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Book Review: Steal My Magnolia (Love At First Sight #3) by Karla Sorensen @ksorensenbooks @SmartyPantsRom

Steal My Magnolia (Love At First Sight #3) by Karla Sorensen

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“Steal My Magnolia is more than a love story. It’s a beautifully crafted journey of life full of obstacles but a journey worth the travel with the right person.” –Author Andrea Johnston

Steal My Magnolia, an all-new heartwarming small-town romance from Karla Sorensen, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

 

Life lesson from Grady Buchanan: If you’re going to fall in love with the untouchable girl in town, don’t hire her as your only employee.

Even after he bungled the interview with Magnolia MacIntyre, he knew better than to hire her. The list of why it’s a bad idea is a long one.

Her father could ruin his fledgling business.

She is completely overqualified.

And he’s attracted to her.

What does Grady do? He offers her the job.

Magnolia knew better than to take it. Normally, she’d make the safe choice, and working for Grady is anything but.

He’s new in town–and entirely too charming.

Her dad will be furious.

She hates the outdoors and working for an outdoor adventure company is not exactly the right fit.

What does she do? She says yes on the spot.

Grady and Magnolia will have to prove to everyone in their life that they’re not crazy. And prove to each other that the list of why it’s a bad idea should be tossed out the window.

For these two opposites, sometimes doing the wrong thing is exactly right.

‘Steal My Magnolia’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #3 in the Love At First Sight series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe. 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

In theory, I was doing well. But that theory was flimsy, and I refused to think about what might happen if it crumbled under the weight of reality.

 

I wiggled my fingers at her daughter, who gave me a pained, uncomfortable smile in return. Yes, your mother was a passive-aggressive busybody, and I’d be embarrassed if I were you too. Only a southern woman could convey all that in a finger wave.

 

“Good God Almighty, Grady, you’re gonna give me a heart attack, and believe me, that is not the way I plan on leaving this earth.” Maxine was a welcome distraction, and I smiled. “You’ve got a plan?” “I will either be sleeping peacefully in my bed, or I will go out while some sixty-year-old silver fox makes me feel young again … There’ll be no other options.”

 

I didn’t lose my temper often, but when I did, I was like a beach ball held under the water for too long.

 

Worry is like trying to win a race while you’re sitting on a rocking horse. You’ll move, all right, but you sure won’t get anywhere good.

 

My Review:

 

I don’t usually enjoy a slow-burn romance but this one was wicked funny, smartly paced, ingeniously nuanced, and highly amusing. I have smirked and giggled-snorted my way through each clever installment of Ms. Sorenson’s contributions. Regardless of the series or author, the denizens of Green Valley are a peculiar and curiously enticing sort, but in the hands of a skilled storyteller such as this, there is no end to the appeal and the odd secondary characters hold up the foundations as well as add extra sparkle. I cannot wait to read the next issue and see what she comes up with next.

 

 

Start the Love at First Sight series of standalones!

Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Baking Me Crazy

Batter of Wits

 

Excerpt

“This is Grady.”

There was silence on the other end. I pulled the phone away from my face to make sure I’d answered.

“Hello?” I said.

I heard a deep breath before she spoke. “Hi, I’m here, sorry.”

My head tilted to the side when I heard her voice. It was soft and low with the curling accent that I’d gotten used to in the past month and a half. But it … I shook my head … something about it made the hairs lift slightly on my arms.

“Did you mean to call my number?” I asked carefully.

Inexplicably, I found myself holding my breath waiting for her to answer.

“I heard you’re looking for help. Administrative help,” she clarified.

My head went back. “Did you?”

She was quiet for a second. “Small town,” she explained. “People talk.”

I laughed under my breath. “So I’m learning.”

It made me shake my head. The darknet had nothing on the Green Valley information pipeline. “So,” I continued, “tell me a little bit about yourself.”

“Of course.” For the second time since I picked up, she let out an audible breath. “I have my BS in Business Administration, an MBA from Vanderbilt, and other than college, I’ve lived in Green Valley my whole life.”

Scratching the side of my face, I glanced around at the horrific state of the office and tried to imagine someone with an MBA wanting anything to do with it. My face was bent in a grimace

“I’ve spent the past five years as an office administrator for my …” She paused. “For a local business, and I’m looking to change things up. Fresh start.”

I sat up slowly. “I can understand wanting a fresh start. That’s why I’m here.”

“I know. I, umm, I heard that. In town.” She stumbled slightly over her words, and I smiled. “I’m not very outdoorsy, and I know that’s what you’ll be doing, but I’m the most organized person you’ll ever meet. My label maker is my favorite accessory, and I have lists for my to-do lists. And I know every single business owner from here to Maryville.”

I laughed. “You sound like you’re already in your interview.”

She laughed too, and I grimaced when my chest tightened. It caused a strong enough physical sensation that I glanced down at my body, like it was separate from me somehow.

“I can come in and fill out an application, if you’d like,” she said.

I laughed under my breath. “If I had applications, I’d say yes.” I glanced around the mess surrounding me. “But … I’m not quite that prepared yet.”

“That’s also why you need someone who knows how to get an office up and running.”

“That’s true,” I agreed. “Can you come in tomorrow so we can talk a little bit more? Since I don’t have an application.”

“That would be great,” she said firmly. The stumbling was gone. I found myself wondering how old she was. What she looked like.

If I had a calendar, I would’ve glanced at it. But that was also buried in a stack of papers.

“How does nine sound? Do you need the address?”

“Sounds perfect,” she answered. “And uh, no, thank you. I know where to find you.”

I shook my head.

“Small town,” we said in unison. She laughed, and my smile took up my whole damn face.

“Then I’ll see you at nine tomorrow …” My voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name. I’m still working on my Southern manners.”

She laughed. My chest did that thing again. It wasn’t the heavy press of panic. It was a lightening. A lifting of whatever pressure I’d been feeling before she called.

She spoke slowly, like she was thinking carefully about her answer. “You can call me Lia.”

 

About Karla Sorensen

Karla Sorensen has been an avid reader her entire life, preferring stories with a happily-ever-after over just about any other kind. And considering she has an entire line item in her budget for books, she realized it might just be cheaper to write her own stories. It doesn’t take much to keep her happy…a book, a really big glass of wine, and at least thirty minutes of complete silence every day. She still keeps her toes in the world of health care marketing, where she made her living pre-babies. Now she stays home, writing, and mommy-ing full time (this translates to almost every day being a ‘pajama day’ at the Sorensen household…don’t judge). She lives in West Michigan with her husband, two exceptionally adorable sons, and a big, shaggy rescue dog.

Find Karla Sorensen online

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2lU6xAS

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2khRSPL

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2k0Yp0T

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2lBNuez

Website: http://www.karlasorensen.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

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Book Review: The Girl in the Missing Poster by Barbara Copperthwaite @BCopperthwait @Bookouture 

The Girl in the Missing Poster
by Barbara Copperthwaite

 

Amazon / B&N / Apple / GP/ Kobo

24 June, 1994 – Nineteen-year-old Leila Hawkins runs from her father’s birthday party into the stormy night wearing her sister Stella’s long red coat. Some say she was crying, others swear they saw her get into a passing car. Nobody ever saw her again.

Present – This time every year, on the anniversary of that fateful night, Stella decorates the small seaside town she grew up in with pictures of her beautiful missing sister. But after twenty-five years, is it even worth hoping someone will come forward? Perhaps the upcoming documentary will spark people’s memories by reuniting all the guests who were there the night Leila went missing.

As old friends gather and long-buried secrets begin to surface, the last thing Stella ever expects is a direct response from someone claiming they took Leila. They want private details of Stella’s life in return for answers. But as the true events of the night of the party play out once again, who is lying? And who is next?

From the bestselling author of The Perfect Friend, this absolutely gripping psychological thriller will keep you up all night and leave you sleeping with the light on. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, and The Wife Between Us this book is for you!

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’m thrown by him, I admit. One minute he’s a gentleman coming to the rescue, the next he’s trying to sabotage me, then claiming he did it all for my good; he’s got more sides than a Rubik’s Cube.

 

It’s been a long time since anyone showed interest in me, and I’m not sure how to feel or how much to trust myself. Lately, there’s been a lot of blood rushing around neglected places, and lots of feelings churning around me that I thought I’d outgrown.

 

Leila wouldn’t have touched him with a barge pole – not even someone else’s barge pole. She liked the quieter, more studious type. The kind you could settle down with and introduce to your parents without cringing.

 

That woman doesn’t grab life, she hugs it to her bosom, covers it with air kisses, then presses some diamonds into its hands as thanks…

My Review:

 

This busy tale was brilliantly plotted and shrewdly paced while it had more twists and curves than a rope factory. I found myself holding my breath while reading the intense and treacherous written exchanges between the murderer and obsessed sister of his long-ago victim. There were multiple suspects who were cleverly built-up and ever so slowly eliminated. I lost track of how many theories I had spun and cast aside. The writing was superb and kept me riveted to my Kindle all day.   I was as obsessed and driven as the surviving twin to unravel this perplexing murder mystery and fear there may have actually been some growling and hissing when my reading was interrupted.   Barbara Copperthwaite is an evil genius and master storyteller. I was utterly bamboozled.

About the Author

Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, and HER LAST SECRET.

More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography, and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp, and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).

Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime – and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers’ eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.

When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCopperthwaite

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCopperthwait

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_barbara_copperthwaite/

Website: www.barbaracopperthwaite.com

 

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Book Review: The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice @LuanneRice @TLCBookTours

The Shadow Box
by Luanne Rice

Hardcover: 368 Pages

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (February 1, 2021)

After artist Claire Beaudry Chase is attacked and left for dead in her home on the Connecticut coast, she doesn’t know who she can trust. But her well-connected husband, Griffin, who is running for governor, is her prime suspect.

Just before the attack, Claire was preparing for an exhibit of her shadow boxes, one of which clearly accuses Griffin of a violent crime committed twenty-five years ago. If the public were to find out who her husband is, his political career would be over. Claire’s certain her husband and his powerful supporters would kill her to stop the truth from getting out.

When one of Claire’s acquaintances is murdered, the authorities suspect the homicide is linked to the attack on Claire. As the dual investigations unfold, Claire must decide how much she’s willing to lose to take down her husband and the corrupt group of elites who will do anything to protect Griffin’s interests and their own.

My Rating:

My Review:

This masterfully crafted tale was disturbingly realistic and thrummed with tension from beginning to end. The pacing and storylines were cunningly conceived and shrewdly constructed for maximum impact with cringe-worthy depictions and blood-chilling reveals. My curiosity was well and truly tipped. I fell right into this distressingly addictive story and was fully absorbed and ensnared by the horror of the victim’s conundrum as well as awed by Ms. Rice’s clever and evocative phrasing and brain-tickling narrative. This was devastatingly intriguing storytelling as it hurdled toward either discovery or impending doom for all involved. It was marvelously disorienting. I am now a rabid fangirl.

About the Author
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Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-five novels that have been translated into twenty-four languages. In 2002, Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree, and she also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Saint Joseph. In June 2014, she received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence as a literary artist.

Several of Rice’s novels have been adapted for television, including Crazy in Love, for TNT; Blue Moon, for CBS; Follow the Stars Home and Silver Bells, for the Hallmark Hall of Fame; and Beach Girls, for Lifetime.

Rice is a creative affiliate of the Safina Center, an organization that brings together scientists, artists, and writers to inspire a deeper connection with nature, especially the sea. Rice is an avid environmentalist and advocate for families affected by domestic violence. She lives on the Connecticut Shoreline.

Connect with Luanne

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Book Review: Death at Rainbow Cottage (DCI Satterthwaite #4) by Jo Allen @JoAllenAuthor @rararesources

Death at Rainbow Cottage
(DCI Satterthwaite #4) 
by Jo Allen

 

At the end of the rainbow, a man lies dead.

The apparently motiveless murder of a man outside the home of controversial equalities activist Claud Blackwell and his neurotic wife, Natalie, is shocking enough for a peaceful local community. When it’s followed by another apparently random killing immediately outside Claud’s office, DCI Jude Satterthwaite has his work cut out. Is Claud the killer, or the intended victim?

To add to Jude’s problems, the arrival of a hostile new boss causes complications at work, and when a threatening note arrives at the police headquarters, he has real cause to fear for the safety of his friends and colleagues…

A traditional British detective novel set in Cumbria.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The woman must think she buttoned up the back.

 

At the end of the short affair, she’d come out of it with her soul stained with self-loathing and the knowledge that sometimes the open ocean was better than the wrong port in a storm.

 

Tolerance and diversity extend to the little things in life. It isn’t just about colour or gender or sexuality or religion. It’s about everyone being allowed to do things their way. If we can’t be tolerant of other people’s choices, how can we be expected to be tolerant of the things they have no choice over?’

 

He had the gift of saying everything while he said nothing, sharing a secret while keeping it safe.

My Review:

 

Jo Allen has conjured another twisty and clever conundrum that taunted and teased my curious and cynical nature. She has strong word voodoo and a massive top-shelf vocabulary that keeps the little pea in my brain purring. Her latest missive was a busy and absorbing police procedural with multiple storylines involving family drama, romance, workplace tension, unresolved ex-issues, and a confounding killing spree in a Cumbrian village that kept the detectives hopping. There were no shortages of relationship and homophobic issues or suspects, although the exact cause for the odd selection of victims remained elusive.

I had devised several creative and elaborate theories and while I had it narrowed down to the correct suspect and method, I erred in their motivation. So, not a total win, but more than a partial victory.  I still scored an entertaining read that also taught me a new Scottish phrase for my word list with “buttoned up the back,” which Mr. Google tells me means being thought a fool.

 

About the Author

Jo Allen was born in Wolverhampton and is a graduate of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, and the Open University. After a career in economic consultancy, she took up writing and was first published under the name Jennifer Young in genres of short stories, romance, and romantic suspense. In 2017 she took the plunge and began writing the genre she most likes to read – crime. Now living in Edinburgh, she spends as much time as possible in the English Lakes. In common with all her favorite characters, she loves football (she’s a season ticket holder with her beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers) and cats.

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Book Review: Death on Coffin Lane (DCI Satterthwaite #3) by Jo Allen @JoAllenAuthor

Death on Coffin Lane
(DCI Satterthwaite #3)
by Jo Allen

 

Amazon  / B&N / Apple / GP

DCI Jude Satterthwaite doesn’t get off to a great start with resentful Cody Wilder, who’s visiting Grasmere to present her latest research on Wordsworth. With some of the villagers unhappy about her visit, it’s up to DCI Satterthwaite to protect her – especially when her assistant is found hanging in the kitchen of their shared cottage.

With a constant flock of tourists and the local hippies welcoming in all who cross their paths, Jude’s home in the Lake District isn’t short of strangers. But with the ability to make enemies wherever she goes, the violence that follows in Cody’s wake leads DCI Satterthwaite’s investigation down the hidden paths of those he knows, and those he never knew even existed.

A third mystery for DCI Jude Satterthwaite to solve, in this gripping novel by best-seller Jo Allen.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

His conscience had the flexibility of an Olympic gymnast and he could be trusted only not to be trusted,

 

Sometimes Ashleigh thought Doddsy was too good a man to be a policeman. You needed a core of steel, a heart of lead and a titanium soul, something to protect you. It was amazing he’d lasted as long in the force as he had.

My Review:

 

This is a twisty one that had me in knots, but I didn’t want to put my Kindle down until I riddled out this confounding case. I am quite taken with this police squad. They were an interesting mix of dedicated hard workers and unique personalities as they struggled with several complicated cases and prickly suspects. Ms. Allen’s writing is outstanding while fluid and easy to follow with evocative and highly descriptive passages that draw keen visuals and squeeze the heart. Lucky me, I have the next installment locked and loaded, which is the best way to read a series.

I found two new phrases to add to my Brit List with; go down a storm – something that has been enjoyable or successful, and I’m off out – no longer in. Both seem like fun combinations to trip off my tongue.

About the Author

Jo Allen was born in Wolverhampton and is a graduate of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, and the Open University. After a career in economic consultancy, she took up writing and was first published under the name Jennifer Young in genres of short stories, romance, and romantic suspense. In 2017 she took the plunge and began writing the genre she most likes to read – crime. Now living in Edinburgh, she spends as much time as possible in the English Lakes. In common with all her favorite characters, she loves football (she’s a season ticket holder with her beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers) and cats.

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Book Review: Fearless Hart  (A Cross Creek Small Town Novel #2) by Kelly Collins  @kcollinsauthor

 

Fearless Hart 
(A Cross Creek Small Town Novel #2)
by Kelly Collins

 

Amazon 

Kelly Collins welcomes you back to Cross Creek where love conquers all—including the secrets that haunt you…

Miranda Thomas got under my skin, in a good way. The pretty little sheriff was one-part mystery and the rest perfection. I wanted her, and I intended to make her mine. Our future was as plain as day: husband and wife with two children and a house with a white picket fence. But she was hiding something, and I needed to know what it was. If she didn’t let me in, there would be no chance for us.

Bayden Lockhart was relentless in his pursuit of me. He was like a habitual offender, but his only crime was stealing my heart. He looked at me like I could be his forever, but I knew better. Family was the number one priority for the Lockharts, and Bayden wasn’t any different. As part of the Lockhart Brothers’ Construction Company, he was used to building from the ground up. Too bad my life was constructed on a shaky foundation. I wanted him and needed him, but I was no good for him. I had a secret that tore me apart, and if I let him in, it might destroy him as well.

Could I find the courage to tell Bayden the truth? And more importantly, if I did, would it bring us together or tear us apart?

Find out in Fearless Hart, the second book in the long-awaited Cross Creek Series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Nothing got past the old folks in this town. They might have been deaf, but they heard everything; blind but somehow could see a trespasser from a mile away.

 

I don’t want him digging into my past for dirt because my life is a damn landfill.

 

With a glance around, he leaned in and spoke in a lower voice. “I might not seem like it, but I’m not terrible with women.” “Don’t let him lie to you,” Gypsy said from a few tables away. “He’s terrible. Clueless, really. He hasn’t even asked me out yet.” She continued to eat her garlic knots, her brows high and incredulous. “I’ll get to it when I’m ready!” He turned away from her and hunched his shoulders. “See? Can’t even keep ‘em away.”

 

“The quiet ones are always trouble.” Gypsy laughed. “They’re tougher nuts to crack, but well worth it.” “I think you’re the only nut here,” Roy said over his shoulder, “and you’ve already cracked!”

My Review:

 

This installment was quite busy and had a bit of everything; tragedy, a fledgling romance, a newly minted family, decades of toxic family drama, piles of angst, and welcome hits of humor and Ms. Collins’s unique brand of snark. The storylines were easy to follow and alternated between causing me to smirk and squeezing my heart. I adored Bayden, he was the perfect, highly supportive, and extremely patient BBF.   He was so perfect he could only exist in a book. I am enjoying this new series and already curious to see what will be coming next with brother number three.

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

 

  Goodreads  / Website  / Amazon /

International bestselling author of over 30 novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

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Book Review: Broken Hart (A Cross Creek Small Town Novel #1) by Kelly Collins  @kcollinsauthor

Broken Hart
(A Cross Creek Small Town Novel # 1)
by Kelly Collins

 

Amazon 

Kelly Collins welcomes you to Cross Creek where hate is a four-letter word but so is love. One has the power to destroy, the other to heal.

Kandra brought me to my knees when she fled Cross Creek to follow dreams that didn’t include me. I picked up the pieces of my broken world and built a new life—one free of heartache. I thought she was in the past and would stay there, but I thought wrong. Kandra is back, and if I’m not careful, she’ll gut me again. As much as she stole my heart, she left behind the longing. What happens if I let her in again and she …

I escaped small-town life, searching for more, and thought I found it. I lived the life I dreamed of, a big city, a great job, a doting boyfriend. It’s funny how quickly dreams turned into nightmares. My ex-boyfriend fooled me into believing I could have everything, but he left me with nothing. I never imagined I’d wind up back in Cross Creek, scared, alone, and pregnant. Seeing Noah makes me wonder how I could have ever left him. He’s everything I didn’t know I needed. I love my child, and I love Noah. Is it too late to have it all?

Find out in Broken Hart, the first book in the long-awaited Cross Creek Series.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“The kid wouldn’t be into her.” Ethel snapped back like she’d been slapped. Norman continued. “Trust me, she’s not his type. She’s got a job and a brain.”

 

The guy dressed like a college professor on a budget, with his garish sports jackets and button-down shirts in hues of lavender and sky blue. His brown leather shoes only added to the dull old man look, though the guy was a couple of years younger than me. His outfits never ceased to hurt my eyes.

 

Secrets are heavy, and they come with a price that’s hard to pay alone.

 

I went quiet as Dottie approached because the woman couldn’t keep quiet to save her life, and part of me was terrified that I’d give away my big secret somehow. If she found out now, the whole town would know yesterday. Dottie gossip wasn’t constrained to time and space rules.

 

I was back in Cross Creek with less than I left with. It was a great lesson in the old adage that the grass was greener on the other side. In my case, the grass was greener because it was artificial turf.

 

 

My Review:

 

I am thrilled to see a new additional spin-off series from Kelly Collins while my fingers are crossed she continues with her prodigious Aspen Creek that sparked its beginnings. I loved this sweet second chance romance couple.   They were endearing and deserving and I liked them instantly. The storylines developed and flowed quickly and smoothly while introducing us to the new town and quirksome small-town characters, a process I always find highly entertaining as Ms. Collins has a knack for drawing sharp and amusing visuals with her clever words.

 

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

 

International bestselling author of over 30 novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

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Book Review: The Silent Victims (DCI Hanlon Book 4) by Alex Coombs @AlexHowardCrime @rararesources  @BoldwoodBooks

 

 

The Silent Victims
(DCI Hanlon Book 4) 
by Alex Coombs

 

Amazon  / B&N /  GP

 The Silent Victims
DCI Hanlon faces the toughest decision of her career as a string of political murders lead to a deadly confrontation.

A controversial, right-wing German politician is due to speak at the Oxford Union. Following a series of murders linked to a violent anarchist group, the city is on high alert. DCI Hanlon has been partnered with DI Huss to ensure the speech goes smoothly and that there will be no more killing.

Meanwhile, as Hanlon traces the person behind the murders, she soon realizes that the chilling truth has a terrible price. Is Hanlon willing to meet the cost?

 

The final gripping case for DCI Hanlon. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan, and Mark Dawson.

This book was previously published as An Incidental Death by Alex Howard. 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

As their eyes rested on him he felt a scrotum-tightening chill of fear descend over his body. No, not a job interview, more the professional evaluation of a couple of undertakers interested to see if he would fit the coffin.

 

It was huge, and massively muscled. It emanated a sinister, vast strength. It looked like a dog that pumped iron and ate steroids.

 

Hanlon glared at Morris Jones, her glance taking in his immaculately polished shoes, the razor-sharp creases in his suit. It suddenly occurred to her that when Jones dressed he was probably dressing for death, either his own or someone else’s.

 

Let’s see how fit you are, she thought grimly to herself… in trainers she could run a marathon in a respectable three hours… Grey Man looked like he’d have trouble on an escalator. She grinned wolfishly as she increased the pace of her stride.

My Review:

 

While well written and full of complex twists and oddly compelling characters, I struggled with this one as it had a slow start and complicated plot lines that aren’t my cup of Darjeeling.   Extremist right-wing politicians are contemptible and I feel I’ve suffered more than enough of that vile nonsense from the previous occupant for the last four years, and toss in Islamic terrorist cells, well… the little pea in my brain was growing antsy and wanting to burn rubber.

But my biggest concern was where was my beloved Hanlon? She was scarce in this tale for quite a while, and I missed my favorite kickass chick. I covertly aspire to her level of indifference and would gladly become her faithful disciple, although that is definitely a situation the rogue lone wolf Hanlon would not appreciate nor enjoy.

If I were unaware of what this crafty author was capable of I most likely would have conceded with a DNF early on. I fear I have been spoiled and most likely ruined by the richness and absorbing quality of his previous offerings and this one just hadn’t grabbed me by the throat in the same manner as the three previous installments. But luckily, the agile and wily nature of Mr. Coombs’s stellar writing kept me invested and once my revered idol joined in with significant contributions, all was right once again. Silly me, I was just too impatient. The clever Mr. Coombs continues to remain all snug and warm in a cozy spot on my favorites list.

About the Author

Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Twitter

 

Alex Coombs studied Arabic at Oxford and Edinburgh Universities and went on to work in adult education and then retrained to be a chef. He has written four well-reviewed crime novels as Alex Howard.  Sign up for his newsletter at :

http://bit.ly/AlexCoombsNewsletter

 

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Book Review: The English Wife by Adrienne Chinn  @onemorechapter @adriennechinn @TLCBookTours

The English Wife
by Adrienne Chinn 

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Amazon  / B&N / HarperCollins / GP/ Apple

 Publisher: One More Chapter (February 16, 2021)

Paperback: 448 pages

Two women, a world apart.

A secret waiting to be discovered…

VE Day 1945: As victory bells ring out across the country, war bride Ellie Burgess’ happiness is overshadowed by grief. Her charismatic Newfoundlander husband Thomas is still missing in action.

Until a letter arrives explaining Thomas is back at home on the other side of the Atlantic recovering from his injuries.

Traveling to a distant country to live with a man she barely knows is the bravest thing Ellie has ever had to do. But nothing can prepare her for the harsh realities of her new home…

September 11th, 2001: Sophie Parry is on a plane to New York on the most tragic day in the city’s history. While the world watches the news in horror, Sophie’s flight is rerouted to a tiny town in Newfoundland and she is forced to seek refuge with her estranged aunt Ellie.

Determined to discover what it was that forced her family apart all those years ago, newfound secrets may change her life forever…

This is a timeless story of love, sacrifice, and resilience perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Lorna Cook, and Gill Paul.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The crossing had been awful, the waves a seascape of mountains and valleys, the ship like a cork bouncing and tipping its way across the Atlantic.

 

She imagines him in twenty years’ time, jowls dropping from his square jawline, his eyes drooping and watery. By then he’d look like a vulture. Turning into his spirit creature.

 

You look fine. You could wear my grandfather’s pyjamas and you’d look amazing. If I wore my grandfather’s pyjamas I’d look like my grandfather.

 

Those chaps could find a diamond in a glass mountain.

My Review:

 

This captivating tale was quite the saga, I couldn’t seem to put it down and despite its impressive length of 450 pages, I absorbed most of it in a day and savored every well-chosen word.   The storylines were skillfully nuanced, devastating, cunningly contrived, and brilliantly paced; my curiosity was well and truly tipped from beginning to end. The characters were cleverly constructed, curiously compelling, and realistically flawed. Poor Ellie, she was forever to be screwed over by her sister, as dramatic Dottie was a piece of work.

I realized I was woefully unenlightened of Newfoundland other than a vague awareness of where it resided on a map. I adored the frequent use of their Creole and argot with such colorful and imaginative phrasings, although their gut-foundered menus of scrunchions and cod and brewis, as well as their frigid weather, sounds simply ruinous. And while I was quite taken by their belief and understanding of fairies, personally, I much prefer Tinkerbell.

I was provided with a review copy of this absorbing tale by TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins.

About the Author
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Adrienne Chinn was born in an old paper-making town in Newfoundland and grew up in rural Quebec and Montreal. She retraced her English father’s footsteps back to England, where she now lives and works as an interior designer.

She travels all over the world to speak at international events, and leads design retreats in her beloved Morocco, which she has been visiting regularly for over ten years.

When not writing or designing, Adrienne can be found puttering in her Sussex garden; trawling flea markets; swimming anywhere she can find a lake, sea or pool; or in the queue at Gatwick heading off somewhere new.

Find out more about Adrienne at her website, and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn @SuzanneRedfearn

Hadley & Grace
by Suzanne Redfearn

 

Amazon  / B&N

Paperback: 347 Pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (February 1, 2021)

Needing to escape her abusive marriage, Hadley flees with her two kids, knowing it might be her only chance. A woman who can’t even kill a spider, Hadley soon finds herself pushed to the limits as she fights to protect her family.

Grace, new mother of baby Miles, desperately wants to put her rough past behind her for good, but she finds it impossible when her path crosses with Hadley’s, and her quest for a new start quickly spirals out of control and turns into a terrifying flight for survival.

Stronger together than apart, the two find their fates inextricably entwined, and as the danger closes in, each must decide how much she is willing to risk for the other.

A powerful story of self-discovery, Hadley & Grace is the heart-racing tale of two women facing insurmountable odds, racing to stay one step ahead of the trouble that is chasing them, and discovering new kinds of love and family along the way.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Handing him over to Vanessa feels a little like handing a live grenade to a known sufferer of seizures.

 

“You don’t need to gloat about it,” Grace says. “I’m not gloating.” “You are. You’re gloating all over the place. You’re completely covered in gloat.”

 

The media storm around this is going to blow up. He can already see a Lifetime Original Movie being made. Hell, the motel clerk, that scrawny kid at the desk who went white as the walls around him when Mark showed his badge, probably has six marriage proposals by now and a dozen benefactors willing to give him a new smile. Every damn person in the article is going to be a celebrity and a hero, while the FBI is being painted as the Big Bad Wolf hunting Little Red Riding Hood and taking money from little old ladies and young men who need dental work.

 

She looks like a Greek goddess—empowered, bold, and fearless— like she should be chiseled of marble and holding up a temple.

 

… rumors have been floating around about a movie being made. Grace cringes at the idea, certain someone like Angelina Jolie will be cast to play Hadley, while some actress who looks like Nanny McPhee will play her.

 

My Review:

 

I was riveted and on edge while reading this cunningly crafted book and was holding my breath that the two protagonists would survive, and it didn’t look likely. The storylines were intriguing, tragic, highly emotive, and perfectly pitched to maintain an undercurrent of tension while also balancing out the emotions with more lighthearted and amusing observations and memories of two women who by happenstance and a series of poor choices became bonded and accidental fugitives on a cross-country run from the FBI with their children in tow.

The pacing and storytelling were nothing short of brilliant and evoked a steady stream of heart clenches and keen visuals. I ached for the woman working as hard as she could to keep her head above water and wearing worn-out shoes with superglued soles while contending with a screaming inconsolable baby. Suzanne Redfearn has mad skills and a rabid new fangirl.

About the Author

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Suzanne Redfearn is the bestselling author of four novels: Hush Little Baby, No Ordinary Life, In an Instant, and Hadley & Grace.  In addition to being an author, she’s also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza and Beer.

Connect with Suzanne

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