Author: Empress DJ

Empress DJ AKA Honolulubelle is a Rabid Reader, Unabashed Reviewer, and All-Purpose Goddess
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Book Review: Bells and Bows on Mistletoe Row by Emily Harvale

Bells and Bows on Mistletoe Row

by Emily Harvale

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU

It’ll take a miracle to make Juliet’s Christmas merry, but Mistletoe Row is the place to be when you need some Christmas magic. 

The last person Juliet Bell expects to see when she returns home for Christmas is Harrison Bow.Especially with the most beautiful woman in the world by his side. Twenty years ago, Juliet and Harrison had the shortest romance in history, consisting of one date – and one blazing row. But Juliet will never admit when she’s wrong, and Harrison doesn’t forgive easily, so they haven’t seen, or spoken to one another since.

Harrison Bow vowed he’d never visit his grandfather at The Grange, again, or drive along Mistletoe Row, the scene of one of the unhappiest times of his life. He hasn’t been back for twenty years and he’s only here now because his brother pleaded with him to come. At least with his executive assistant joining him, he’ll be able to do some work. 

But Juliet’s sister, Zoe and Harrison’s brother, Luke have some surprises in store for their elder siblings, and so it seems does Fate. After Harrison risks his life to save Juliet, the least she can do is be nice. The problem is, Harrison is hotter than the log fire in The Mistletoe pub, and when she’s surrounded by twinkling lights and softly falling snow, it doesn’t take long for her to realize she’s in love with the man she thought she hated. Even if he doesn’t appear to be in love with her. 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

You’re not getting any younger, dear, and I know it’s all the fashion to wait these days, but wait too long and you’ll find that ship has sailed. Mark my words. Your ovaries may be as plump as grapes today, but they’ll turn to raisins soon enough.

My Review:

Emily Harvale is a sly minx and has given her tale such a clever title, with one family named Bow and the another named Bell and Mistletoe Row being the central street in their village. So I have to wonder, which came first, the title or the characters’ names? This was a quick and easy holiday-themed second chance romance with likable yet endearingly flawed and secretly pining characters, misunderstandings, a conniving vixen villainess, a dastardly and rich grandfather, and a loving family that doesn’t communicate. The storylines were pleasantly entertaining, easy to follow and could easily be envisioned as a seasonal movie.

Author Bio

EPSON scanner image

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her hometown of Hastings where she now spends her days writing… and chatting on social media. Emily is a Member of the SoA, a PAN member of the RWA and a Pro Member of ALLi. She’s an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All-Star. Emily loves writing and her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.


Emily says, “I write about friendship, family and falling in love. I believe in happing endings.” When she isn’t writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies – and will do anything to avoid both.

Social Media Links –  https://www.facebook.com/emilyharvalewriter

https://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale

https://www.instagram.com/emilyharvale

 

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Book Review: Facing A Twisted Judgment by K. J. McGillick

Facing A Twisted Judgment

by  K. J. McGillick

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU

 

What happens when tunnel vision clouds a police investigation? Is it true that once you are labeled a person of interest you really are the prime suspect? Can you trust the legal system?  Probably not.

After a bitterly contested legal battle over inherited property, the hard-won art collection and its owner Samantha Bennington disappear. Both have vanished without a trace.

When blood spatter is discovered under the freshly painted wall of the room in which two of the paintings were hung, the theft becomes the opening act in a twisted tale of jealousy, revenge, and murder leading to a final judgment for all involved.

As the list of suspects narrows, the focus lands squarely on the husband. Some labeled Samantha’s husband a corrupt attorney, others an opportunist. Either way, he’s in the crosshairs of law enforcement and they are calling him a murderer. But is he the only viable suspect? What about the missing woman’s drug-addicted sister and her convicted felon brother? Both were furious over their loss at court and have more than enough reason to hate Samantha.  

Guilty until proven innocent leaves Alexander Clarke facing a twisted judgment.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I saw Mary raise her middle finger ever so slightly from the table in Jackson’s direction, and he got the meaning. Lee’s mouth twitched with a smile. Apparently, Mary and Jackson had their own form of nonverbal communication they were comfortable with.

 

I had to admit, Mary was not only a hoot, but also a bright woman. The fact that she looked like the mother in The Golden Girls TV show and wore ridiculously thick black owl eyeglasses gave her an edge at disarming people. That she also held a private investigator license and was a co-owner of the firm boggled my mind.

 

Declan Murphy could be a weak spot for me. Handsome, smart, and funny—the deadly triad.

 

“Mr. Clarke, unfortunately, trouble seems to find me,” she said as she pushed her glasses up her nose… She opened her bag, and as she took each item out, she identified it. “On my keychain, an alarm to wake the dead. Next to the alarm is pepper spray. This can is hornet spray, and this one is hair spray. Both will blind and choke you. Here is my stun gun and Taser, and fortunately, I’ve only had to use the Taser once,” she said, looking over the items. “No gun?” I asked, intrigued by this eccentric. “Of course. But you asked what was in my bag. The gun is at my back. No need to alarm the public,” she said, eyeing her collection with pride. Who was this lady? A senior citizen 007?

 

“Alex, before I sign any papers, I need the people who are most involved written on a piece of paper. When I get home, I will separate those names and place each into a small jar and close the lids. Then, I light a candle in front of each to shine a light on each person. I’ll wave a bundle of sage around the jars to cleanse the area. I always say a prayer for guidance. Then, I wait. If any candle immediately dies out in front of any jar, then I’ll know that person shouldn’t touch my paintings. It’s a proven fact, Alex,” she said with a nod. I sat, unable to decide if she was pulling my leg or being serious. I opted for clarification. “Seriously?” “As a heart attack. And, at my age, you don’t use that term lightly,” she replied, easing the grip she had on her handbag.

My Review:

 

Maybe it was the shocking and earth-shattering numeral reached on my last birthday, but I seem to be on a roll of my favorite book characters being of the more mature/aged variety. But I will confess, I tittered and smirked like an adolescent at the thought of a tiny yet feisty and resourceful elderly woman repeatedly twitching her middle finger to communicate her pique with an irritating and mouthy coworker. Snort. I adored the character of Mary and her infamous handbag/arsenal. While also a cracker-jack investigator, she provided considerable levity and humor into the complex and stimulating case of murder and art-theft. The plot was cunningly clever.   The writing was engaging and continually taunted and teased my curiosity with well-balanced and well-crafted storylines, amusing observations, a cleverly contrived frame, and intriguing and questionable characters. I am eager to see what incredibly unexpected yet timely item Mary next retrieves from her voluminous pocketbook. She was like a miniature and edgy version of a senior Mary Poppins.

Author Bio 

 K. J. McGillick was born in New York and once she started to walk she never stopped running. But that’s what New Yorker’s do. Right?

As she evolved so did her career choices. After completing her graduate degree in nursing she spent many years in the university setting sharing the dreams of the enthusiastic nursing students she taught. After twenty rewarding years in the medical field, she attended law school and has spent the last twenty-four years as an attorney helping people navigate the turbulent waters of the legal system. Not an easy feat. And now? Now she is sharing the characters she loves with readers hoping they are intrigued by her twisting and turning plots and entertained by her writing.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/KJMcGillickauthor/

Kathleen McGillick

@KJMcGillickAuth

http://www.kjmcgillick.com/

https://twitter.com/KJMcGillickAuth

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Interview with Empress DJ for Angela Petch

 

The divine wordsmith known as Angela Petch noticed my silly little blog during a recent blog tour of her outrageously fun, superbly written, and endearing novel, which also just so happens to be one of my favorite books of the year – Mavis and Dot.   Ms. Petch contacted me with some questions, oh my!  Maybe I scared her with my comment of being her rabid fangirl and now feels the need to check for the possible requirement of additional security, or even to alert the authorities?  This could be extremely bad – or it could be epic!  Taking a deep and somewhat shaky breath, I scanned her queries…

1. How did you start blogging and why do you do it?  Please tell us a little bit about yourself… are you a writer or a reader or both?

Greetings and Aloha to all – I am DJ Sakata aka Empress DJ, Honolulubelle, and DeeJay Sakata on Facebook.  I am an avid reader, crazy old cat lady, recreational swimmer, Hawaii resident, renegade book reviewer, and all-purpose Goddess.  You can find my nonsense at  Books and Bindings  and Rockin’ & Reviewing

I am an incredibly lazy blogger – actually I’m not really a blogger at all, I’m basically an obsessive reader who posts her twaddle opinions about the books she’s read using a blog site.

I started off as a guest reviewer in 2013 after reigniting a long-ignored love of reading and discovered the vast world of book blogs, Goodreads, and Facebook.  Another blogger tracked me down after noticing my verbiage on Goodreads and asked me to be a guest reviewer on her blog as well.  Due to family issues for the first blogger and a serious illness for the 2nd, I ended up being the sole contributor on both blogs – can you say sucker?

So counting with my fingers, I realize I’ve been blogging for over 5 years now – wow ~ mind-blown!

 What advice do I wish I’d had when I started?

2. Is it a business?

No.

I don’t make a cent from my blog, I don’t have ads, I don’t have affiliate links.  I just get free books.  Which is all the motivation I need.   I mean, come on…  Free books baby!  I’m a retired government worker living on a pension, I’m in it for the FREE BOOKS!   I don’t care one whit if my reviews are read or not, I don’t expect or believe anyone actually does or will read them other than once in a great while a desperate indie author stumbles onto one or maybe a bored PA now and then.  I’m always surprised, shocked, stunned, and even a bit horrified when someone new finds them and leaves a comment.

 3. What is your best tip for an author embarking on a blog tour?

Be patient, select your tour operator with care, and have thick skin… BTW – Rachel’s Random Resources is excellent.  I have worked with many and several have come and gone in the short period I’ve been blogging.  Rachel is by far, the most organized, personable, and dear to me.  I have never met her in person but I call her my English Rose – without her awareness, of course.  She would most likely cringe in horror if she knew, yet she is very patient with me.  I know I’m a bit of a wildcard for her and she always seems immensely relieved to receive my links with a positive review as there have been a few that I didn’t care for.

Every blog is different and I cannot speak for anyone else but I know my personal style is different than most.  I am not a commercial blog, I’m not selling anything and I only write honest reviews – but authors need to be prepared for odd opinions with any blogger.   I am never nasty, but I will give my unqualified and highly biased opinion of what I did and did not care for.  I know authors are spending their hard-earned coins with the tour organizers for blog tours, but they should not send a book only to become torqued when the result is not a rave.  If the book makes me itch, I am not going to blow smoke, even for a best-selling author.

On the other hand – if I love a book, such as the precious Mavis and Dot, I will rave about it obnoxiously and post it on every retail outlet and social media I subscribe to.

Some authors skip the tour organizers and seek out reviewers on their own.  Understandable, as blog tours cost $$.  I have no idea how much, I’ve never bothered to look.  But for anyone brave enough to risk rejection and their precious ego seeking reviews from unknown readers, please stop and first take a look at the blogger’s About Me or reader’s Goodreads page to check what genres they enjoy reading.

I have learned to be selective in my choices and subgenres –  I like women’s fiction, spicy romances, cozy mysteries, thrillers, suspense, contemporary fiction, and some paranormal… but I am not a fan of horror or zombies – they have such poor hygiene!   I don’t care for YA, dystopian, or anything that involves child abuse or sex trafficking, and please NO dom/sub fantasy BS for me.  I would most likely snatch the whip and beat any man to death if he even thought to try using one on me.

So now you have been subjected to more than anyone would have ever wanted to know about a tiny, obscure, and shiftless peruser of books.   I send sweet aloha to the devastatingly talented Ms. Petch and her lovely followers, as well as a fervent request for more delightful Mavis and Dot adventures.  And if I may make a suggestion, perhaps her gray daring duo could win a trip to Hawaii and meet a lovely cougar sipping Moscato in a beach cabana…

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Book Review, Giveaway: Promised Hearts (Lines in the Sand # 4) by Lindsay Detwiler

Title: Promised Hearts
Series: Lines in the Sand, bk 4
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 1, 2018
Cover Designer: Claire Smith
 On sale for 99c! 
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2C1PlPZ
All other links: books2read.com/promised-hearts

How could we be anything but forever to each other when our lives are so irresolutely melded together?


Two years ago, Avery Johannas swore she wouldn’t give her heart to another man again—and then Jesse Pearce changed her mind. Now, with wedding bells getting ready to ring, Avery’s relying on her friends to get her through all the hectic wedding planning. However, she’ll have to let go of the past in order to say “I do” one more time and take the risk again.

Avery and Jesse’s relationship isn’t the only one changing. Reed’s role as wedding planner makes Lysander realize all he is missing. With wedding fever in the ocean air, will the two be ready to take the next big step as well—or will Lysander be left craving the promise of forever?

As the couples from Midsummer Nights get ready for Avery’s big day, they’ll pull together in a memorable way—and the surprise twist up their sleeves is sure to make fans of the Lines in the Sand series swoon.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

My mind flashes back to dozens of times Mom caused drama in my life. Visions of her dashing toward the altar and tackling the priest or Jesse run through my head. The only sense of relief I get is that if that happens, Reed will be so pissed about his vision being ruined, he’ll probably drown her in the Atlantic Ocean. I smile devilishly at the thought.

 

I turn to see my mother in all her nagging glory, a martini in her hand. She’s wearing her bedazzled sunglasses and a silk scarf accessorizing her “mother of the bride” shirt. The shirt is neon yellow and probably visible from Mars. Dear God. I know inside, the fashion-obsessed Reed is dying a little. “We tried to liquor her up, thinking that might Zen her out. Doesn’t seem to be working,” Lysander whispers.

 

“Haven’t you come to realize just about everything involving women is complicated?” “Well, I’m not gay for nothing, you know?”

 

It’s weddings, I think. They make everyone mushy. We need to like go home and eat some steak, watch some manly shows, and build something. We’ve just been around too much estrogen today. We need to man up or something.

 

But something about today, something about the gesture, just hangs in the air. There’s something special, almost magical, about the knowledge that in a few short hours, he’ll be forever and legally mine. There’s something literally and emotionally binding about promises that can’t be taken back.

 

My Review:

 

I have adored each well-written and entertaining installment of this engaging series, and am a bit deflated to see this one labeled as the final. I have enjoyed getting to know this dynamic group of friends and co-workers who quickly became more of a supportive family than their blood-relatives had proven to be. Two couples and were featured with wedding preparations, surprise gifts, family drama, and relationship contemplations taking center stage. The diverse grouping of characters seem like old friends to me now, lively and lovely, flawed yet quite dear, and insightfully and poignantly written with frequent lashings of wit and humor.

 On sale for 99c! 
* * *
 Lines in the Sand Series 
Inked Hearts
(book 1)
On sale for half price!
Wild Hearts
(book 2)
Hidden Hearts
(prequel)
books2read.com/hidden-hearts
Texan Hearts
(book 3)


books2read.com/texan-hearts

Facebook I Twitter I Website
A high school English teacher, an author, and a fan of anything pink and/or glittery, Lindsay’s the English teacher cliché; she loves cats, reading, Shakespeare, and Poe.
She currently lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad (her junior high sweetheart); their cats, Arya, Amelia, Alice, and Bob; and their Mastiff, Henry.
Lindsay’s goal with her writing is to show the power of love and the beauty of life while also instilling a true sense of realism in her work. Some reviewers have noted that her books are not the “typical romance.” With her novels coming from a place of honesty, Lindsay examines the difficult questions, looks at the tough emotions, and paints the pictures that are sometimes difficult to look at. She wants her fiction to resonate with readers as realistic, poetic, and powerful. Lindsay wants women readers to be able to say, “I see myself in that novel.” She wants to speak to the modern woman’s experience while also bringing a twist of something new and exciting. Her aim is for readers to say, “That could happen,” or “I feel like the characters are real.” That’s how she knows she’s done her job.

Lindsay’s hope is that by becoming a published author, she can inspire some of her students and other aspiring writers to pursue their own passions. She wants them to see that any dream can be attained and publishing a novel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

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Riding the Lines Submissions
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Book Review: The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl (The Lady Travelers Society #3) by Victoria Alexander

The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl

(The Lady Travelers Society #3)

by Victoria Alexander

Amazon | B-A-M | B&N

 

Mass Market Paperback: 384 Pages

Publisher: HQN; Original edition (November 20, 2018)

Set sail for love in this sparkling new adventure in #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander’s Lady Travelers Society series.

Harry Armstrong has spent years in Egypt, recovering relics and disregarding rules. Now he’s back in England with a new title and a new purpose: penning his exploits. But his efforts are overshadowed by London’s favorite writer about Egypt—a woman they call The Queen of the Desert, of all things. Worse, her stories—serialized in newspapers and reprinted in books—are complete rubbish.

Miss Sidney Honeywell didn’t set out to deceive anyone. It’s not her fault readers assumed her Tales of a Lady Adventurer in Egypt were real! Admitting her inadvertent deception now would destroy her reputation and her livelihood. But when the Earl of Brenton challenges her to travel to Egypt to prove her expertise, accompanied by his dashing, arrogant nephew, what choice does she have but to pack her bags?

With the matchmaking founders of the Lady Travelers Society in tow, Harry is determined to expose Sidney’s secret. But the truth might not be as great a revelation as discovering that love can strike even the most stubborn of hearts.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She had insisted on accompanying Sidney for the sake of propriety although they both knew propriety was the last thing on the older woman’s mind. She simply didn’t want to miss what happened next and no doubt had orders from Poppy and the lady travelers guide to Gwen to report back every detail.

 

The next elderly lady, with graying dark hair, a hat just as ridiculous as the first woman’s and the overbearing manner of a dragon about to belch flames, eyed him with obvious disgust.

 

“Don’t be absurd. The world is simply littered with Charleses, a fair number of them dead. Why, if I was bothered by every dead Charles I encountered, I would spend most of my time being out of sorts.” She cast Sidney an affectionate smile. “I daresay my husband would be honored to lend his name to your imaginary husband.”

 

My Review:

 

I rarely read historical novels as I chafe at the reminders of how poorly women were treated, but I would read them with greater regularity if I could tap into a source as enjoyable, cleverly written, and wittily amusing as this one. I delighted in this entertaining and lively tale. The writing was lush with sumptuous descriptions, lavish details, and snappy humor, as well as engaging storylines and a blossoming romance.   I derived great pleasure when the elderly women attempted to delicately provide their younger and inexperienced friend with a crash course in sex education, it was totally smirk-worthy.

Not only did these sly and spry and highly adventuresome mature widows take my dream vacation to Egypt, but they were also shrewd enough to finagle someone else into paying for their first-class accommodations – I was chartreuse with envy! For years I have fantasized about a leisurely ocean voyage on the way to cruising down the Nile and touring the pyramids, of course, that would be without the grave robbers, annoying bandits, skin searing sun, infuriating insects, poisonous snakes, and pesky sand. In addition to scoring free travel, this intrepid group was in the thick of solving of a centuries-old mystery, made a fantastic archeological discovery, and one of them spent the night in the royal harem – innocently discussing books with the women. Sigh, I fear the closest I will ever come to the Dark Continent will be slumbering on linens of Egyptian cotton and dreaming of Ra.

About Victoria Alexander

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award-winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.

Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written thirty-one full-length novels and six novellas. Find a complete list on her website and chat with her on Facebook.

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Book Review, Giveaway: A Lion Is Not Just For Christmas by Henriette Gyland

A Lion Is Not Just For Christmas

by Henriette Gyland

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA

Is there life after the circus has left town?


Circus performer Justine Belmont works with big cats, but when the circus is disbanded and the old lion is sold to a private menagerie at a stately home in Norfolk, she is asked to spend a few weeks settling him into his new environment. When she arrives at the estate, however, she receives a mixed welcome.


The groundsman Tom Yates resents her presence as he doesn’t feel he needs her help with the lion. He revises his opinion when he sees the bond between her and the big cat, and she and Tom grow closer, although Justine remains torn about her feelings for him. The lady of the house, Priscilla – who is married to the reclusive owner, Lord Brooks’s, grandson – is not so easily convinced. She perceives Justine as a threat for the male attention and her plans for the manor. And her two young daughters are a little too curious about the lion for their own good.


When unsettling events occur, Justine begins to wonder if there is more to Priscilla’s animosity than meets the eye. Can Justine keep herself and everyone else safe until it’s time for her to leave again and start a new life elsewhere?

 

My Rating:

My Review:

 

This quick and entertaining tale was hard for me to classify as it had a little of everything – a tight-knit small circus, big cats, a bit of suspense, murder, family drama, bratty over-privileged children, a dash of romance, and a secret identity – and all within one-hundred-thirty-four pages.  Impressive! The characters were likable and the storylines were easy to follow and quickly paced yet also engaging and unpredictable with a variety of hissing and petty villains to despise, after all, every hero story needs at least one.

 

Author Bio 

Henriette Gyland grew up in Northern Denmark but moved to England after she graduated from the University of Copenhagen. She wrote her first book when she was ten, a tale of two orphan sisters running away to Egypt, fortunately, to be adopted by a perfect family they meet on the Orient Express.

Between that first literary exploit and now, she has worked in the Danish civil service, for a travel agent, a consultancy company, in banking, hospital administration, and for a county court before setting herself up as a freelance translator and linguist. Henriette recently began to pursue her writing in earnest winning the New Talent Award in 2011 from the Festival of Romance and a Commended from the Yeovil Literary Prize.

Henriette lives in London.

Social Media Links 

Website: henriettegyland.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/henriette.gyland

Twitter: @henrigyland

Giveaway 

Win a sterling silver Thomas Sabo Snowflake Charm

(UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK  entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA by Michele Pariza Wacek

 

THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA

by Michele Pariza Wacek

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU

From bestselling author, Michele Pariza Wacek comes the next book in her Secrets of Redemption series, THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA. Becca would like nothing better than to put the past behind her, instead, she races against time to uncover the truth about what happened to Jessica before another sixteen-year-old girl is doomed to the same fate. Fans of Nora Roberts’ paranormal suspense novels, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins and classic Stephen King will devour this psychological thriller with an eerie twist of romantic suspense.

 

Title: This Happened to Jessica

Author: Michele Pariza Wacek

Release Date: November 27, 2018

Publisher: Love-Based Publishing

Series: Secrets of Redemption #2

Genre: Psychological thriller/mystery/romantic suspense

Synopsis:

Becca would like nothing better than to put the past behind her and focus on making Redemption her home. But what do you do when the past refuses to stay buried?

Becca still can’t remember the night sixteen-year-old Jessica disappeared from a party, never to be seen again. Which is bad enough (especially since she was supposedly the last person to see Jessica alive), but it’s not the worst …

Strange events are making Becca think there’s a link between what happened to Jessica fifteen years ago and the darkness happening now.

With help from her friends and her teenage crush, Daniel, Becca races against time to uncover the truth about Jessica before another sixteen-year-old girl is doomed to the same fate as Jessica.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The best way to describe her was round—round face, round glasses, round bosom , round belly. Her silver-grey hair was cut short, and it “poofed” around her face like a dandelion gone to seed. She looked like a stereotypical grandmother, except for her sharp eyes, which peered out at me from behind black-rimmed frames. She smelled like a combination of mothballs and chamomile.

 I had found some of Aunt Charlie’s bags she had custom made to package her teas and tinctures. Across one side was stamped “Charlie’s Concoctions” with a cartoon picture of a witch’s cauldron.

 

My Review:

 

The ingenious Michele Pariza Wacek’s devious scheming and strong word voodoo has returned in full force. I was again mesmerized, ensnared, and held enthrall by the continuation of her intricately woven and brilliantly nuanced tale, despite my irritation and exasperation with the main character of Becca – I wanted to shake her silly. The storylines were complex, maddeningly paced, taut with tension, dripping with intrigue, and confounding eerie; tension and anxiety wafted off my Kindle. I need a fresh manicure from biting my nails!

Ms. Wacek has mad skills and she has gifted us with characters who were intricately developed, riddled with issues, and simultaneously annoying and enticing. I feel quite familiar with them now and would enjoy gossiping with and about them over wine at The Tipsy Cow. While part of the mystery was solved, my curious mind has a long list of unanswered questions yet to be addressed. My greedy fingers are crossed that the clever and conniving Ms. Wacek will reveal all in the final installment. Needless to say, I will be anxiously awaiting its arrival.

THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Michele Pariza Wacek

 

Celia was looking around the table with a bewildered expression on her face. “I don’t understand. Why does it matter if Jessica is related to Brittany?”

“Because Brittany looks like Jessica,” Mia said.

Everyone fell silent. A woman next to us burst into hysterical, high-pitched laughter. Another table over, a group of college-aged guys started chanting as one of their friends, wearing a Wisconsin Badger cap, guzzled a pitcher of beer. Glasses clanked as they were plunked onto tables.

“Not this again,” Celia breathed out, picking up her Cosmo and draining it.

“What do you mean, ‘not this again?’” Mia asked, her voice quiet, but with a dangerous edge.

Barry put a hand on Celia’s arm. “Nothing. She means nothing.” He glared at his wife. Celia kept her mouth shut, but her sour expression spoke volumes.

“Barry, let her talk,” Mia said. “What do you mean, ‘not this again?'”

“You know what I mean,” Celia said. “It’s been fifteen years. It’s time to let it go.”

“Let it go?” Mia said, her voice sounding even more quiet and dangerous. “Let it go? Our friend disappeared! And we don’t know what happened to her!”

“First off, I’m sure Jessica left on her own. Her stuff was gone …”

“But, it wasn’t the right …” Mia tried to interrupt, but Celia kept going. “And even if something did happen, she’s gone. Gone!” Celia leaned forward. “I know this is difficult for you to hear, but you’re not going to heal unless you, all of you …” here she looked around the table, “… accept it. She’s gone. She’s been gone for fifteen years. She’s not coming back. And no amount of rehashing or talking about it is going to change that.”

“She was our friend,” Mia said. “Don’t you get that? How heartless can you be?”

“I know she was your friend and I know this is painful to hear. No, Barry, stop it. Let me talk. This isn’t healthy. It’s not healthy to live in the past and that’s precisely what everyone here is doing. Someone has to speak the truth and I guess that has to be me. I didn’t know Jessica, but I very much doubt she would want all of you still obsessing over what happened to her fifteen years later. Besides, this has all gotten worse since she,” she nodded toward me, “came back. We don’t need to keep living in the past. Jessica is gone.”

“I agree,” Rich said, his deep voice cutting across the table. His voice was quiet, but there was something about it that caused everyone to pay attention. Maybe it was because he so seldom talked that when he finally did, it was really noticed. “If we’re not going to be honest about what happened that night, then it makes no sense to keep talking about it.”

“What aren’t we being honest about?” Mia asked.

Rich stared at me, his dark eyes glittering. “If we’re honest, we know exactly who to blame for that night.”

Did he mean me? I stared at Rich, dumbfounded. “What do you mean?”

His gaze didn’t flinch. “You know exactly what I mean.”

You were the last person to see Jessica alive. Daniel had told me that. And Daphne. But, he couldn’t possibly mean I had anything to do with Jessica’s disappearance. Could he?

 

Start at the beginning of Becca’s story with

IT BEGAN WITH A LIE!

The first in her brand-new Secrets of Redemption series, bestselling author, Michele Pariza Wacek brings you IT BEGAN WITH A LIE. Becca was hoping for a fresh start for her troubled family, but instead, she is thrust into a mysterious past she barely remembers, one that threatens not only her sanity but her life. Fans of Nora Roberts’ paranormal suspense novels, GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn and classic Stephen King will devour this psychological thriller with an eerie twist of romantic suspense.

Enter to win signed copies of IT BEGAN WITH A LIE & THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA.  Three will win a digital copy of IT BEGAN WITH A LIE!

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About Michele PW:

Michele Pariza Wacek (also known as Michele PW) taught herself to read at three years old because she so badly wanted to write fiction. As an adult, she became a professional copywriter (copywriters write promotional materials for businesses, nothing to do with protecting intellectual property or putting a copyright on something) and eventually founded a copywriting and marketing company. She grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and currently lives with her husband and dogs in the mountains of Arizona. You can reach her at MicheleParizaWacek.com. She’s published two novels, “The Stolen Twin” and “Mirror Image,” both psychological thrillers/mystery/suspense books.

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Book Review, Giveaway: Wranglers Rescue The Montana Cahills #7) by B.J. Daniels 

Wranglers Rescue

The Montana Cahills #7)

by B.J. Daniels 

Amazon | B-A-M | B&N

SYNOPSIS:

She’ll risk everything to bring her cowboy back home…

One week ago, Cyrus Cahill told Ashley Jo “AJ” Somerfield that he’d be back in her arms by the weekend. He just needed to buy a bull for his ranch, and then they’d pick up where they left off after that romantic ride through the foothills. But now he’s gone missing and everyone—even the sheriff—believes he’s dead.

Everyone…but AJ. She suspects foul play and she won’t rest until Cyrus is back home in Gilt Edge, right where he belongs. Because Cyrus isn’t the kind of cowboy who breaks a promise. And since she’s not the kind of woman who gives up on her man, AJ will risk anything to help bring him home…even her own life.

Don’t miss this suspenseful conclusion of The Montana Cahills series from New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels.

 

My Rating:

My Review:

Oh, those Cahills, they are always stepping in something, they certainly seem to liven up their small rural community.   This time the entire family is forced to deal with a ripping good mystery when informed by the authorities that the painfully shy and quiet Cyrus was suddenly married, missing, and presumed dead while nearly halfway across the globe. Wow, and all in one weekend. Cyrus had unwittingly tangled with a seductive sociopath/black widow.   Juliette went through husbands like I go through wine. This treacherous beauty had quite the scheme and was a tenacious villain. The intriguing storylines were active, eventful, and well-crafted while the writing was engaging, occasionally steamy, and hard to put down. Ms. Daniels has been a recent discovery for me but I relish her lovably quirky yet flawed characters and clever yet easy to follow and witty tales.

About B.J. Daniels

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author B.J. Daniels was born in Texas but moved with her family to Montana at the age of five. Her first home was a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon and later a lake house on Hebgen Lake outside of West Yellowstone.

Most of her books are set in Montana, a place she loves. She lives now in a unique part of the state with her husband and three Springer Spaniels.

Connect with B.J.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

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Book Review: A Gentleman for Christmas by Prescott Lane

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A Gentleman for Christmas

by Prescott Lane

Release Date: November 26th

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A Gentleman for Christmas

an all-new standalone contemporary romance

by Prescott Lane

Amazon / B&N / iBooks

 

Some say “chivalry is dead.”

I don’t think so. Most women I know like a gentleman.

Protective, opens doors, treats women with respect, typically follows the rules.

But a gentleman doesn’t fall for his best friend’s woman. Current or ex.

And that’s what I’ve done.

During the Christmas season of all times — that magical time for decorations, gifts, family . . .

Yes, the girl who was off-limits for so long, who I’ve loved all my life, has come back in town and possibly back to me.

I can’t follow the gentleman rules this time. There’s too much at stake. I let her go once. I won’t let her go again.

What happens under the mistletoe, stays under the mistletoe.

Or does it?

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Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2AUrHUA

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/AGentlemanForChristmas

Nook: https://bit.ly/2yWXz9B

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2OzxTF1

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2DtYxhM

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Excerpt:

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”

Otherwise known as the original bros before hoes commandment.

I’m not advocating calling women hoes. It’s an expression, so put away your Encyclopedia of Political Correctness.

There are rules in life. The Ten Commandments were just the beginning. We have rules for everything. How to drive. How to dress. How to walk across the damn street. So why not rules for love? That’s how all this started — a set of rules between my buddies and me.

The Bro Code.

Obviously, bros before hoes is rule one. We vowed never to let a girl come between us, which meant if one of us liked a girl, she was forever off limits.

Little did I know our teenage pact would launch my multi-million dollar career. A little tweaking here and some socially acceptable rewording there and The Gentleman’s Handbook was born.

I’ve written books and given seminars on everything from how to find love, to how to propose, to how to have a successful long-distance relationship. You name it, and I’ve got rules for it. Personally, I’ve never been much of a rule follower, but that’s my little secret.

The funny thing is I’ve never been in love. Well, there is this one girl, but we won’t talk about her. It does no good to think about someone you can’t have and never will.

My lack of emotional commitment hasn’t slowed down my career one bit. Currently, I have two books on the New York Times Best Sellers List. My seminars sell out like a Drake concert.

I always find it interesting that the rules started between a group of male friends, but it’s mostly women that come to hear me speak. Occasionally, you see the poor sap boyfriend who was dragged along to listen, but for the most part it’s all women.

This time of the year is no exception. December first until January first is important for guys. Holidays are big for a lot of couples. If you don’t know what you’re doing for your lady, you better figure it out and fast. In fact, my rule is that you should be paying attention all year long.

Trust me on this. If you remember something she mentioned she liked three months ago and surprise her with it at Christmas, she’ll spread her legs before Santa even has time to slide down the chimney. Let’s be honest, that is always at least part of the goal for guys.

So my current work in progress tackles Christmas. A how-to guide for the holidays.

The Gentleman’s Rules for Christmas.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’m in trouble. She’s in “all men are assholes” mode. Threat level red. Someone should hoist the red flag up on the beach, warning hazardous conditions ahead.

 

The beach is wide, the water vast, the sky unending, and I’m reminded how small I am, like a single grain of sand… I look out toward the horizon, where the blue sky meets the blue water. Two shades of the same color. That’s the perfect way to think about Jax and me… Jax and I are the horizon, where he ends I begin, and vice versa.

 

I feel like I’m a kid in an expensive store, and I’m not supposed to touch… You’re worth too much.

 

“You were my first love,” I whisper but don’t make eye contact. He kneels, taking both my hands. His blue eyes look up at me, full of warmth. “I want to be your last,” he whispers back.

 

My Review:

 

Christmas came early for me this year and I’ve already enjoyed my gift from Prescott Lane. I adored this well-paced holiday novella from start to finish. Crisp and thoughtfully written in my favorite dual POV by one of my favorite authors, it covered all the bases as a friends to lovers, second chance, Christmas, and small-town romance. Plus, it had all the feels, buckets of wry humor, and Kindle melting love scenes. Nirvana!

 

About Prescott:

Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She’s got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List. She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and an MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren’t enough happily ever afters in real life.

Connect with Prescott:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottLane1
Twitter: www.twitter.com/prescottlane1
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lfhlrh
Instagram: instagram.com/prescottlane1
http://www.authorprescottlane.com

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Book Review, Giveaway: A Little Christmas Charm by Kathryn Freeman

 

A Little Christmas Charm

by Kathryn Freeman

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

Would you swap sea and sunshine for tinsel and turkey?
Gabby Sanderson is used to being let down – even at Christmas. Which is why she’s happy to skip the festive season completely in favor of a plane ticket and sunnier climes.

But this Christmas could be different because this time she might not be spending it alone. Can Owen Cooper charm Gabby into loving Christmas in the same way he’s charmed his way into her life or is he just another person who’ll end up disappointing her?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She almost laughed out loud when she saw the car he finally climbed into. A deep blue Maserati – of course. Nothing said single man on the pull like a Maserati.

 

I’m so flabbergasted at your audacity I can’t find the breath to tell you to stop being so stupid.

 

As it’s December and frigging freezing in this house, despite the expensive new boiler, I’m covering up my important parts. I don’t want to ruin the image you have of me by appearing in front of you naked. And cold.

 

My Review:

 

This was an engaging holiday read yet it contained considerably more angst than I was expecting, sigh. Angst is just not one of my favorite things, and the main character of Gabby was riddled with it and was basically a tight knot of tension, anxieties, and a critical case of wariness. Thankfully, Ms. Freeman also tossed in her own special brand of levity, wit, emotive storylines, and enough clever banter to keep me from descending into the abyss.   Gabby was emotionally immature, exasperatingly stubborn, distrustful, easily startled, and a pain in the posterior.   Why the luscious Owen was so fully captivated by her prickly nature was a grand mystery. I adored Owen, he was extremely patient, witty, perceptive, and sex on legs.

I found two extra fun new additions to my Brit word list with throw a wobbly (a display of temper usually over something minor) and skivvy – which I have only known as underwear but apparently, it is also another word for servant. Oh my, now I am envisioning a butler clad only in his bow tie and boxers while tossing a tantrum.

 

 

Author Bio 

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Giveaway 

Win a paperback copy of A Little Christmas Faith by Kathryn Freeman

(Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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