Category: Blog Tour

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#BlogTour: Shadow On Her Grave by B.R. Spangler

For this blog tour, we’re looking at one of the most pulse pounding and harrowing mysteries of this series. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Shadow On Her Grave by B.R. Spangler.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Pulse Pounding Harrowing Mystery. This is one of those books that feels like it could be a series finale even through the beginning of the epilogue. Spangler has already shown earlier in this series that he isn’t afraid to kill team members off, and that knowledge feeds the tension of oh so many scenes throughout this book. But there *is* a lot of prior series history baked into this book, in more than just the obvious ways, and so for that reason it is better for long time fans of this series rather than those potentially looking to jump in. (For those wanting to jump in, I recommend going back to either the *very* beginning, Book 1 – Where Lost Girls Go, or at minimum where I personally joined the series, with Book 4 – The Crying House. I’ve loved every book since, and I think many who find books due to my reviews will as well. :D) But for those of us who *have* been around this series for a while… wow. What a ride. Spangler has been known to have some creepy killers throughout this book, but with these he is beginning to cross into Thomas Harris (he of The Silence Of The Lambs fame and creator of Hannibal Lecter) territory, though some might argue that Spangler has been at least at that level for several books now, he just doesn’t insist on going *that* far with *every* book the way Harris does. 🙂 So whether you’re reading this for the coastal Carolina family vibes (and to be clear, those play nearly as much a role deep in this series as the mysteries of each book do) or whether you’re coming for the mystery and in particular because I just called out Harris, know that Spangler does a tremendous job of marrying both together, and indeed, as with Without Remorse by Tom Clancy, it is the familial bonds and the comfort there that makes the sheer utter depravity of our killer here balance so well in this book.

Again, long time fans, you’re gonna love this – and have probably already read it by the time I write this review for my spot in the publisher’s blog tour the Monday after the book released on Friday. For those just coming in, you’re going to be glad this book is already here… and you’re going to want the next one in your hand immediately too. Which means Spangler should probably get a jump on writing it. 😉

Very much recommended.

After the jump, the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: Shadow On Her Grave by B.R. Spangler”

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#BlogTour: Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf

For this blog tour, we’re looking at another strong Southern Gothic tale that serves as an emerging author’s sophomore effort for adult readers. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Strong Southern Gothic Tale. Perfect for those who love to start “spooky season” on July 5th (with no other major (decorative, at least) holidays in the US before Halloween), yet also has a strong small town mystery and even a touch of romance, this is one book that checks a lot of boxes – yet manages to do them all quite well.

Even as a native of the South, specifically the borderlands between southern Appalachia and exurban Atlanta, I had never heard of the concept of a “grave bird”, yet Elemndorf both (quickly) explains it well… and then uses it particularly well throughout the novel whose title notes that it is all about these creatures. 😉

But seriously, the titular grave birds give this tale a magical realism/ fantasy tone that is exactly what one would expect in a Southern Gothic tale, but really the core of this book is one woman’s dreams and the depths she will go through to achieve them – even if it means unravelling a decades old town mystery so well hidden that virtually no one even actually knows there is a mystery to solve!

Truly a strong and stirring sophomore effort (for adult audiences, at least), this really is a strong tale told particularly well, and one that is both familiar enough to be understood and even relatable, yet innovative enough so that the reader will still be caught quite breathless at times.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf”

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#BlogTour: Reports Of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a hilarious and heartwarming absurdist British drama. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Reports Of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Hilarious (If In An Absurdist/ British Manner) And Heartwarming. I’m going to do this review in two parts, because there is a very key similarity between this book and a (possibly now somewhat obscure) movie that was at one time decently well known – but to reveal which movie is a *massive* spoiler.

So here’s the spoiler free part:

This book is going to make you laugh. It is going to make you cry. It is going to make you reach out to speak with and hold those closest to you, and it is going to make you think about your own life. And it is going to do all of that via allowing you to see through the eyes of a loner recluse that nobody gives a damn about who happens to be mistaken for a dead neighbor. Goodhand does another amazing job of telling a story in such a low key way, yet managing to hit exactly the notes he seems to have been going for. Truly an awesome story that will be a great counter weight to both the bubble gum pop or hyper macho action books you’re reading this summer as well as the extreme dark horror tales some (weirdos – joking, to be clear) look to this time of year or even the nonfiction books that a lot of ppl seek to read in the summer. And yes, guys, put down the nonfiction and read this book. It is absolutely for you, and you’re going to be able to have quite a bit of “teh feelz” in a safe space with this book. Ladies, don’t let the last sentence fool you, you’re going to enjoy this book at least as much as the guys, as there is quite a bit here for you too – just not quite as prominent, more in the sub story with some stuff that is going on throughout the book.

And now… the spoilers. DO NOT READ BELOW HERE IF YOU DO NOT WANT SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Giving.
People.
Who.
Don’t.
Want.
To.
Be.
Spoiled.
Time.
To.
Leave.

Ok, at this point I’ve given everyone’s eyes a chance to leave before you read what I say next, so HERE COME THE SPOILERS.

Mr. Holland’s Opus has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Its final scene in particular, where Mr. Holland comes to school ostensibly to pick up his last remaining boxes from his classroom after a lifetime of teaching at this school, only to hear some noise coming from somewhere… then following it to find an auditorium full of his former students and colleagues, all there to celebrate him… simply phenomenal.

If you love that movie, and particularly that scene, as much as I do… well, you’re already in the spoiler section of this review. Suffice it to say, without giving *everything* away, that there is a very similar scene here, and it is just as phenomenal as that one. *Maybe* even a touch better. I don’t *know* that Goodhand was aware of this scene, but it at least seems possible.

Now, my job as a reviewer is to both describe my experience with a book and, ultimately, to try to help sell it, even on books I absolutely detest. So particularly when a book was as excellent as this one, I need to talk about the things that I think could help it sell, and thus I *needed* to mention this movie. Plus, I couldn’t help but immediately think of that movie as the scene here was playing out, so I’m also being true to my own experience with the book in mentioning it. But I do know it is a massive spoiler, so it has been embedded in these spoiler tags.

And.
Now.
We.
Come.
Back.
Out.
Of.
The.
Spoilers.

Ultimately, this was truly an excellent book that I think most anyone will truly have a great time with, and in the lower half of the 300 page range, it isn’t a tome that will take weeks to read either, so it should be accessible to most readers.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: Reports Of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand”

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#BlogTour: Beach Reads And Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a book that represents a refreshing change of pace for its author. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Beach Reads And Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Brennan Expands Her Storytelling In A New And Refreshing Direction. Long time fans of Brennan, and even those who have only started reading her this decade like me, know she is most well known for very *dark* murder tales and the teams investigating them.

This book is not that. At all. While it retains *some* elements of that – bodies are piling up rather rapidly at a small private island resort – this is much more a pure romantic suspense with strong island vibes. Thus, we get a lot more tropical/ island feel here than is typical of Brennan’s writing to date… and that is an *amazing* thing to see, as she executes it so well. About the only thing Brennan could have done to be even more different than her usual style would be to go pure bubblegum pop romcom, and while this is nowhere near that… there are certainly both comedic and spicy moments, making the reader literally laugh out loud at times while offering perhaps around a jalapeno level spice – more than a warm glass of milk, but also far less than the ghost peppers of books I read earlier in the week before reading this book.

Truly well done, and a very welcome and refreshing departure from where Brennan has been these last several years at minimum, this reader at least is hoping both sides of her storytelling will continue.

Very much recommend.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: Beach Reads And Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan”

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#BlogTour: Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws

For this blog tour, we’re looking at an *almost* erotica level romcom whose plot still manages to pack a punch. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Sexual Exploration Romcom. The title of this review says it all. This is *easily* one of the actually closest to erotica romcoms I’ve ever encountered, with pretty well the entire plot focused around sexual exploration and a somewhat thin, yet still fun and compelling, plot wrapped around that to tie the sex scenes together.

I would say the comedic elements here are fewer and further between than they were in Nine Month Contract, but they’re still present – and the animals (primarily a cat in this tale, which first appeared in Nine Month Contract) don’t quite steal the scenes as much in this tale, despite being nearly equally present.

Instead, this book revolves more around healing from past traumas of both halves of our main couple, including one particular event seven years ago that may not have gone down exactly as each understood it to have.

And yes, lots and lots of ghost pepper level “spice”, though without some of the elements of Nine Month Contract that may have turned some off from that tale. And while this part of the tale may make some uncomfortable, it is actually handled quite well within the story being told.

Overall still a compelling romance with comedic moments, this one is likely less problematic for some than its predecessor, while still being nearly as problematic as its predecessor – or even more problematic – for others. Still, for what it actually is, it really is quite good and any issues are with the reader, not with Daws’ storytelling here.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws”

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#BlogTour: The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a thinking person’s thriller. For this blog tour, we’re looking at The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Thinking Person’s Thriller In Directions Perhaps Belle Didn’t Intend. This is one of those kinds of books that I really like because it tells a kickass suspense/ thriller tale, and if that’s all you want… there you go. But *just* below the surface, it also makes some points that in all honesty, knowing Belle for several years now and seeing several of her political posts on social media… I honestly don’t think she meant to make.

As a surface level thriller, this tale works quite well with both of its leads being American expats who find themselves connected to one part of Amsterdam’s diamond trade when all hell begins to break loose. Even at this surface level, the amount of intrigue and suspense Belle manages to layer into this barely over 300 page tale is rather astonishing, really. Lesser authors likely wouldn’t have been able to quite pull this off as effectively as she does, with the various corporate and familial relationships, motivations, and quandries happening side by side and sometimes directly overlapping… whether or not anyone or everyone involved knows it is happening.

On the deeper level, Belle makes clear that she does not like American gun culture, despite having lived in Atlanta for at least some time – the major metro area I grew up just outside of, where my grandfather was, so it was claimed, the most decorated WWII vet in his metro Atlanta County at the time of his death… *because of his comfort and use of guns before and during that war*. And while there are many who may be tempted to defenestrate the book over this, don’t. She doesn’t actually get preachy at any point about it, though various “Americans and their guns” comments are made more than once and by more than one character. Which is perhaps fitting given the Dutch setting of the novel.

But it actually goes well beyond this, getting subversive to many real-world political positions, because one major subplot revolves around a particular technology which I’m intentionally being obtuse about in this review so as to avoid spoilers. Yet in showing just how easy this particular technology is to use, and even making a point at least as much as “Americans and their guns” that using this tech itself isn’t actually illegal even though possessing the results of the tech very much is, Belle actively destroys every single argument about owning the result of this tech while also making it clear that bans against the possession of the results of this tech are actively elitist and classist, as this tech isn’t exactly dirt cheap. (Though it *is*, seemingly, more common than this particular book shows.)

Thus, this thriller featuring several complex characters of nationalities on both sides of the Atlantic works both with one’s brain in “just entertain me” mode *and* in “I want something to ponder after reading this book” mode, while still retaining its primary purpose of more straightforward entertainment.

Which is always a nice to see.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle”

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#BlogTour: The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman

For this blog tour, we’re looking at . For this blog tour, we’re looking at The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Superb Tale Of Survival And Love Offers Hope For Modern Era. This is one of those dual timeline WWII historical fiction tales that manages to create a solid amount of survival tension without ever actually going into the concentration camps… and is rare in that it offers a fair amount of modern day hope as well.

The timelines here are each done particularly well, with tension ratcheting up throughout the book in each as hints are placed and ultimately secrets are revealed, and the timelines manage to play into each other in more than the usual ways – very nearly to what I hold as the ultimate visual in the dual-timeline approach, that of the final fight in the movie Frequency and in particular *that* sequence. Kelman never goes anywhere near there really, yet also manages to very nearly create the same effect in the reader’s mind at one point.

Overall simply a superbly crafted, multi layered story that offers pointers for the modern era without ever being preachy about them at all – simply using its own story to show some things that we may consider more broadly, should we so choose. And yes, we very much should take these things to heart in reality, if we truly seek to avoid the horrors shown (and not shown so directly) here.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman”

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#BlogTour: What’s Mine Is Yours by Leah Mercer

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a twisty tale that packs a lot of story into its short-ish package. For this blog tour, we’re looking at What’s Mine Is Yours by Leah Mercer.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Twisty Tale Packs A Lot Of Action Into Its Short-Ish Package. This is one of those sub-300 page books that is going to feel like it *has* to be longer than it is… in all the best ways. For all that happens here, you’re going to be thinking this book is probably 100 or more pages longer than it actually is… and you’re not even going to notice until you get to the end, look down, and question your sense of reality when you see the actual page number.

And speaking of questioning reality, this is absolutely one of those ultra twisty psychological thrillers where both the characters – and you, the reader – will be questioning all that you know (possibly even in your own “real” life) by the end.

I’ve read several of Mercer’s books now, and this is absolutely both a solid look at her style (for new readers) and quite easily among the best she’s done to date (for readers who have been around a while and already get excited when they see her name on a book). Either newbie or established fan, this one is one that will likely gain her far more fans than it loses. (Let’s face it, *no* book is for everyone, and there *will* eventually be – wrong – reviews that claim this book is lacking in some aspect. Some people are idiots, and you just have to move on. 😉 (And yes, I fully acknowledge that some consider *me* to be an idiot, but I also doubt those people are reading this review. :D) )

There will be at least some who don’t want to read it for the simple reason of its basic premise, which largely hinges on mothers’ fears, even years after the baby is born, which is respectable. As a childfree married dude, I *fully* get this, particularly given the book’s release date between UK Mother’s Day and US Mother’s Day. For these types, I think the book is strong enough and doesn’t really dive into too many problematic issues within the childfree community that I think many of us can still enjoy this book as much as I have, but again, from this angle (and similar), I absolutely get deciding that this book maybe isn’t for you. Just please, I beg you – you’ve now been warned about this in this very review, so PLEASE don’t DNF / 1* this book because of these issues. Just skip it entirely. You. Have. Been. Warned. 🙂

Overall truly an excellent tale superbly told, and great for when you maybe don’t have as much time as you’d LIKE to read, but still don’t want to read a sub-200 page book either (even though there are many at that length that are also awesome, fwiw).

Very much recommended.

After the jump, the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: What’s Mine Is Yours by Leah Mercer”

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#BlogTour: Romantic Friction by Lori Gold

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a book with a deep dive into “inside baseball” of publishing wrapped in a crime caper. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Romantic Friction by Lori Gold.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Likely To Be Controversial In Booklandia. Straight up, in making plausible arguments *for* the use of AI in writing, this is going to be a book that will prove quite controversial in booklandia – one area of society that tends to be the most extremist in terms of being absolutely anti-AI, even moreso than visual artists. Even as the book *also* makes strong arguments *against* the use of AI in writing… and ultimately sides with that position, as it is the position of our lead character.

Additionally, in serving as a fairly direct and in-your-face expose and commentary about the publishing industry more broadly, this book is likely to stir up quite a bit of controversy on these topics that already get some discussion in particular circles, with this book perhaps widening those circles and introducing new people to these discussions. Will anything actually get resolved? Unlikely, mostly because humanity rarely actually solves any problems – even among the more objective/ scientific variety. But more people will be talking about them, and assuming at least a few of them reference that they saw the discussion in this book, Gold will likely garner at least some extra attention herself.

Outside of these two factors, the tale itself ultimately becomes a bit of a bumbling crime saga, with the various characters being both so brash and so stupid in some ways that it plays quite well comedically… so I *hope* that is what Gold was after there. These scenes, as objectively serious as they are, involving a major crime, wind up providing the levity that the heavy handed discussions of the “inside baseball” of publishing and the more general use of AI within booklandia so desperately need in order to lighten the overall book at least enough to be a pleasant enough read.

Ultimately this is likely a book that will play better for those interested in the heavier discussions herein than with those just looking for some level of escape – particularly those of us who are already “in the industry” to some flavor (yes, I include even myself here, as a book blogger / book “influencer” (according to some authors, though I still despise the term myself) / Head Librarian at Goodreads alternative Hardcover.app). Still, an interesting book regardless, with commentary from perspectives even authors themselves may not have had coming into this book.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: Romantic Friction by Lori Gold”

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#BlogTour: The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a book that will transport nearly anyone to the beauty of the Amalfi Coast of Italy for nearly anyone who may possibly want to go along for the ride. For this blog tour, we’re looking at The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Something For Damn Near Everyone. Seriously, this book has a LOT. You’ve got romance, in both timelines. You’ve got a touch of action, in both timelines. You’ve got adventure, again, in both timelines. You’ve got pirates and witches. You’ve got a lonely mom just trying to keep her family together. You’ve got a son desperate to keep his business… in business. You’ve got various heartaches. You’ve got at least some humor. You’ve got an academic investigation. You’ve got the fucking Amalfi Coast of Italy, which apparently is one of the more beautiful settings in Europe. (One I personally have no interest in ever visiting, despite this book’s strong efforts of conveying just how beautiful it is. I have do doubt it is every bit as beautiful as this book describes so vividly… and yet, I can tell you of places in the Caribbean and the Americas that are just as beautiful. :D)

Overall, the story works well here in both timelines. Yes, it can be a touch slow at times… but then, in a setting such as this… maybe you want to more casually linger, have a more relaxing time in this world and in this location, if only in your mind while you trudge through your “real” life in whatever location you may find yourself in. It *does* take a bit more effort to get into the 19th century story than the 21st century one, but once you do… both parts are equally magic.

Ultimately it almost doesn’t matter how you approach this book – whether you’re in it for the 18th century pirates/ witches story, the 21st century travel/ adventure/ discovery story, either one of the romances, or even just here for some of the secondary characters or just to hang out in the Amalfi Coast for a few hours in your mind… you’re going to find something to enjoy here regardless. Truly about the only types of readers that will be overly disappointed – and I’m warning you now if you’re one of these – are those who can *only* read balls to the wall action or Carolina Reaper scorching, damn near erotica, romance, as neither of those are here at all – though their milder forms certainly are. Enough to get the pulse pounding but perhaps without the flood of adrenaline. 🙂

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner”