by admin | Apr 5, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery
MY REVIEW:
I believe “Buckhead Dead” is the first novel I’ve read by Deborah Malone and I’m not sure how I have missed out on her books. If her others are as entertaining as this one, I plan to remedy that situation asap. The first of a new series, “Buckhead Dead” left me wanting to spend more time with Skye, Honey, and Ginger. I will be watching for the next installment.
A cozy mystery, “Buckhead Dead” begins with Skye Southerland learning that their recent client had been murdered. As most readers of cozy mysteries can guess, Skye and her friend Honey, along with Honey’s cousin Ginger, get involved in the investigation – much to Detective Montaine’s dismay. This trio of gals are hilarious. They seem to operate by the seat-of-the-pants rule with most of their investigation what I would call spontaneous with side trips to parks, aquariums, etc., not to mention restaurants! Those girls seemed to eat all the time!
Needless to say, “Buckhead Dead” was fun and entertaining with a bit of danger and adventure thrown in for good measure. Disaster seemed to follow Skye around with hilarious results. She also learned along the way that she couldn’t judge people by their appearance or their past.
“Buckhead Dead” would be a great beach read this summer if you can wait that long or to read when you just need a good laugh. I recommend!
A copy of this book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Skye Southerland and Honey Truelove have just finished an interior design job for Sylvia Landmark, one of Buckhead’s most eccentric characters, and their designs are to die for. After a celebration at Sylvia’s home where they reveal the new décor, including a desk with a possible link to the pirate Blackbeard, Sylvia turns up dead, leaving the ladies wondering if this desk is worth more than they bargained for. Skye and Honey are now suspects in the murder of a woman who had few friends, and plenty of possible enemies. In an attempt to clear their names, Skye, Honey, and Honey’s loveable cousin Ginger embark on a journey to find the real killer, figure out the real history behind the desk, and clear their names before they end up going to jail, or even worse becoming the next victims! With plenty of warnings from Skye’s husband Mitch, and the ruggedly handsome Detective Montaine assigned to Sylvia’s case, these girls still manage to get right in the middle of the investigation, while having time to enjoy all that Georgia has to offer.
Giveaway
To celebrate the book tour, Deborah is graciously giving away a $50 Darden gift card. Click to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/94c8
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was nominated for 2011 and 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads” since 2001. She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson, as well as the “Christian Communicator.” She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association, Advanced Writers and Speaker’s Association and the American Christian Fiction Writers.
Guest Post From Deborah Malone
My Journey to Publication
Pack your suitcase and come take a little journey with me. Let’s start at the beginning. I believe I came out of the womb with a book in my hands. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love to read. I can still remember the smell of the library in my elementary school. I don’t know if it was dust or mildew, but I associated it with books. I loved that smell!
When I got a little older my friend introduced me to the library downtown. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Book heaven that is! I think I read every mystery in the young adult section. I know many of you will remember Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon (then there will be others scratching your head). My main character, Trixie, in the Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series is named after Trixie Beldon.
When I was growing up my mother had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and required a lot of help from me. I would read my books to take me away from all the responsibility for a while. Looking back I believe my mother realized how important books were to me because she always made sure I had plenty to read.
I married at nineteen and had two girls over the next few years. My youngest daughter became very ill leaving her seriously disabled and requiring around the clock care. So I stayed busy raising my girls. In 1999 I went through a divorce and Niki and I moved in with my dad. I would take care of both of them for the next 10 years until my dad moved into assisted living. During those years I started writing, and this like reading would take me away from the tremendous responsibility for a little while. I worked on my first book off and on for the next ten years.
Then one day I learned about the on-line writer’s group, American Christian Fiction Writers. I knew I wanted to write my book as Christian fiction, but didn’t know how. I learned everything I could about the craft of writing (and still learning) and rewrote my first book, Death in Dahlonega, as a Christian cozy. This doesn’t mean that it is a preachy or judgmental book, but one that is just good clean fun. I hope I can make my readers laugh a little and take them away from their stress for a minute.
My first book, Death in Dahlonega, was published in 2011 by Lamp Post Publishing of California. There are now four books in the Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. My latest book is, Buckhead Dead, the first book in the new series, Skye Southerland Cozy Mystery Series. I am working on the second book in the series, Decatur Dead. One thing that is unique about my books is that even though they are fiction all of the settings are real. If you knew the area you’d recognize the buildings, roads, restaurants, etc. But you don’t have to be familiar with the area to enjoy the book. It is just icing on the cake.
A fun thing about my book, Buckhead Dead, (an affluent suburb of Atlanta) is that one of the main characters, Honey Truelove, wears Merle Norman Romance Red Lipstick. I had a book signing the other day at a nearby Merle Norman and we had a ball. It was like having a great big girl party. I’ve had a lot of good feedback from those that have read, Buckhead Dead. I am now wearing Honey’s signature color, Romance Red, and really like it. I didn’t think I could wear red lipstick, but I’ve had a lot of compliments on it.
I’m looking forward to finishing the next two books in the series to see what kind of adventures the girls, Skye, Honey and Ginger take us on. I hope that you will take that journey with them, too, and that you’ve enjoyed going on a little journey down memory lane with me.
Blog Stops
March 29: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
March 30: Our Perfectly Imperfect Life
March 31: Just Commonly
April 1: ArtisticNobody
April 2: Through The Open Window
April 3: Mary Hake
April 3: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
April 4: Bigreadersite
April 5: Daysong Reflections
April 5: Cassandra M’s Place
April 6: Lights in a Dark World
April 7: Bukwurmzzz
April 7: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
April 8: Red Headed Book Lady
April 8: Texas Book-aholic
April 9: For the Love of Books
April 10: Reader’s Cozy Corner
April 11: Books! Books! Books!
by admin | Apr 5, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
There is a treasure hidden in an underground bunker and Trudi Coffey doesn’t even know about the treasure or that she has the secret to finding it. A strange visitor and subsequent office break-in send private investigator Trudi Coffey and her ex-husband/partner on a search for the treasure – but will they be on time?
From the first action-packed pages until the very end, “Annabel Lee” grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. There are multiple questions to be answered in this story and little-by-little the truth comes to light. Unique characters are very well fleshed out and had me rooting for the “good guys”. Tension between Trudi and Samuel was realistic and believable. There were a few fairly violent scenes that might not be for the queasy. I personally could read it but would not want to view it in a movie.
I have not previously read anything by this author but am looking forward to the next volume of this series. I believe this is a book that both men and women might enjoy.
A copy of this book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden.
The secret’s name is Annabel Lee.
She doesn’t know why her enigmatic uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He’s left her with a few German words, a barely controlled guard dog, and a single command: “Don’t open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me.”
Miles away in Atlanta, private investigator Trudi Coffey is visited by a mysterious older man calling himself Dr. Smith. He’s been trailing a man for a decade–a man she met through her ex-partner Samuel Hill–and the trail has led him to her office. The last thing Trudi wants to do is to contact Samuel. But it will take both of them to unravel this mystery–before it’s too late.
Read an excerpt from Annabel Lee HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mike Nappa is an entertainment journalist at FamilyFans.com, as well as a bestselling and award-winning author with more than one million books sold worldwide. When he was a kid, the stories of Edgar Allan Poe scared him silly. Today he owns everything Poe ever wrote. A former fiction acquisitions editor, Mike earned his MA in English literature and now writes full time.
by admin | Mar 29, 2016 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have to admit that I can often grow weary of Amish fiction but I know I can count on Suzanne Woods Fisher to provide me with a solid story that will always hold my interest. “The Imposter” was no exception. My only problem is how to review it without spoilers.
Readers of Suzanne’s earlier novels set in Stoney Ridge will delight in the return to familiar places and characters but new readers will have no problem jumping right into her latest novel. As one might expect, readers get an intimate look into the lives of several featured Amish characters; however they might just learn a few surprising secrets this time. There are some rumblings among the church leadership and members with a couple of the men who want to make sweeping changes without input from others. Then of course there is the expected romance. Actually this time there are at least two of them, both of which progress naturally as the story progresses. In fact other story elements often take precedence over romance.
All-in-all, “The Imposter” is a very satisfying read with strong and likable characters and a well thought out plot that moved along at the perfect pace. Some elements of the plot were resolved nicely while others will continue on at least into the next book of the series. I cannot wait to read “the rest of the story”.
Note: Previously reviewed for Revell on October 26, 2015.
This book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A heart once deceived should not be easily fooled again . . .
Katrina Stoltzfus thought she had life and love all figured out: she was going to marry John and live happily ever after. But as her plans crumble before her eyes, she struggles to face an uncertain future. When a widow asks for help starting a new business, Katrina quickly agrees. She needs time to heal her broken heart, to untangle her messy life, to find a purpose.
What she doesn’t need is attention from Andy Miller, a farmhand who arrives at the widow’s farm just when help is most needed–and who always seems to say the right thing and be in the right place, at the right time. Is Andy for real or too good to be true? She’s been deceived once before, and she isn’t planning on experiencing it again.
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a tale of love, uncertainty, and trusting God to write your story.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, The Calling, the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.
GUEST POST FROM SUZANNE WOODS FISHER:
If you think you have a pretty clear idea of what an Amish bishop is like—stern, authoritative, patriarchal?—have another think. David Stoltzfus in The Imposter is warm, kindhearted, a reluctant farmer, and quite attractive!
Sound like an unlikely character for an Amish novel? Maybe so, but David Stoltzfus is modeled after a bishop I met, years ago. This real-life bishop might be the most intelligent, thoughtful, spiritually sensitive, and well-read man I’ve ever met. We spent a morning talking Bonhoeffer in his Spartan living room, warmed by his woodstove.
I wanted to present the character of a bishop that best represented this man I’d grown to admire. So when it was time to create a proposal for a new series, I suggested ‘The Bishop’s Family,’ starring David Stoltzfus who was loosely based on this particular bishop.
Very loosely.
David Stoltzfus is a handsome, widowed father of six who runs a local bulk food store. His children are surprisingly nonconforming, outspoken, and fiercely protective of their clan. The real-life bishop is a farmer, happily married with four independently minded children, and looks…well, to be candid, he looks a little like Benjamin Franklin.
But here’s what they have in common: they both love to read, they love their families, and they love the work God has given them of tending a flock.
The Imposter begins as David Stoltzfus moves his family to Stoney Ridge for a fresh start, a new beginning. Things don’t start off well: his eldest daughter, Katrina, faces a crushing disappointment, his prodigal son Jesse has a bent for troublemaking, and then David realizes something fishy is going on in the little church.
A new life awaits the Stoltzfus family, but not the one they expected. Or wanted. But they are needed in Stoney Ridge, each one of them. Even Jesse. J
I hope you’ll feel as though you’ve made some new friends as you get to know David and his children. One thing I can promise: this bishop’s family will surprise you.
Happy Reading!
Warmly, Suzanne
www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
by admin | Mar 26, 2016 | Books, England, Gothic Romance, Suspense, Victorian
MY REVIEW:
Once upon a time, many years ago, I could not get enough of the novels of authors such as Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. I loved those deliciously Gothic romantic mysteries with their constant sense of impending doom. I did not realize just how much I had missed reading those books until I got my hands on a copy of Sandra Byrd’s first novel in her Daughters of Hampshire series, “Mist of Midnight”. I literally devoured it and was impatient to read the next book of the series. Finally “Bride of a Distant Isle” arrived but I had to force myself to wait until I had fulfilled some other previous commitments before I could read it even though it beckoned to me every time I passed its shelf. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait!
Not only an orphan but also illegitimate, Annabel Ashton is at the mercy of her cousin who inherited the family estate. When she suddenly finds herself a virtual prisoner at Highcliffe Hall and learns that Edward has plans for her to marry a highly repulsive man, Annabel does not know where to find the help she needs. It becomes evident that there is no way to discern who she can trust – not even the man she has come to love. It was easy to get caught up in Annabel’s feeling of utter hopelessness and to hope again when she turned her situation over to the Lord. I loved learning of the people working behind the scenes on her behalf even when she felt the most abandoned.
Layer upon layer, the author has built a novel filled with so many twists and surprises that I became totally immersed in the story. Her descriptions of the house, its surroundings, and characters added to the perfect background atmosphere for the plot. One scene in particular was pure genius but I’ll leave other readers to guess which one. You just have to read it yourself.
I loved, loved, loved this book and once again am impatient for the next installment. I believe most readers will feel the same if they give it a chance.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
An unforgettable romance set in Victorian England, Bride of A Distant Isle is the engrossing story of Annabel Ashton, who fights to save her family home and her mother’s honor while trying to figure out if the man she loves wants her—or just wants to use her to achieve his own ambitions.
Miss Annabel Ashton is a teacher at the Rogers School for Young Ladies in Winchester when she takes a brief visit to her family home, Highcliffe Hall at Milford-on-Sea. She believes her stay will be short but soon learns that she will not be returning to the safety of the school. Instead, she remains at Highcliffe, at the mercy of her cousin, Edward Everedge.
Annabel protests, but as the illegitimate daughter of a woman who died in an insane asylum, she has little say. Edward is running out of money and puts the house up for sale to avoid financial ruin. He insists that Annabel marry, promising her to a sinister, frightening man. But as the house gets packed for sale, it begins to reveal disquieting secrets. Jewelry, artifacts, and portraits mysteriously appear, suggesting that Annabel may be the true heir of Highcliffe.
She has only a few months to prove her legitimacy, perhaps with assistance from the handsome but troubled Maltese Captain Dell’Acqua. But does he have Annabel’s best interests at heart?
And then, a final, most ominous barrier to both her inheritance and her existence appears: a situation neither she nor anyone else could have expected. Will Annabel regain her life and property—and trust her heart—before it’s too late?
Preview the book HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra Byrd has published four dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including her two historical series with Howard Books. For nearly two decades, Sandra has shared her secrets with the many writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington area.
