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February 28, 2019

Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green - Review

I received this book free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own

Book details
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 5, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-0764219085

Book description
The daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father in 1759 Montreal, Catherine Duval finds it is easier to remain neutral in a world that is tearing itself apart. Content to trade with both the French and the British, Catherine is pulled into the fray against her wishes when her British ex-
fiance, Samuel Crane, is taken prisoner by her father. Samuel asks her to help him escape, claiming he has information that could help end the war.

Peace appeals to Catherine, but helping the man who broke her heart does not. She delays . . . until attempts on Samuel's life convince her he's in mortal danger. Against her better judgment she helps him flee by river, using knowledge of the landscape to creep ever closer to freedom. Their time together rekindles feelings she thought long buried, and danger seems to hound their every mile. She's risked becoming a traitor by choosing a side, but will the decision cost her even more than she anticipated?

Meet the author - Jocelyn Green
Jocelyn Green is the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King and A Refuge Assured. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award and the Golden Scroll. Jocelyn lives with her family in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

My thoughts
I loved this book. I have been trying to find more and more books to read in this time period and was not disappointed when I got the chance to read this one.  As with the other books I have ready by Jocelyn I enjoy this author's writing style.  She also makes sure that her research really shows.  I am sure it was hard for Catherine to have to choose whether or not to help Samuel.  The author does a good job of showing how Catherine is feeling through her writing. This book was full of emotions and adventure. This is a must read book of this season. 

Restaurant Weeks are Murder by Libby Klein - Spotlight and Giveaway

 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Kensington (February 26, 2019) 
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496713079 
ISBN-13: 978-1496713070 
Digital ASIN: B07DBQBVYJ
  

Book description
Cape May, New Jersey, is the site of a big culinary competition—and the knives are out . . .

Poppy McAllister is happy about opening a Jersey Shore B&B—but working in a professional kitchen has always been her real dream. Now it’s coming true, at least briefly, as she teams up with her former fiancée, Tim—and his condescending partner, Gigi—during the high-profile Restaurant Week challenge. Poppy’s specialty is pastries, despite her devotion to a Paleo diet. But if anyone can make glorious gluten-free goodies, it’s Poppy.

Things get heated quickly—especially when some ingredients get switched and Tim’s accused of sabotage. Relatively harmless pranks soon escalate into real hazards, including an exploding deep fryer. And now one of the judges has died after taking a bite of Poppy’s cannoli—making her the chef suspect . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

Meet the author - Libby Klein
Libby Klein dabbles in the position of Vice President of a technology company which mostly involves bossing other people around, making spreadsheets, and taking out the trash. She writes culinary cozy mysteries from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard.

Author Links
Website – https://libbykleinbooks.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/libbykleinbooks/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LibbyKleinBooks
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/libbykleinbooks/

Cozy Mystery Crew - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1757692634274149/ 

Giveaway



TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
February 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW 
February 25 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
February 26 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW 
February 26 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 27 – Mythical Books – GUEST POST 
February 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
February 28 – MJB Reviewers - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
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March 1 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
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March 2 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
March 2 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 
March 3 – That's What She's Reading - CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST 
March 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
March 5 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW 
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March 8 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - REVIEW, RECIPE 
March 8 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
March 9 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
March 9 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
March 10 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

February 27, 2019

A Killer's Alibi by William L. Myers, Jr. - Spotlight



Book details
Series: Philadelphia Legal
Paperback: 430 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (February 19, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-1503903333

Book description
For attorney Mick McFarland, the evidence is damning. And so are the family secrets in this twisty legal thriller from the Amazon Charts bestselling author of A Criminal Defense.

When crime lord Jimmy Nunzio is caught, knife in hand, over the body of his daughter’s lover and his own archenemy, he turns to Mick McFarland to take up his defense. Usually the courtroom puppeteer, McFarland quickly finds himself at the end of Nunzio’s strings. Struggling to find grounds for a not-guilty verdict on behalf of a well-known killer, Mick is hamstrung by Nunzio’s refusal to tell him what really happened.

On the other side of the law, Mick’s wife, Piper, is working to free Darlene Dowd, a young woman sentenced to life in prison for her abusive father’s violent death. But the jury that convicted Darlene heard only part of the truth, and Piper will do anything to reveal the rest and prove Darlene’s innocence.

As Mick finds himself in the middle of a mob war, Piper delves deeper into Darlene’s past. Both will discover dark secrets that link these fathers and daughters—some that protect, some that destroy, and some that can’t stay hidden forever. No matter the risk.

Purchase Links

Connect with William

Meet the author - William L. Myers, Jr.
William L. Myers, Jr., is the author of the bestselling Philadelphia Legal series, which includes the #1 Kindle bestseller A Criminal Defense, An Engineered Injustice, and A Killer’s Alibi. A Philadelphia lawyer with thirty years of trial experience in state and federal courts up and down the East Coast, Myers has argued before the United States Supreme Court and still actively practices law. Myers was born into a proud working-class family; graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law; and now lives with his wife, Lisa, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia.

Instagram tour schedule:
Monday, February 18th: @somekindofalibrary
Monday, February 18th: @jessicamap
Tuesday, February 19th: @thecityofdarkclockwork
Wednesday, February 20th: @_ebl_inc_
Thursday, February 21st: @dropandgivemenerdy
Friday, February 22nd: @jennblogsbooks
Monday, February 25th: @booksandpolkadots
Tuesday, February 26th: @readingbetweenthe_wines
Wednesday, February 27th: @createexploreread
Thursday, February 28th: @tbretc
Friday, March 1st: @ladyofthelibrary

Review tour schedule:
Monday, February 11th: @love_my_dane_dolly
Tuesday, February 12th: What is That Book About – author guest post
Wednesday, February 13th: Amy’s Book-et List
Wednesday, February 13th: @crimebookjunkee
Thursday, February 14th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Monday, February 18th: Books & Bindings
Tuesday, February 19th: Novel Gossip – author guest post
Wednesday, February 20th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, February 21st: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind
Friday, February 22nd: The Reading Frenzy – author Q&A
Monday, February 25th: Mystery Suspense Reviews
Tuesday, February 26th: Thoughts on This ‘n That – review and Q&A
Wednesday, February 27th: A Holland Reads – author guest post
Thursday, February 28th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, March 5th: Wining Wife
Wednesday, March 6th: Becky on Books – author guest post
Thursday, March 7th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Friday, March 8th: Seaside Book Nook

February 26, 2019

Murder in an Irish Pub by Carlene O'Connor - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: An Irish Village Mystery (Book 4)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (February 26, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1496719042

Book description
When competing card sharps stir up Siobhán O'Sullivan’s quiet Irish village, a poker tournament turns into a game of Hangman . . .

In the small village of Kilbane in County Cork, for a cuppa tea or a slice of brown bread, you go to Naomi’s Bistro, managed by the many siblings of the lively O'Sullivan brood. For a pint or a game of darts—or for the poker tournament that's just come to town—it’s the pub you want.

One player’s reputation precedes him: Eamon Foley, a tinker out of Dublin, called the Octopus for playing like he has eight hands under the table. But when Foley is found at the end of a rope, swinging from the rafters of Rory Mack’s pub, it’s time for the garda to take matters into their own hands. Macdara Flannery would lay odds it’s a simple suicide—after all, there’s a note and the room was locked. But Siobhán suspects foul play, as does Foley’s very pregnant widow. Perhaps one of Foley’s fellow finalists just raised the stakes to life and death.

With conflicting theories on the crime—not to mention the possibility of a proposal—tensions are running high between Siobhán and Macdara. Soon it’s up to Siobhán to call a killer’s bluff, but if she doesn’t play her cards right, she may be the next one taken out of the game . .

Meet the author - Carlene O'Connor
USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor comes from a long line of Irish storytellers. Her great-grandmother emigrated from Ireland filled with tales and the stories have been flowing ever since. Of all the places across the pond she’s wandered, she fell most in love with a walled town in County Limerick and was inspired to create the town of Kilbane, County Cork. Carlene currently divides her time between New York and the Emerald Isle. She is currently at work on the next book in the Irish Village Mystery series.

My thoughts
This is one of my favorite series and part of it is due to the setting. Who can't love a book set in Ireland.  Kilbane is a nice little town that would be a great place to visit.  Unless of course you witness a murder while there.  The other is I enjoy the author's writing style.  For me the story just flows well.  It was nice to get to visit Siobhan and the other characters again and meeting a few new ones as well.  I liked how just when I thought I had it all figured out in my mind the author would give me another clue that would make me rethink my guess. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. With each new book in the series, I am liking it more and more. 

One Feta in the Grave by Tina Kashian - Spotlight and Giveaway

 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Kensington (February 26, 2019) 
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496713516 
ISBN-13: 978-1496713513 
Digital ASIN: B07DBPQQFJ
  

Book description
As summer comes to an end in her Jersey Shore town, Lucy Berberian continues to manage her family’s Mediterranean restaurant. The Kebab Kitchen also has a food tent at this year’s beach festival. But now a local businessman is under the boardwalk—dead by the sea …

With a sand castle contest and live music, Ocean Crest bids a bittersweet farewell to tourist season. Summer will return next year … but Archie Kincaid won’t. The full-of-himself store owner has been fatally shot, soon after a screaming match with Lucy’s best friend. Katie’s far from the only suspect, though, since Archie had some bitter rivals—as well as some relationships no one knew about. It’s up to Lucy to look into some seedy characters and solve the case before the wrong person gets skewered …

Recipes included!

Meet the author - Tina Kashian
Tina Kashian spent her childhood summers at the New Jersey shore, building sand castles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business where her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. She worked almost every job—rolling silverware and wiping down tables as a tween, to hosting and waitressing as a teenager.

After college, Tina worked as a NJ Deputy Attorney General, a patent attorney, and a mechanical engineer. Her law cases inspired an inquiring mind of crime, and since then, Tina has been hooked on mysteries. The Kebab Kitchen Cozy Mystery series launches with Hummus and Homicide, followed by Stabbed in the Baklava and One Feta in the Grave by Kensington Books. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two young daughters. Please visit www.tinakashian.com and join her Newsletter to enter free contests to win books, get delicious recipes, and to learn when her books will be released.

Author Links
Website: tinakashian.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinaKashianAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinaKashian1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinakashian/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16902011.Tina_Kashian

Purchase Links Amazon - iBooks - Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Google Books 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
February 26 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW 
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February 27 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - GUEST POST 
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March 9 – Melina's Book Blog - REVIEW

February 24, 2019

Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs by Erin Johnson - Spotlight

Book details
Cozy Mystery 9th in Series 
Self Published (February 15, 2019) 
Print Length: 298 pages 
ASIN: B07NLJS93J

Book description
A bakehouse in the making. A dangerous ghost in the tower. Will their welcome to the neighborhood be short-lived? Imogen wants nothing more than to complete her sweet dream. With her adoring fiancé Hank at her side, the witch and her friends dive into renovations for their new home and soon-to-be bakery. But all their efforts seem futile when they wake to find the house eerily ripped apart all over again… As Imogen examines her humble abode's shady history, she discovers evidence for a malevolent spirit living inside. But with less-than-welcoming neighbors keeping a close, suspicious watch, she wonders if it’s not the dead but the living who pose the biggest threat… Will Imogen root out the culprit, or will her culinary future collapse under the weight of an unsolved murder? Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs is the ninth book in the charming Spells & Caramels paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like lovable characters, chilling twists, and enchanting adventures, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s marvelous tale. Buy Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs to solve a magical whodunit today!

Meet the author - Erin Johnson
Erin Johnson is a native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

Website: www.erinjohnsonwrites.com
Twitter:@EJohnsonWrites 
Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
February 18 – The Avid Reader - REVIEW 
February 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW 
February 19 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
February 19 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT 
February 20 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW 
February 20 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW 
February 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
February 21 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW 
February 22 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW 
February 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT 
February 23 – CelticLady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT 
February 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT 
February 24 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
February 25 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT 
February 25 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT 
February 26 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – SPOTLIGHT 
February 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
February 27 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT 
February 28 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW

February 22, 2019

Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Crooked Lane Books (February 12, 2019) 
Hardcover: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 1683318749 
ISBN-13: 978-1683318743 
Digital ASIN: B07D2GYM25 

Book description
Has a curse fallen on the small town of Taylorsford, Virginia? After a young woman goes missing during a spring bonfire, library director Amy Webber must wade through the web of lies only to find a truth that she may not want to untangle.

Spring has sprung in quaint Taylorsford, Virginia, and the mayor has revived the town’s long-defunct May Day celebration to boost tourism. As part of the festivities, library director Amy Webber is helping to organize a research project and presentation by a local folklore expert. All seems well at first—but spring takes on a sudden chill when a university student inexplicably vanishes during a bonfire.

The local police cast a wide net to find the missing woman, but in a shocking turn of events, Amy’s swoon-worthy neighbor Richard Muir becomes a person of interest in the case. Not only is Richard the woman’s dance instructor, he also doesn’t have an alibi for the night the student vanished—or at least not one he’ll divulge, even to Amy.

When the missing student is finally discovered lost in the mountains, with no memory of recent events—and a dead body lying nearby—an already disturbing mystery takes on a sinister new hue. Blessed with her innate curiosity and a librarian’s gift for research, Amy may be the only one who can learn the truth in Past Due for Murder, Victoria Gilbert’s third charming Blue Ridge Library mystery.

Meet the author - Victoria Gilbert
Raised in a historic small town in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian.

Victoria’s first cozy mystery series, the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, garnered her a three-book deal with Crooked Lane Books, which has since been expanded to five books. The first two books in the series have been optioned by Sony Pictures Television, and the first three were or will be produced in audiobook by Tantor Media.

Victoria also just inked a 2-book deal with Crooked Lane for a new cozy series, the Booklovers B & B series, set in historic Beaufort, NC.

A member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, Victoria is represented by Frances Black at Literary Counsel.

Author Links: Website/blog: http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/ 

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Kobo Indie Bound GooglePlay 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
February 11 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
February 11 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST 
February 11 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 12 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
February 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW 
February 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
February 13 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
February 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
February 14 – Rae’s Books and Recipes – SPOTLIGHT 
February 14 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT 
February 15 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
February 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 
February 15 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
February 16 – Laura`s Interests - REVIEW 
February 16 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 16 – That's What She's Reading – REVIEW 
February 17 – StoreyBook Reviews - SPOTLIGHT 
February 17 – Curling Up by the Fire – REVIEW 
February 18 – The Bookwyrm's Hoard – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
February 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 19 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
February 19 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
February 20 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
February 20 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
February 21 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW 
February 21 – The Book Diva's Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
February 22 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
February 22 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

February 20, 2019

The Chef's Secret by Crystal King - Spotlight and Excerpt


Book Details:
Book Title: The Chef's Secret by Crystal King
Category: Adult fiction, 352 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Atria/Simon & Schuster
Release date: Feb 12, 2019
Tour dates: Feb 11 to 28, 2019
Content Rating: R (for a couple of explicit, but loving, sex scenes (no abuse or rape) and minor curse words)

Book Description:
A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, and the nephew who sets out to discover his late uncle’s secrets—including the identity of the noblewoman Bartolomeo loved until he died.

When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.

As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.

With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion.

To follow the tour, please visit Crystal King's page on Italy Book Tours.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Indiebound
Books-a-Million ~ Kobo ~ iTunes
Google Play ~ Book Depository

Add to Goodreads 

Meet the Author - Crystal King:
Crystal King is an author, culinary enthusiast, and marketing expert. Her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity, and social media at several universities including Harvard Extension School and Boston University, as well as at GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US.

A Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal received her MA in critical and creative thinking from UMass Boston, where she developed a series of exercises and writing prompts to help fiction writers in medias res. She resides in Boston but considers Italy her next great love after her husband, Joe, and their two cats, Nero and Merlin. She is the author of Feast of Sorrow.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Excerpt:
Excerpt from THE CHEF’S SECRET (Atria/Simon & Schuster) 
By Crystal King

Forty-three days after he first laid eyes upon the most beautiful girl in the world, Bartolomeo had the good fortune to overhear the maids talking about a girl at the palazzo. Two of the serving maids huddled in the pantry near his post where he was prepping nightingales for the cena. When they mentioned the dress she had worn the night before, Bartolomeo realized the principessa was the object of their admiration.

One of the maids was a thin slip of a girl who served the cardinale’s sister. The other was a young woman who had caught his fancy for a time the summer before, but soon bored Bartolomeo with her empty gossip.

“She’s here from Roma,” the first said, awe in her voice. They talked of the girl’s extraordinarily wealthy family, of her famed dressmaker, and of how long it took to wrangle her curls each morning.

When they said her name, Bartolomeo had to put his knife down for fear of cutting himself. Oh, to know her true name! Happiness filled him like a carafe of fine wine. Her name, he thought, was like the taste of strawberries sprinkled with sugar. It was like the summer sun touching the petal of a freshly bloomed flower. That evening, when he gazed out his little garret window, he wished he could shout her name across the rooftops, but he could never say it aloud. To do so was too dangerous, for her and for him. He would take a thousand lashings for his Stella [Author’s note, this is a pet name that Bartolomeo has for her], but he could not bear to have her come to harm.

The next morning, Stella stopped Bartolomeo in the loggia. The sky was bright and the October air was still gentle and warm. He was readying to leave the palazzo to go to market when she approached. He was so startled to see her there he stopped in his tracks, mouth agape.

The princess was radiant in a red velvet gown, her hair piled high upon her head. Her beauty was staggering, her skin so clear, her cheeks ruddy and fresh. What a sight he must seem in comparison, with his own hair a tussle of wild waves, a grease stain adorning one sleeve. He hadn’t bathed, and he was certain he smelled too much like onions and ham.

She recognized his discomfort and giggled, in a way that immediately eased his fear. She gently touched his arm with one hand, and with the other she pressed a piece of paper into his palm. “What is your name?”

He looked around to see who might be witnessing the exchange, but there were only a couple of gardeners in the vicinity, none of whom paid them any mind. “Bartolomeo,” he said, gathering courage.

She released his hand and shared her own name. Bartolomeo’s heart sang as she repeated the word he had been turning over and over in his mind since the day before.

“Please tell the cook how much I love his tourtes.”

Bartolomeo nodded his head vigorously. “I will, madonna, I will.”

She dazzled him with another smile. “I liked the radish flower the best, though.”

She winked and turned away. He stood there, staring at the curve of her departing body, wondering what had just happened. He stared until she rounded the corner of the loggia. He was light-headed and it felt like he was spinning, like a little bird on a spit, fire rising all around it. The piece of paper in his hand was small and warm. He hurried out of the palazzo and down the cobbled street lining the adjoining Rio di San Luca canal.

When he was sure no one could see, he stopped and unfolded the little piece of paper.

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends March 7, 2019




February 19, 2019

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff - Review

I received this book free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own. 

Book details
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Park Row; Original edition (January 29, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-0778330271

Book description
From the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II.

1946, Manhattan

One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.


Meet the author - Pam Jenoff
Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including the international bestseller The Kommandant’s Girl, which also earned her a Quill Award nomination. Pam lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school.

Connect with Pam
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My thoughts
I thought this book was interesting.  The story of women training to be spies was intriguing to me. I don't think I could have been that strong that I could have done that. The characters were strong and I enjoyed getting to know them and follow their story. I liked how the author use each chapter to tell a different woman's story. It helped to move the story along. This was a good book in my opinion.

February 18, 2019

I'd Rather be Reading by Anne Bogel - Review


Book details
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Baker Books (September 4, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-0801072925

Book description
For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.

I'd Rather Be Reading is the perfect literary companion for everyone who feels that way. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads readers to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them the reader they are today. Known as a reading tastemaker through her popular podcast What Should I Read Next?, Bogel invites book lovers into a community of like-minded people to discover new ways to approach literature, learn fascinating new things about books and publishing, and reflect on the role reading plays in their lives.

The perfect gift for the bibliophile in everyone's life, I'd Rather Be Reading will command an honored place on the overstuffed bookshelves of any book lover.

Meet the author - Anne Bogel
Anne Bogel is the creator of the popular blog Modern Mrs Darcy and the podcast What Should I Read Next? Her popular book lists and reading guides have established Bogel as a tastemaker among readers, authors, and publishers. The author of Reading People, Bogel lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

My thoughts
I enjoy Anne's blog as Modern Mrs. Darcy and her podcast, What I should I read next? so I wanted to give her book a try. I felt like her and I were having a conversation as she is in love with books as much I am. Each chapter is short and easy to read. You will find some good book recommendations as well as a few ideas on how to keep track of books you have read and a few other things. Glad I picked this book up.

Death by a Whisker by T.C. LoTempio - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series 
Crooked Lane Books (February 13, 2018) 
Paperback: 320 pages 
ISBN-10: 1683319494 
ISBN-13: 978-1683319498 
Digital ASIN: B072395VJN
  

Book description
Getting used to life back home in Deer Park, North Carolina, Sydney McCall and her right-hand tabby, Toby, are helping her sister Kat run the local animal shelter. Syd and Kat are all excited about the prospect of the shelter’s newest fundraiser: shopping channel queen Ulla Townsend. Shelter admin Maggie Shayne vehemently refuses to have anything to do with the woman, but the fundraiser ensues as planned. That is, until Ulla turns up dead in the middle of the event.

The cause of death is determined to be an allergic reaction, but Syd and Toby are sniffing out something fishy. When Syd met Ulla, it was clear she was distasteful and rude. And right before the event, Syd spotted some behind-the-scenes drama between Ulla and her manager. As they begin to investigate, they realize there is no shortage of suspects, and Maggie is at the top of the list.

Now Syd and Toby must claw their way to the truth before everything goes paws up at their animal shelter in Death by a Whisker by national bestselling author T. C. LoTempio.

Meet the author - T.C. LoTempio
While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, MEOW IF ITS MURDER, debuted Dec. 2, 2014. Followed by #2, CLAWS FOR ALARM. #3, CRIME AND CATNIP, was released in December. She, Rocco and Maxx make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York. Catch up with them at www.tclotempio.net and www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

Where to find them: ROCCO’s blog: www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com 
Twitter: @RoccoBlogger - https://twitter.com/@RoccoBlogger 

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Google Play 

Giveaway


Tour Participants 
February 12 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – SPOTLIGHT 
February 12 – Carla Loves To Read - REVIEW 
February 13 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
February 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
February 14 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
February 14 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW* 
February 15 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW* 
February 15 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
February 16 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW 
February 17 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 17 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
February 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW* 
February 18 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
February 19 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
February 19 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 20 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW* 
February 21 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

February 13, 2019

The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen - Review

I received this book free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own. 

Book details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (February 12, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-1542040112

Book description
From the bestselling author of The Tuscan Child comes a beautiful and heart-rending novel of a woman’s love and sacrifice during the First World War.

As the Great War continues to take its toll, headstrong twenty-one-year-old Emily Bryce is determined to contribute to the war effort. She is convinced by a cheeky and handsome Australian pilot that she can do more, and it is not long before she falls in love with him and accepts his proposal of marriage.

When he is sent back to the front, Emily volunteers as a “land girl,” tending to the neglected grounds of a large Devonshire estate. It’s here that Emily discovers the long-forgotten journals of a medicine woman who devoted her life to her herbal garden. The journals inspire Emily, and in the wake of devastating news, they are her saving grace. Emily’s lover has not only died a hero but has left her terrified—and with child. Since no one knows that Emily was never married, she adopts the charade of a war widow.

As Emily learns more about the volatile power of healing with herbs, the found journals will bring her to the brink of disaster, but may open a path to her destiny.

Meet the author - Rhys Bowen
Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including In Farleigh Field and three award-winning historical mystery series. Her works have garnered numerous accolades, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and MacAvity awards.

My thoughts
This was a well written story. I have enjoyed Rhys' Molly Murphy series and was looking forward to try an stand alone book by her. I enjoyed that the author did her research for the historical aspect of the book. Then you add a bit of romance to round out the story. Makes a perfect fit. Emily was a favorite character of mine and I loved the things she did for the war effort and gets others to help her. All the characters were well developed and the settings/scenes well described. A good read

February 12, 2019

Corpse & Crown by Alissa Kwitney - Spotlight


Book details
Age Range: 12 - 18 years
Grade Level: 7 and up
Series: Cadaver & Queen (Book 2)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Inkyard Press; Original edition (February 12, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-1335542229

Book description
Agatha DeLacey’s family isn’t rich or titled, so studying nursing at Ingold’s East End hospital in London is a rare opportunity for her. Despite the school’s focus on the innovative Bio-Mechanical program, Aggie cares more about the desperately poor human patients who flood the hospital, even if that means providing unauthorized treatment after-hours…and trusting a charming, endlessly resourceful thief.

But the Artful Dodger is barely a step ahead of his underworld rivals, the menacing Bill Sykes and mercurial Oliver Twist, and Aggie’s association with him soon leads her into danger. When a brutal attack leaves her blind, she and the Dodger find themselves at the mercy of an experimental Bio-Mech surgery. Though the procedure restores Aggie’s sight, her new eyes come at an unnerving cost, and the changes in Dodger are even more alarming—instead of seeing Aggie as the girl he fancies, he now views her as a potential threat.

As war between England and Germany brews on the horizon and a sinister medical conspiracy threatens to shatter the uneasy peace in Europe, Aggie and the Dodger must find a way to work together so they can protect their friends and expose the truth…even if it means risking their own survival.


Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Alisa
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Meet the author - Alisa Kwitney
Alisa Kwitney was once an editor at DC Comics/Vertigo and is an Eisner-nominated author of graphic novels, romantic women's fiction and urban fantasy. She is one of the authors of A Flight of Angels, which made YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten list, and the YA graphic novel Token, named a highlight of the Minx imprint by Publishers Weekly. Alisa has an MFA from Columbia University.

TOUR STOPS:
Monday, February 11th: Storied Adventures and @storied.adventures
Tuesday, February 12th: A Holland Reads – spotlight
Wednesday, February 13th: A Dream Within A Dream
Monday, February 18th: @ladyofthelibrary
Tuesday, February 19th: Bookworm for Kids
Wednesday, February 20th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Monday, February 25th: @amberafterglowreads
Wednesday, February 27th: Girls in Books and @girlsinbooks
Thursday, February 28th: @megabunnyreads
Wednesday, March 6th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Monday, March 11th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

February 9, 2019

The Novel Art of Murder by V.M. Burns - Spotlight and Giveaway

 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Kensington (November 27, 2018) 
Paperback: 256 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496711858 
ISBN-13: 978-1496711854 
Digital ASIN: B07B7B4C8Q
  

Book description
Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is trying to keep her grandmother from spending her golden years in an orange jumpsuit . . . The small town of North Harbor, Michigan, is just not big enough for the two of them: flamboyant phony Maria Romanov and feisty Nana Jo. The insufferable Maria claims she's descended from Russian royalty and even had a fling with King Edward VIII back in the day. She’s not just a lousy liar, she's a bad actress, so when she nabs the lead in the Shady Acres Senior Follies—a part Nana Jo plays every year in their retirement village production—Nana Jo blows a gasket and reads her the riot act in front of everyone. Of course, when Maria is silenced with a bullet to the head, Nana Jo lands the leading role on the suspects list. Sam’s been writing her newest mystery, set in England between the wars, with her intrepid heroine Lady Daphne drawn into murder and scandal in the household of Winston Churchill. But now she has to prove that Nana Jo’s been framed. With help from her grandmother's posse of rambunctious retirees, Sam shines a spotlight on Maria’s secrets, hoping to draw the real killer out of the shadow

Meet the author - V.M. Burns
V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com

Author Links:
Website: http://www.vmburns.com/ 
Twitter: @vmburns 


Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
January 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW 
January 30 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
January 31 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
January 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
February 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
February 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT 
February 1 – Teresa Trent Author Blog - REVIEW 
February 2 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
February 2 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT 
February 2 – The Editing Pen – GUEST POST 
February 3 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST 
February 4 – The Layaway Dragon – REVIEW 
February 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
February 5 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW 
February 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
February 5 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 6 – Rae’s Books and Recipes – SPOTLIGHT 
February 6 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST 
February 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 7 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT 
February 7 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST 
February 7 – Jody’s Book Reviews, Book Tours & Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT 
February 8 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
February 8 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
February 8 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW 
February 9 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
February 9 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
February 10 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT