I never read Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. so I didn't know her writing style. I wondered why I was investing so much time in this book. I wondered why Alma didn't try to grasp what she could out of life when she had it.

This story is about Alma Whittaker for the most part, though the first part of the book deals mostly with how her father came about his fortune in the world of Botany.

For me Alma's story is one part science and one part family saga. The Whittaker family is rather unusual, Alma being the only natural child of Henry and Beatrix. There is also an adopted daughter, Prudence who figures in Alma's life in a stranger way than that of the average sister.

Gilbert's writing, while lyrical, told too much of the story, without letting us really get to know any of the characters as well as you should, especially in a tome of 500 pages.

My biggest take away from this book was poor poor Alma. She had a very scientific mind, thus she should and was unattractive and unable to find love, which she definitely seemed to be seeking. (And always left disappointed) Even when she did find someone who shared an affection for her things did not turn out as she expected.

I loved that as a woman in the 1800s she was allowed to follow her mind and develop ideas of her own. But why should she be left without love? I felt that had none throughout most of her life from anyone, parents, siblings and friends included and her weird upbringing made her more than a little socially inept.

For the most part, the story is depressing, because as I've said, Poor Alma. I like a happily ever after kind of ending, even if the story isn't a romance. Alma didn't have any personal satisfaction, either in her studies, or her private life.

So 500 sweeping pages of poor poor Alma.

It wasn't the best of reads but it also wasn't the worst.

TLC Book Tours Book Review: The Outlook For Earthlings

 

About The Outlook for Earthlings

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Regal House Publishing (October 2, 2020)

The Outlook For Earthlings traces a difficult friendship across a lifetime. Melanie Taper is rule-bound, timid, self-erasing. Yet in unguarded moments she demonstrates such deadly insight into human foibles as to suggest a strength that has, for dark reasons, deliberately hidden itself lifelong. Scarlet Rand is rash, willful, abrasive—vexed by “demure” traits and “small fussing motions.” Shocked by Mel’s passivity and near-archaic saintliness, Scarlet disbelieves it. Their friendship suggests to each a final frontier, a saving sanctuary. Yet at its core each woman takes a secret, moral offense at the other’s inmost nature—and her choices. Against the deadline of the illness which is slowly destroying one of them, a reckoning must occur. The Outlook for Earthlings considers the limits of friendship—and of witnessing. It asks how we may finally measure a life—and who should do the measuring. Social Media Please use the hashtag #theoutlookforearthlings, and tag @tlcbooktours.

Purchase Links

Regal House Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review: I'm not going to say that The Outlook for Earthlings was a disappointment might be a bit harsh, but I will say it wasn't quite what I expected. I wanted something otherworldly. I knew it was women's fiction, but I thought there would be something special about this book

Sadly I couldn't find anything that I could construe as special

This story focuses on two friends, Mel and Scarlet who couldn't be more different. The main focus is on Mel, who is essentially a big ole doormat. She has such promise as the story starts. She is a wonderful actress and yet she is quiet and reserved, the opposite of her friend Scarlet.

Then she throws it all away to marry Richard. I kind of went all WTF is wrong with you, when she  married this guy. I mean this was the late 60s early 70s. Women were getting liberated then and she walked into this horrid relationship and she's a smart talented woman and she let's this jerk treat her the way he does.

This story is really Mel's more than Scarlet's. Truthfully I don't remember much about Scarlet other than she's Mel's friend who is there for her when she moves back home due to illness.

Oh and Mel moves back home to be with someone. 

And can we get another ARGH for that relationship that was more frustrating that her marriage.

Really Mel? At the beginning of the book I thought, wow, the mousey little girl is going to go somewhere and do something.

At the end of the book, Mel felt like a doormat and a wasted life.

If you take away anything from reading this book, it should be, don't be like Mel.

Rating: 3 flowers

About Joan Frank

Joan Frank is the author of ten books: eight of literary fiction and two essay collections. Her recent books are WHERE YOU'RE ALL GOING: FOUR NOVELLAS and TRY TO GET LOST: ESSAYS ON TRAVEL AND PLACE. A MacDowell Fellow and recipient of many honors and awards, Joan also reviews literary fiction and nonfiction for the Washington Post. Find out more about Joan at her website.

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Spotlight: Hollyberry Homicide

 

Hollyberry Homicide (A Berry Basket Mystery) by Sharon Farrow

About Hollyberry Homicide 

Hollyberry Homicide (A Berry Basket Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 5th in Series Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2020) 

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages 

ISBN-10: 1496722620 ISBN-13: 978-1496722621 

Digital ASIN: B082WQTC18

A cold wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, and murder is scaring the dickens out of everyone . . .

Considering her name, Marlee Jacob is an obvious choice for the role of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s just sad that the role has opened up because of the death of the elderly actor who’d originally been cast.

But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, will do her best to keep spirits high—that is, until clues start mounting that there’s danger behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, the tree in the village square topples over, and worst of all, a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. If Marlee can’t wrap up the case, she may not have a berry merry Christmas . . .

Includes Berry Recipes!

Review:Trying to read in the weeks leading up and after oral surgery is not easy, at least not for me, and I feel super sad about not being able to get this review posted. 

This book is the fifth installment of the Berry Basket Series, which features Marlee Jacob as the proprietor of the Berry Basket shop.  

Hollyberry Homicide is really an amazing cozy that revolves around a small town's production of A Christmas Carol. The classic tale plays a huge part in the plot and as part of the plot of this story.

Everret Hostetter is the wealthy old man that is found dead at the start of the novel. He's also the actor that plays Jacob Marley in Oriole Point's production of A Christmas Carol.  Now at 95 years old, most think that he simply died of old age, but then Marlee feeds one of the gingerbread cookies he had with him to a squirrel. When that critter up and dies, she knows there's more to his death than just old age.

Its a shame the local PD isn't taking her seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to find out how he really died, all the while preparing for Hollyberry Festival and taking over Everret's part in the play. (She's not doing too well with the play)

Ms. Farrow does a wonderful job with her usual cast of characters and the list of possible killers that all have a chance at profiting from Everret's death. There are quite a few of them an let's just say Everret didn't lead the best of lives. So this old guy had few friends and he also knew to keep his enemies close.

When one of his only friends (and his attorney) also ends up dead, Marlee is sure there is more to both of these deaths.

I really loved how everything was tied together and a nice touch of drama at the end to wrap the story up.

If you love cozy mysteries with a whole lot of Christmas spirit (pun intended) this is definitely the book for you.

Rating: 5 flowers

About Sharon Farrow

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award-winning author Sharon Pisacreta. A freelance writer since her twenties, she has been published in mystery, fantasy, and romance. Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series for Kensington. The series debuted in 2016 and is set along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline where she now lives. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

Author Links –  

  WEB PAGE           http://sharonfarrowauthor.com/ 

  FACEBOOK         @SharonFarrowAuthor 

  TWITTER             @SharonFarrowBB 

  BOOKBUB          @SharonFarrow 

  Purchase Links – Amazon  –  B&N –  Kobo  –  Google Play  –  IndieBound

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Book Review: Better Than The Book

 

M.E. Carter and Andrea Johnston are romance writers who share a love of the written word. Combining their sense of humor, beliefs in love, and sarcasm, this writing duo has joined forces to create the Charitable Endeavors series. With the sole purpose of bringing laughter and love to their readers while tapping into their charitable hearts, a portion of the release proceeds will be donated to charity.

 

Better than the Book is the fourth book in the Charitable Endeavors Series by M.E. Carter and Andrea Johnston. Each story is somehow related to the indie book community and is guaranteed to be a contemporary romantic comedy and fade to gray (no gratuitous sexy times when we're donating to charity).

 

As you all know, With the Charitable Endeavors series, these two romance authors have committed to releasing each book with a significant portion of the release month proceeds being donated to charity.

 

Better than the Book  is a funny celebrity romance featuring Hunter and Celeste, two individuals with a passion for the stage.  That's why we're thrilled to designate a portion of the release month ebook proceeds to New York City Children's Theater! New York Children's Theater reaches children through their communities and education with stage productions, interactive workshops, and in-school residencies. Their mission is to demonstrate that engaging young people in the arts has a positive impact on their cognitive, emotional and social development, and furthers a lifelong appreciation of the arts. You can learn more about their program here NYCCT - NYC Children's Theater.

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

 

New York is where dreams come true. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told.

 

Despite my love of planning, my dream of working on Broadway and meeting my

Hollywood superstar crush seem to be running into more brick walls than necessary.

Still, I could never have anticipated my crush on Hunter Stone was just one Ambien trip

from an unexpected reality.

 

Now, I find myself lost in his charms and enamored with his passion for acting. Beyond

his good looks and brooding reputation is a man who sends my heart racing and leaves

me wondering if fictional boyfriends are real.

 

***

Passion and drive have made all of my acting dreams a reality. All I’ve worked for is at

my fingertips, but I can’t seem to settle. In my life or on my future.

 

Meeting Celeste Pumper… Pumper-Something was never part of my plan. Her own

passion for the stage has reminded me of a life beyond the big screen and celebrity.

Holding her in my arms and staring into her eyes should frighten me but instead I feel

more solace than my lifestyle normally allows.

 

Our paths didn’t cross by happenstance. It was always meant to be. Sometimes truth is

better than fiction and our story is better than the book.

Review: I always get so excited when there is another Charitable Endeavors book out by Andrea Johnston and M.E. Carter.

These books are full on fun and Better Than The Book is no exception.

Celeste Pumperkin (I love that name) is trying to live the dream of working in theater. She is just so amazingly funny and so very real.

Hunter Stone is an actor from a highly popular vampire show.

Celeste has been trying for years to meet her celebrity crush (Hunter) at cons. OMG the timeline of her failures is pure gold and even after they do meet their still are some snafus before they really get together.

This book is light romance in the most beautiful way. It feels like a fairy tale at times, because Celeste is still trying to make it...and Hunter is already there and is very much the handsome....wait for it.....Prince of Darkness. (Sorry..I had to do it).

What I love about these two characters and their romance is that THE ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON!! That's actually one thing that annoys me in so many books in this genre. Celeste is a theater nerd and Hunter has a passion for theater even though he's in a hit tv show. Yes, opposites attract, sometimes, but I love that with this book, its friendship that moves to romance. That works so much better and makes things feel more believable.

The best part about this book for me is that I never got angry at it. I have been having a terrible time reading lately and this book was perfect for me. It made me laugh. I enjoyed every minute reading it, which isn't something I can say about most books I've read this year!

Book Review: The McKettrick Way

Author:  Linda Lael Miller

Title: The McKettrick Way

Publisher: Sillhoutte Special Edition

Publish Date: Dec 1, 2007

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

She wanted his baby... and he wanted her!

Meg McKettrick longs for a baby--husband optional. Perfect father material is gorgeous Brad O'Ballivan, old flame and new owner of his family's ranch in Stone Creek. But Meg--as strong, proud and stubborn as her ancestors on Indian Rock's Triple M ranch--wants to do things her way...the McKettrick way. And Brad feels just as strongly about the O'Ballivan way...

Love, marriage, babies and a lifetime to share--that's what Brad wants. Not a single night of pasion, an unexpected pregnancy and a woman who won't budge. For a rugged rodeo cowboy who never gives up, it's a battle of wills he intends to win...and nothing matters more than claiming Meg's wild McKettrick heart.

Review: I read Sierra's story ages ago, and thought I'd enjoy this one. Linda Lael Miller is a name that is a go to for contemporary western's when it comes to Harlequin romances.

It took me several days to finish this 248 page book. That's absolutely nuts. A day or two yes? More than that? UGH!

It was a passable read but for me there was more wrong with it than right.

1. Meg and Brad have a past and they both seemed to have not gotten past their young love for each other. (Does this ever really happen in real life) This second chance trope is probably the most annoying of all romance tropes.

2. He left to become a big time star (Country music, of course) and now he's back home to run the ranch and he's only in his 30s? Huh?

3. Meg is the ghost of one of her ancestors. (This is actually one of the only cool parts of the story) But it really is a way out there plotline

4. Brad gets offered a chance to do a movie on the ranch. Oh and one of his ex wives is going to star in it.

5. Meg's estranged father shows up with a sister for her and you guessed it, he's dying.

OK, so I may be offering a spoiler or two here, but I think the main thing you can take away is there is an awful lot going on in such a short book and I'm not really even touching on all of it. 

It is just way too busy, with stuff from Meg's life to stuff from Brad's life and his sister and her strange ability in regards to animals, especially the wild horse "Ransom."

There was just WAY WAY too much going on. And though Meg and Brad have a past and have some chemistry, its hard to figure out why they are in love, or ever were in love.

Now I'm not saying this is a bad book. Linda Lael Miller does keep your attention, especially with all the plot twists. It just isn't a great book, but if you are a fan of western romances, you probably will enjoy this one at least a little bit.

Rating: 3 flowers

Book Review: The Sweetest Burn

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Title: The Sweetest Burn

Publisher: HQN

Publish Date: June 17, 2017

Buy:  Amazon

Book Blurb: 

The breathtaking second novel in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost's Broken Destiny series finds Ivy and Adrian rekindling their alliance—and passion—as the struggle for the fate of the world begins…

Conquering a supernatural realm turned out to be easier than getting over a broken heart. But her initial victory has made Ivy a target for revenge, forcing her to reunite with the dangerous—and dangerously sexy—Adrian. Ivy isn't sure which will be harder: finding the hallowed weapon that will repair the crumbling walls between the demon and human realms, or resisting Adrian, who's decided that come hell or high water, he will make Ivy his.

At first, Adrian tried to resist his feelings for Ivy. Now, determined to break the curse that dooms their love, he's vowed to save her and to have her. If only he can persuade her to forgive his past sins. But defying destiny—and surrendering to the smoldering desire between them—will bring consequences and sacrifices they never imagined…

Review: 

This is why you don't read books based on the cover. I really was expecting a lot from this book but it didn't really deliver for me.

Ivy is the last Davidian (the good guy) and Adrian is a half demon. (the baddies) They have a history and it seems to be a very boring one. And yes these two are in love...but have been apart and yada yada yada.

The most exciting bits of the story involve the gargoyle Brutus that is glamorized as a seagull whenever he can be seen by humans. Brutus was the only thing I liked about this book.

I expected more action or something but really the story plodded along and well there weren't even many good steamy bits between Ivy and Adrian to justify my reading this. And when the action did happen it felt so half hearted that it just left me feeling very meh about the story.

Ivy was a spunky heroine, but she had nothing to go on. I wasn't even sure why she was "so" in love with Adrian, as he was really a cardboard character.

I wanted to read something to get me out of my comfort zone a bit with this one and the blurb promised so much more than it delivered. I mean demon realms and all that. It sounded exciting at first. Then, it really made me wish I were reading any of the Twilight series. OK? So you know for me this book didn't work.

Rating: 2 flowers

Book Review: Alaskan Renegade

 Author:  Kate Bridges

Title:  Alaskan Renegade

Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Publish Date: Nov 1, 2009

Buy:  Amazon

Book Blurb: 

In need of a bodyguard on her mission into the Alaskan wilderness, nurse Victoria Windhaven is shocked to recognize the hired gun as none other than Brant MacQuaid--a man she had thought never to see again! Brant, now a notorious bounty hunter with a burning passion for justice, had once betrayed her.

But closely confined in the stagecoach by day, and even more closely combined under the stars by night, Victoria can't help but dream of turning this renegade into ideal husband material....

Review: 

A good Harlequin can pull me out of a reading slump. I've always been a fan of historical romance. Not so much westerns, but when I was looking for something different an a little light after reading a pretty emotionally draining book on the holocaust this book seemed to fit the bill.

A bounty hunter/bodyguard, a nurse and a would be doctor are making a pilgrimage to Alaska. Victoria and Brant have a history, as he was once supposed to marry her sister. There's definitely some bad blood there, but there are also sparks too.

Then there's Connor. You know he's not the one for Victoria, but he's lovable, especially as its hard to see him ever really becoming a doctor.

There journey is not without trouble and it really shows some growth in the characters. (especially Connor)

Victoria is spunky and very good at her job. Brant knows what he wants out of his life too. It makes for some interesting clashes between the two along the way, but when they come together you know they are perfect for each other even though they have their reservations because of their initial differences.

Oh and did I mention danger? Cos there's a real baddie waiting for them on Glitter Mountain.

This was a great quick read that was a little out of my comfort zone but one I truly enjoyed.

Rating: 4 flowers

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Checked Out For Murder

Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery by Allison Brook

About Checked Out for Murder

 

Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery 

Cozy Mystery 4th in Series Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (September 8, 2020) 

Hardcover: 320 pages 

ISBN-10: 164385447X

ISBN-13: 978-1643854472 Digital ASIN: B082738ZNV 

Carrie Singleton and Evelyn the ghost sleuth the slayings of a starlet and a star-crossed psychic in Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook's fourth Haunted Library mystery.

 

Daphne Marriott strolls into Clover Ridge and informs librarian Carrie Singleton that she's a psychic. But had she foreseen what fate awaited her, Daphne would have steered clear of the quaint Connecticut town. Evelyn, the library ghost, tells Carrie that there's more to Daphne than she lets on.

 

The mysterious woman grew up in Clover Ridge with her no-good dad, who apparently met his end at the hands of Daphne's brother, Billy. Still, Daphne proves a welcome distraction when Carrie's overbearing mother hits town. Mom's much younger husband, Tom, is in a movie that's lensing locally, and she's there to keep an eye on him: Tom's costar, sultry Ilana Reingold, is also his ex-fiancée, and there's no denying the chemistry is still there. Soon after mingling with the moviemakers at a meet-and-greet, Daphne is found dead.

 

Carrie and Evelyn investigate, assisted by bushy-tailed library cat Smoky Joe. But the suspect list could overflow the library shelves. Has Billy killed another relative? Is their long-missing mother involved? Or Daphne's mean ex-husband? Carrie's sure she knows who committed the crime, but can she bind together the clues before the culprit Dewey-decimates the town?

Review:  This is my first haunted library mystery and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I always love going to a cozy mystery after reading a rather heavy book.

Its got a bit of a paranormal twist with a ghost in the library, kind of like a Casper type ghosts who helps Carrie along with her sleuthing.

Carrie is dealing with her mother and step father who are in town making a movie. Plus her stepfather is staring in the movie with his ex fiancee. So there's a lot of drama there.

Two deaths occur during the making of the movie, one a recent arrival to town and the other one of the films stars.

I was really shocked by how little sleuthing Carrie actually did and how well the murders were connected as the book went on and for awhile how almost everyone was a suspect.

It was also interesting to see Carrie's relationship with her mom and her new husband. I have to say these are people I wouldn't want to claim as relations to me at any point.

I have to admit there was one character that I really wanted to be the killer buy wasn't.

The ending was definitely a twist especially in how the killer was related to one of the victims.

It was a light and enjoyable read.

Rating 4 flowers

 

About Allison Brook

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library series. DEATH OVERDUE, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Author Links Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com Amazon: http://bit.ly/Amazon_MarilynLevinson Facebook: http://bit.ly/MarilynLevinson_Facebook Goodreads: http://bit.ly/Goodreads_MarilynLevinson Twitter: @MarilynLevinson; @AllisonBrookML  Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/profile/allison-brook BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilev4/ Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound a Rafflecopter giveaway TOUR PARTICIPANTS September 8 – The Avid Reader - REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY September 8 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST September 8 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – SPOTLIGHT September 9 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE September 9 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW September 9 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT September 10 – That's What She's Reading - GUEST POST September 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT September 10 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT September 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT September 11 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW September 11 – My Journey Back - CHARACTER INTERVIEW September 11 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW September 12 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW September 12 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT September 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST September 13 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW September 13 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW September 14 – Angel's Guilty Pleasures - CHARACTER INTERVIEW September 14 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT September 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT September 15 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST September 15 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW September 15 – Ebook addicts – REVIEW September 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW September 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower - REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY September 17 – Ruff Drafts – REVIEW September 17 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT September 17 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW September 18 – Ascroft, eh? - AUTHOR INTERVIEW September 18 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST September 18 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW   Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Goddess Fish Promotion: The Murderous Macaron

 

The Murderous Macaron

by Ana T. Drew

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GENRE: Cozy mystery

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BLURB:

Julie has her freedom, a dream job as a pastry chef, and a corpse growing cold on her floor...

Welcome to Beldoc, a small town in the heart of Provence, imbued with lavender and fresh baked bread! You can idle around, or you can puzzle out a murder mystery.

When a man dies on her watch in her pâtisserie, newly divorced chef Julie Cavallo is dismayed. It isn’t that she’s a suspect. The local gendarmerie captain signs off the death as a natural event. A heart attack. But for a reason she won’t discuss, Julie suspects Maurice Sauve was poisoned. What’s a girl to do? She’ll ignore the risk and seek justice for Maurice on her own!

Well, not quite on her own. Julie’s eccentric grandmother, her snarky sister and her geeky sous chef are keen to help. The team’s amateurism is a challenge. But there’s also the pesky matter of no evidence, no clues, and soon, no body. The murder—if it was a murder—was planned and executed flawlessly.

Can a small-town baker solve the perfect crime?

"The Murderous Macaron" is a twisty whodunnit mystery perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, Alexander McCall Smith, Jana DeLeon and Lilian Jackson Braun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

I sit down across a round table from the gendarme, Capitaine Adinian, and begin my sad tale of yesterday’s macaron-making workshop that didn’t go as planned.

He listens, barely taking any notes.

When I get to the part where I asked my students to mix the ingredients I’d prepared for them, Capitaine Adinian leans forward. “Who prepared and laid out the ingredients?”

“I did.”

“When?”

“Shortly before the class began.”

“Did you leave the shop, even for a brief time, after you had everything ready for the class?” he asks.

“No.”

He scribbles something in his little notebook. “Please continue.”

“Most participants struggled to get their batter to stiffen,” I say. “Some gave up, claiming it was impossible without an electric mixer.”

“Did Maurice Sauve give up?”

“Quite the contrary. He whisked unrelentingly, switching hands but never pausing. He was the first to complete the task.”

Capitaine Adinian writes that down.

“I gave him one of these.” I show Adinian the remaining badges that Flo had made for the workshop.

“Great Baking Potential,” he reads aloud.

“Then I went around with his bowl and had everyone admire the perfect consistency of the batter.”

“Did anything stand out or seem unusual at that point?”

I gaze up at the ceiling, picturing the scene of me praising Maurice Sauve’s firm, satiny batter, students giving him their thumbs-up, and him smiling, visibly stoked. But he isn’t just smiling, he’s also… Panic squeezing my throat, I zero in on his face. He’s panting.

Oh. My. God.

I clap my hand over my mouth. “What if he’d whisked too hard? What if that exertion caused his heart attack?”

“An intense workout, especially at freezing temperatures, can trigger a heart attack,” Adinian says.

“He whisked intensely.”

“Madame Cavallo, I’ve never heard of anyone whisking themselves to an early grave.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review:  The Murderous Macaron was really a delightful little cozy mystery. Julie is the owner of a fancy gluten free bakery. It was during one of her classes that a student ended up suffering a heart attack.

This should have been a cut and dry death. Heat attack = no foul play, but Julie had a vision and that makes her want to investigate, which turns up some reasons why people may want him dead.

I liked getting to know Julie and her friends while the mystery unfolded.  I liked that there may or may not be a love interest coming in the series as it continues. I really want to get to know more about her school nemesis turned would be suitor. Of course there's also the inspector too.

This was a light and easy read and really fun.

I only wanted to shake Julie once or twice during her investigation. Usually with cozy mysteries I want to do it multiple times because the amateur sleuths are often like the hot chick in horror flicks. A little stupid when it comes to their own lives. I'm not saying Julie wasn't stupid with her life, cos she was but not in that super irritating way that often happens in this genre.

The ending was not what I expected, especially in regards to the second death. (I promise I won't spoil anything)

I can't wait to see what happens next for these characters! Especially with Magda next door!!

Rating: 4 flowers

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ana T. Drew is the evil mastermind behind the recent series of murders in the fictional French town of Beldoc. When she is not writing cozy mysteries or doing mom-and-wife things, she can be found watching “The Rookie” to help her get over “Castle”. She lives in Paris but her heart is in Provence.

>>> Visit ana-drew.com for a free cookbook and a game!

Website: ana-drew.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ana-drew

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ana-t-drew

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/anadrew

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoranadrew

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Ana T. Drew will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway