by admin | Oct 16, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Tamara G. Cooper is a new-to-me author but the cover and book description of The Vacant House both appeared interesting so I took a chance on it. I found a book with a fast-moving plot filled with likeable characters, some of them quite quirky. Heroine Sophie O’Brion is a best-selling author who lives in a small town and finds herself accused of killing her neighbor’s cat. From that point things escalate quickly with Sophie in danger of landing in jail or losing her life.
In this entertaining mystery that seems to make absolutely no sense at times, there are a number of possible suspects as well as motives but the author does a great job of untangling all the threads to where it makes perfect sense at the end. I certainly had no clue where it was all going! Action, danger, plenty of humor, second chance romance, and lovable pets that play a major role all work together to assure readers of an enjoyable few hours of reading time. 
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
| Book: The Vacant House
Author: Tamara G. Cooper
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 3, 2019
Click here for your copy!
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She knows she didn’t do it, but everybody thinks she did.
It all begins when best-selling author Sophie O’Brion is the last person to see a murder victim alive. She looks even more guilty when a woman from her church is beaten, and Sophie was seen with her just hours before. Suddenly, people she has known her entire life begin pointing accusing fingers at her.
Marine Master Sergeant Burke Maguire, an old flame who dumped Sophie years ago, has recently been hired as a police officer in Forman Falls, Texas, and is assigned her case. She doesn’t want his help.
As she gets deeper and deeper into trouble, though, she must rely on him, but trusting him is another matter.
Will they be able to work together, maneuver dangerous twists and turns, and finally clear her name?
A clean romantic suspense novel that grips you from the very beginning and won’t let you go! The Vacant House is an unforgettable adventure. Read it today, if you have plans to stay up all night.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tamara G. Cooper lives in Texas with her husband, three sons, five dogs, and loves writing mysteries with a touch of romance.
MORE FROM TAMARA:
Book 1 of Sophie O’Brion Mysteries introduces us to Sophie O’Brion, a quirky, funny, and reclusive mystery writer who lives in a small town in East Texas. Because Sophie looks at life through a lens of humor, funny moments appear often. There are frightening moments, too, in her quest to clear her name from pointing fingers accusing her of murder and attempted murder. Sophie is vulnerable, yet strong; reclusive, yet kind; funny, yet serious. And she is determined! It doesn’t help that added to all this is the return of her high school sweetheart who dumped her 12 years before to join the Marines. As a new police officer, Burke is assigned her case, but she doesn’t want his help. Sparks fly, trust doesn’t, and love stays comfortably in the past. Will Sophie and Burke be able to save her reputation and re-ignite their love for each other? I hope you enjoy this book! Happy reading!
| Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 3
Godly Book Reviews, October 3
Pause for Tales, October 4
Emily Yager, October 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6
Mary Hake, October 6
Texas Book-aholic, October 7
CarpeDiem, October 7
janicesbookreviews, October 8
All-of-a-kind Mom, October 8 |
Quiet Quilter, October 9
Betti Mace, October 10
Blogging With Carol, October 10
Remembrancy, October 11
A Reader’s Brain, October 12
For Him and My Family, October 12
Moments, October 13
Inklings and notions , October 14
Maureen’s Musings, October 14
My Devotional Thoughts, October 15
HookMeInABook, October 15
Daysong Reflections, October 16 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Tamara is giving away a copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
by admin | Oct 14, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Hollywood, Legal, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have read many books by Davis Bunn over the years and have always considered him one of my favorite authors so I was pleased to have the opportunity to review Unscripted. While not my favorite of his works, this novel was nevertheless a solid one with an intriguing plot and interesting characters. I particularly enjoyed learning about what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood including the legal aspects of producing a film. I also loved the descriptions of how many of the scenes were filmed almost spontaneously and the outcome seemed to be so magical that I found myself wanting to see the final product.
The details appear to have been well researched and were quite believable. I’ll admit that I would like to have seen a bit more development of the primary characters, especially Danny and Megan. Their relationship seemed a bit rushed to me and it would have been nice if their dependence had been more on the Lord than on each other.
I did enjoy Unscripted and will always look forward to reading anything this author publishes.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Line producer Danny Byrd is well known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner–and former best friend–makes off with their investors’ money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.
LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it–even though she’s not entirely clear what “it” is.
Danny and Megan are each other’s best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other’s best hope for love.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Paul Wheeler
Davis Bunn (www.davisbunn.com) is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers with sales totaling more than seven million copies worldwide. His work has been published in twenty languages, and his critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Bunn is a Writer-in-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University. He and his wife, Isabella, divide their time between England and Florida.
by admin | Oct 9, 2019 | Books, Colorado, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I have read quite a few of Mary Connealy’s books over the past several years and always enjoy them. I know I can usually depend on her giving me a few hours reading pleasure with her western historical romances laced with her wonderful sense of humor. Her books may not be deep or particularly thought provoking all the time but that’s not what I’m looking for when I pick up one of her books. Connealy is one of my go-to’s when I am in the mood for pure entertainment and a cowboy or two in the mix is welcomed.
Aiming For Love is the author’s latest offering and the first book in Brides of Hope Mountain series. The series features the three Nordegren sisters who have lived alone atop a Colorado mountain since the deaths of their parents and grandparents. Each young woman is skilled in taking care of themselves in the wilderness and have been taught to avoid the outside world. Everything changes for them the day the Warden family shows up on their mountain and find themselves in need of shelter and medical help. From that point the story gets more and more interesting as the wild sisters are forced to interact with the strangers from the valley below.
Vivid descriptions of Colorado scenery and appealing characters combine with a plot that moves right along at a good pace to offer a tale that should satisfy many readers, especially if they are prepared to wait to learn more about how things will develop for certain characters. It is obvious that both other sisters, Ilsa and Ursula will be featured in their own books now that Josephine and David’s story has been told, but there are at least two men I hope to learn more about in the other books of this series – particularly Mitch and the mysterious hired gun. Great start to what promises to be a good series!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House, a Division of Baker Publishing. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Strangers Intrude
on Three Wild Sisters’ Hidden Mountain Life,
Their World Will Never Be the Same.
Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.
David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
Mary Connealy (www.maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
by admin | Oct 9, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Spotlight, Suspense
Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for Edge of Truth by Kimberly Rose Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Edge of Truth
Series: Law Enforcement Heroes
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson
Publisher: Sweet Rose Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Two DEA agents. One undercover mission. Lives changed forever.
The DEA sends two of its best agents, Kara Nelson and Jeff Clark, to Central Oregon, to shut down a major drug ring. Kara and Jeff usually work alone, but Operation Trail Ride throws them undercover together in a way neither of them expected.
A notorious Miami drug lord wants Kara dead. Can these agents pull off the greatest acting job of their lives—and manage the sparks flying between them?
Or will they die trying?
Edge of Truth is the first book in the Law Enforcement Heroes series. A romantic suspense series with nail biting suspense and a splash of romance. If you like engaging characters, small-town antics, and page turning suspense, then you’ll love Kimberly Rose Johnson’s Law Enforcement Heroes series.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
READ AN EXCERPT:
The hair on Kara Nelson’s neck prickled as she sat behind the wheel of her car parked near the Miami Beach Marina. Something wasn’t right. If she’d been made…She flung the door open and ran.
A boom sounded, and heat stung her back. Running full speed, Kara tripped and flew through the air, hitting the pavement hard. Her hands smacked the ground first, and she flipped, her legs whipping over her head. She lay face up in the parking lot. Searing pain tore through her wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck.
A second explosion sent a ball of fire into the mid-morning air. Kara covered her head as debris smacked the ground around her. She lifted her head with effort, first looking at her dismantled undercover car then back at the marina. Drug lord, Luis Alvarado’s yacht had moved out to sea and with it, her chances of wrapping up a year-long investigation. Where had the second blast come from? She struggled to sit up. Then the world went black.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child, Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.
Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
You can sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 7, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm October 14, 2019. Open internationally as long as winner can accept gift card from US Amazon. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
by admin | Oct 7, 2019 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Christy Barritt’s novels. Most of them are mysteries, some may contain a humorous touch, but all have inspired me to read most everything she writes. Home to Chestnut Grove is a bit different than previous books I’ve read by her but I am also a sucker for Christmas stories this time of year so naturally I had to read it. A story about a young woman whose dreams of Broadway have been a disappointment and who returns home to a dying small town uncertain of her reception. As her readers can probably guess, even in a Christmas romance, Barritt cannot resist adding a bit of a mystery to round things out. This is a lovely story with a strong theme of forgiveness and hope that should touch all but the hardest hearts and it might just soften them. Don’t miss this one for sure if you are a lover of Christmas books.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A heartwarming, small-town Christmas story about restoring broken hearts and remembering those you love.
When Faith Winters returns to Chestnut Grove, Virginia, for the community’s annual Christmas celebration, she’s determined to make amends. She’s failed at making it on Broadway and is certain everyone hates her for decisions she had no control over.
Jake Whitmire is the sheriff in Chestnut Grove, but keeping the area free of crime is the least of his worries. Most days are filled with trying to keep the community’s spirits up as jobs have disappeared. He never expected to see the woman who broke his heart return home to lead up the town’s Christmas concert, nor is he sure he can ever forgive her.
As someone in town begins sabotaging the community’s celebration, Faith and Jake work together to find the person responsible and ensure their friend Jenny’s last request is fulfilled. Can holiday hope heal the broken spirit afflicting Chestnut Grove residents? Or is it time for everyone—including Faith and Jake—to treasure the memories of the past but to move on?
Includes bonus recipes!
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”
A Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold almost two million copies, and one is currently being developed as a movie.
Christy’s books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.
She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.
Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.
For more information, visit her website: www.christybarritt.com.
