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#Spell the Month in Books #June 2021

This meme was originally created by Jana from Reviews From the Stacks, but I first saw it on Carla’s blog (Carla Loves to Read).

For this challenge, use the first letter of each book title to spell the current month (skipping articles such as A or The). You can either use titles from your tbr or books that you have read/reviewed.

Jana has created a formal linkup which she posts on the second Saturday of the current month. She also has a theme for each of these lists, although you are absolutely free not to follow it at all.

Here is my list for June:

J Just For Clicks by Kara McDowell

Mommy blogs are great . . . unless the blog happens to belong to your mom.

Twin sisters Claire & Poppy are accidental social media stars thanks to Mom going viral when they were babies. Now, as teens, they’re expected to contribute by building their own brand. Attending a NY fashion week and receiving fan mail is a blast. Fending off internet trolls and would-be kidnappers? Not so much. Poppy embraces it. Claire hates it. Will anybody accept her as “just Claire”? And what should Claire do about Mom’s old journals? The handwritten entries definitely don’t sound like Mom’s perfect blog persona. Worse, one of them divulges a secret that leaves Claire wondering what else in her life might be nothing but a sham . .

My Review

U Unwritten by Alicja Novo

Books whisper to Beatrix Alba. But they aren’t the reason she has never fit in. Bullied at home and school, she keeps a secret—a power of violence and darkness.

When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she’s catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favorite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack. A character is burning bookworlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, he needs a riddle in Beatrix’s keeping.

Now he’s hunting her down.

Joining forces with William, a cursed conjurer, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows her every weakness in a realm where witches play with time, Egyptian gods roam, and Regency heroines lead covert operations. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her.

My Review

N NatalieTan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim

At the news of her mother’s death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn’t spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to discover the vibrant neighborhood of San Francisco’s Chinatown that she remembers from her childhood is fading, with businesses failing and families moving out. She’s even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother’s restaurant.

The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant’s fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. Unfortunately, Natalie has no desire to help them try to turn things around–she resents the local shopkeepers for leaving her alone to take care of her agoraphobic mother when she was growing up. But with the support of a surprising new friend and a budding romance, Natalie starts to realize that maybe her neighbors really have been there for her all along.

My Review

E Eight Will Fall by Sara Harian

In a land where magic is outlawed, eight criminals led by seventeen-year-old Larkin are sent on a mission to kill an ancient evil that plagues their kingdom. Descending into an underground realm full of unspeakable horrors, Larkin and her party must use their forbidden magic to survive what lies in wait, teeth sharp and jaws deadly.

As she fights for her life, Larkin finds a light in Amias, a fellow outlaw with a notorious past. Soon Larkin and Amias realize their fates are entwined. The eight of them were chosen for a reason.

But as the dangers multiply and her band of felons are picked off one by one, Larkin must confront a terrible truth: They were never meant to return.

My Review

Have you read these books? If yes, did you like them?

What book titles woud you use to spell June?

#Book Review #Girl One by Sarah Flannery Murphy #Sci-Fi Thriller @MCD

Orphan Black meets Margaret Atwood in this twisty supernatural thriller about female power and the bonds of sisterhood

Josephine Morrow is Girl One, the first of nine “Miracle Babies” conceived without male DNA, raised on an experimental commune known as the Homestead. When a suspicious fire destroys the commune and claims the lives of two of the Homesteaders, the remaining Girls and their Mothers scatter across the United States and lose touch.

Years later, Margaret Morrow goes missing, and Josie sets off on a desperate road trip, tracking down her estranged sisters who seem to hold the keys to her mother’s disappearance. Tracing the clues Margaret left behind, Josie joins forces with the other Girls, facing down those who seek to eradicate their very existence while uncovering secrets about their origins and unlocking devastating abilities they never knew they had.

(From the publisher’s description)

Goodreads

My thoughts:

Girl One was one of my most anticipated reads for the first half of the year and I’m sure it wil remain in the top five most memorable ones. Any good science fiction novel has to be a blend of several elements: an interesting scientific concept, a ‘what if…?’ which is plausible and fascinating to discuss, an interesting plot or unusual characters, and a strong message. Girl One has all three of them and definitely deserves your attention.

This is a story of a young woman, Josephine Morrow, looking for her estranged mother Margaret, who disappeared (was kidnapped?) from their home under suspicious circumstances. The search turns into a journey of self-discovery that breaks and re-makes every idea Josie had of her past and present. Josie is number One of the nine babies, miraculously conceived by parthenogenesis (self-conception, ‘virgin birth’) in the Homestead, a commune of like-minded, progressively thinking women and a scientist who helped the project to take off. The commune was destroyed by a ravaging fire, in which two people died- Fiona, the youngest of the nine girls and Dr Bellanger himself. The remaining mothers and their daughters conceived without male DNA scattered all across the country and went on with their lives. Josie finds her mother’s enigmatic notes, hidden in what remains after a similar fire consumed their ordinary flat, and sets outs to find the rest of the girls.

This is a well-written thriller with a tight plot and multiple twists and turns as there are a lot of things Josie has to discover about her past, the Homestead Project, and the only family she has ever had. Since there were 9 original girls, it does take some time , and some characters contribute less than the others to the development of the story. Then again, there are also some sinister, horror-like scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The writing is really vivid and you can easily see the book turned into a TV show in future.

Josie is a very likeable character. She is strong, she is caring, she is flawed, and this is what makes her so interesting. She discovers and re-discovers the strength and selflessness of her mother-daughter bond and a powerful connection to her ‘sisters’. She grows during this trip, takes responsibility for her own actions and her road companions and works through some complex feelings. The events are told from her point of view and I wonder what kind of effect having multiple POVs would have had on the book.

The thriller side of the book is quite strong, but this gripping journey also comes with thought-provoking social messages- the way the girls come into their own powers, test and learn their ethical boundaries is a perfect metaphor for the relationship our society has with its scientific discoveries and technological progress. There is also something else – we are all different, but there is no need to be afraid of our diversity. We can be free and independent, and enhance each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Sara Flannery Murphy is the author of the novel The Possessions and Girl One. She grew up in Arkansas, studied library science in British Columbia, and received her MFA in creative writing at Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in Utah with her husband and their two sons.

#Book Blitz #How Not To Mess With A Millionaire by Regina Kyle @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
How Not To Mess With A Millionaire
by Regina Kyle
(Mediterranean Millionaires, #1)
Published by: Entangled: Indulgence
Publication date: June 7th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:

Interior decorator Zoe Ryan’s life resembles a bad country song. Her boyfriend dumped her, her car died, and she was recently handed a pink slip. What’s a girl to do? Leave everything behind for a bit….in Positano, Italy. And when she gets there, she finds a surprising extra—millionaire restaurateur Dante Sabbatini in the kitchen. In his underwear. Making coffee. It’s suddenly not only hot outside, but exactly what is he doing inside, in her temporary kitchen?

Dante’s plan was to escape to his family’s beach house for some quiet and privacy. What he didn’t know was that his meddling, matchmaking nonna rented the entire house to a sexy stranger at the exact same time as his stay. It took him months to clear his schedule—there’s no way he’s leaving now.

With both refusing to leave, Zoe and Dante agree to be temporary roomies, but secretly aim to try to drive the other out. He plays his music as loud as he wants and will wear as little clothing as possible, and she’ll just go ahead and adopt that pig she fell in love with in town. But suddenly their game of one-upmanship takes a very sexy detour, and they can’t believe what happens next.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Author Bio:

Regina Kyle knew she was destined to be an author when she won a writing contest at age ten with a touching tale about a squirrel and a nut pie. By day, she writes dry legal briefs, representing the state in criminal appeals. At night, she writes steamy romance with heart and humor.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Bookbub / Amazon

GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$15 Amazon gift card
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#Book Blitz #The Business Engagement by Kasi Blake @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
The Business Engagement
by Kasi Blake
(Boss of Seduction)
Publication date: May 22nd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:

One engagement can save two reputations… if they can keep their hands off each other.

When claustrophobic Anna gets trapped in an elevator with hunky Skylar, the last thing she expects is to exit an engaged woman. But Skylar insists tongues will stop wagging when people realize she is marrying him and not sleeping with her boss.

Skylar’s father (her boss) invites her to spend Thanksgiving weekend with his entire family in Vermont, and he won’t take no for an answer. She has no clue how she will get through four days under the same roof with the sexy, arrogant Skylar. Then she discovers they expect her to share a room with her fiancé. Now what?

With her job on the line, will she also be willing to risk her heart?

This book is a little STEAMY. if you don’t like that, you can skip those scenes and still enjoy the book. It isn’t erotica, so there isn’t much to skim over. But if you enjoy the love scenes, have at it. 🙂

Goodreads / Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:

Kasi Blake learned that writing was her superpower when she was in the third grade. The teacher asked the students to write a short (one-page) story about a pet monster for Halloween. She heard the other kids all saying they were doing vampires and werewolves, so she chose to write about a pet mummy. Her story made the entire classroom erupt with laughter. That’s when she realized words had power. Then when she was in high school she had to write a short story for a class and put it off until the last minute. While talking to friends that morning, she scribbled it out and handed it in. The teacher thought she’d plagiarized it. That’s how good he thought it was, but her friends backed her up. Later in college, her writing ability saved her from a bad grade in history. It was a writing-intensive course.

What’s your superpower?

If you want to get her Newsletter for news, free stories, and fun, go to her website and find it under the Newsletter Form tab. http://KasiBlake.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Bookbub / Newsletter / Amazon

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$25 Amazon gift card
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#Book Blitz #Capturing The Texas Rancher’s Heart by Debra Holt @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
Capturing the Texas Rancher’s Heart
by Debra Holt
(The Tremaynes of Texas, #1)
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication date: June 3rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:

She thought she’d protected her heart…

After a tumultuous childhood, nurse Jamie Westmoreland craves the comfort of predictability. She loves her quiet life in a small Texas ranching town and finally feels in control until a handsome rancher becomes her newest patient. He challenges her at every turn, but Jamie is too stubborn to admit she enjoys their sparring, and that he makes her heart race. But when his charming little cowboy son starts following her around, her long-neglected heart opens.

Thomas Tremayne, the eldest son of a well-respected local ranching family, is both mom and dad to his young son and has no plans to change. When a ranch injury requires an in-house expert, the nurse who called him out on his attitude is sent to help him heal. She’s even harder to resist on his ranch than she was at the hospital, but Thomas is determined to try—except he’s out-numbered. His son decided he wants a mom, and nurse Jamie is his choice.

Can two stubborn adults let down their guard long enough to let love in again?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

AUTHOR BIO:

Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).
Debra’s real pride and joys, however, are her son, an aspiring film actor, and a daughter with aspirations to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (more story ideas!) When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance…Janet Dailey’s Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary western romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles…and sighs… to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s.
Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com. She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Bookbub

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

eBook copy of Capturing the Texas Rancher’s Heart

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#First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first pageCopy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first Finally… reveal the book!

Here they are, the first lines of the mystery book I’m presenting today:

Hope is a coin I carry: an American penny, given to me by a man I came to love. There were times in my journey when it felt as if that penny and the hope it represented were the only things that kept me going.
I came west in search of a better life, but my American dream was turned into a nightmare by poverty and hardship and greed. These past few years have been a time of things lost: Jobs. Homes. Food.
The land we loved turned on us, broke us all, even the stubborn old men who used to talk about the weather and congratulate each other on the season’s bumper wheat crop. A man’s got to fight out here to make a living, they’d say to each other.
A man.
It was always about the men.

…so what book is it?

it’s …

The Four Winds by Kristin Hanna

Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.

Have you read or listened to The Four Winds? if yes, what did you think of it?

Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful weekend!

#Blog Tour #A Night Twice as Long by Andrew Simonet #YA @Xpresso Book Tours @FSG

Today is my stop on the blog tour for ANight Twice As Long, Andrew Simonet’s emotional and powerful portrayal of family with a disabled child, love and friendship in a changing world, where it isn’t always easy to understand and come to terms with what you are experiencing and feeling. Thank you to Giselle from XpressoBook Tours and the publisher for inviting me to participatein the blog tour for this book.

Book details:
A Night Twice as Long
by Andrew Simonet
Published by: Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication date: June 1st 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Synopsis:

What do you call the difference between what you should feel and what you do feel? Life?

The blackout has been going on for three weeks. But Alex feels like she’s been living in the dark for a year, ever since her brother, who has autism, was removed from the house, something Alex blames herself for. So when her best friend, Anthony, asks her to trek to another town to figure out the truth about the blackout, Alex says yes.

On a journey that ultimately takes all day and night, Alex’s relationships with Anthony, her brother, and herself will transform in ways that change them all forever.

In this honest and gripping young adult novel, Andrew Simonet spins a propulsive tale about what it means to turn on the lights and look at what’s real.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

My thoughts:
Andrew Simonet’s story of a teenage girl who goes on a journey in the middle of a blackout has incredibly well-written characters and touches upon some very difficult issues such as living with and raising a disabled child, divorce, ableism and racism.

We find ourselves in the middle of a long blackout. I’s been twenty two days since the lights went out and there is a lot of uncertainty as to what caused it and more importantly how long it will last. Alex’s best (the only one who keptcomingtoherhouse and worrying about her after what happened with her brother) friend Anthony suggests walking ten miles to the nearest town to try to contact Anthony’s mother who is in the navy. After Child Protection Services removed Alex’s younger brother Georgie from their mother’s care and placed him with another family, Alex has been spending most of her time at home. Their little family seems to have fallen apart, permanently stuck in their own blackout, grieving the loss of their life with Georgie. Now Alex finally is ready to leave the house and face the journey which is going to bring many changes.

I loved the metaphor of the blackout and the surreal, dystopian feel it gave to the story-the darkness, the uncertainty, the way we people adapt and continue living. Alex’s brother Georgie is on the autism spectrum, so most of the book is about the effect of living with, taking care of, loving and cherishing a disabled child has on their family. Their love of each other is undeniable, even though the world doesn’t always get it.

Alex is such a powerful character. She is honest, considerate, caring, and, no, she hasn’t got it it all figured out. After all, she is a teenager and there’s still a lot to learn about the world and people in it and this includes her complex feelings towards Anthony. There are also some honest observations about racial discrimination.

The plot is centered around Alex’s journey, but, of course, it isn’t just the day orthe ten miles that we are talking about. It’s the moment of reflection and profound realization, of feeling what you are feeling and accepting it. I thought the pace was excellent, as it allowed the reader not only to follow what was happening, but also feel the changes in the characters’ perception of their life and their relationships.

A Night Twice as Long is a multi-layered, emotional, real book which kept my interest all way through. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Giselle from XpressoBook Tours, NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Author Bio:

Andrew Simonet is a choreographer and writer in Philadelphia. His first novel, Wilder, published in 2018. He co-directed Headlong Dance Theater for twenty years and founded Artists U, an incubator for helping artists make sustainable lives. He lives in West Philadelphia with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two sons, Jesse Tiger and Nico Wolf.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INT)

Print copy of A Night Twice as Long
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Thank you for reading the post! If you would like to see what other bloggers thought of the book, you can find the full blog tour schedule here.

May 31st
–Stuck in the Stacks >> Review
–Movies, Shows, & Books >> Excerpt
–Moonlight Rendezvous >> Review

June 1st
–Sadie’s Spotlight >> Excerpt
–June Reads Books >> Excerpt
–Rockin’ Book Reviews >> Guest Post

June 2nd
–What Polly Reads >> Review
–Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love >> Excerpt
–Books, Tea, Healthy Me >> Interview

June 3rd
–Lady Hawkeye >> Excerpt
–Buried Under Books >> Review
–Kait Plus Books >> Interview

June 4th
–Celia’s Reads >> Review
–Have Coffee Need Books >> Excerpt
–Reading Tonic >> Review
–The Avid Reader >> Review

#Book Blitz #Gulf of Deception #YA #Mystery @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
Gulf of Deception
by Kelly Ann Hopkins
(Gulf Shores Mysteries, #1)
Publication date: May 17th 2021
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult
Synopsis:

Beach life is killer, literally.

On the cusp of her high school graduation, Lily Harmony needs to figure out how to break it to her lawyer parents that she doesn’t want to follow in the family footsteps–especially with her band in high demand on the Fort Myers beach scene.

But when her father is killed inside his office and their mother accused of his murder, Lily and her estranged sister Annabelle are convinced the police have the wrong person. Clues are hard to come by until a mysterious man hands Lily a flash drive and warns her the information contained on it might get her killed. As Lily works to unravel what the files and pictures mean, a stunning discovery reveals the murderer might be closer than she thought.

With the help of her gamer BFF and maybe something more, Lily and her sister scour the Everglades for connections to her father’s killer. But what they find hidden in the canopy of cypress tress is more dangerous than they ever imagined—a long-lost secret worth millions—and worth killing for.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

AUTHOR BIO:

Kelly Ann Hopkins is the author of Misled (coming 2021) and Buried Beneath (coming 2022). She spends her days as a high school librarian and creative writing teacher, where she challenges her students to read with abandon. When she’s not creating perilous adventures for her characters, she is dreaming of her next trip to the Florida Gulf Coast. Kelly lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and too many books.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$25 Amazon gift card
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#Blog Tour #Book Review of Bad Blood (Gallowburn Series 2) by Heather Atkinson @rararesources @Boldwood Books

Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Bad Blood by Heather Atkinson, the second book in her Gallowburn series, set in Glasgow, Scotland.

Bad Blood

If you can’t trust your family, who can you trust…?

Glasgow gangster Jamie Gray and his fellow Blood Brothers rule the Gallowburn Estate with an iron fist. No one messes around on their turf without consequences.
But when Jamie’s erstwhile dad, Jason Gray, reappears after many years away – some of them spent behind bars – the Blood Brothers are drawn into the murky and dangerous world of the toughest gangster of them all – The Queen of Glasgow, Toni McVay.
Toni is the head of the most powerful organised crime family in Scotland and, as the psychotic leader enjoys scooping out the eyeballs of those who displease her, Jamie has no option but to do her bidding.

With the love of his life Allegra still missing, his enemies closing in, and his family’s safety at risk, Jamie Gray faces the battle of his life. But with his father’s bad blood running through his veins, and the bravery and brains he has inherited from his mother Jackie, Jamie has all the tools he needs to survive.

Purchase Link

My thoughts:

Last year I reviewed Blood Brothers, the first book in Heather Atkinson’s gritty gangland thriller series set in a fictional area of Glasgow called Gallowburn scheme. If you a fan of the genre and would like to read the series, it is better to start from the first book, where we first got introduced to the four friends,who call themselves Blood Brothers-Jamie, Logan, Gary, and Digger. I will try to keep my review as spoiler-free as possible.

Jamie Gray’s life has never been easy. His Dad Jason used to hit his wife Jackie and his son, until Jackie got pregnant with their second child, took a good stock of her life and decided to kick her good for nothing abusive husband. Jason disappeared from their lives for a good chunk of time, but nowhe is back and would like to make it up to Jamie (his youngest one Charlie has never met him) by…getting Jamie into a new illegal business. Jamie and his friends cleared Gallowburn from drug dealers to make it safer for the inhabitants, but too many powerful criminal families are looking at this area as theirs to take and this includes Toni McVay. Jamie is also about to give evidence in the trial of Cameron Abernathy, Allegra’s rich, creepy, and violent father. Allegra, Jamie’s feisty, outspoken girlfriend disappeared in Book 1, and it is feared that the fact that Allegra’s body has never been found will make it difficult to put Cameron in prison and so the justice will never be done.

The title of the book says it all-Jamie is afraid that since he is his father’s son, he might have inherited at least some of his father’s treacherous personality. The video of Jamie going berserk in the epic battle that ended the first book has gone viral and has even served a good purpose of warning Jamie’s enemies off Galowburn and its inhabitants. But what if at some point he himself turns against the people he loves? This is Jamie’s dilemma in this book. Luckily, his frinds point out that not only he is loyal and caring, he is also his mother’s son, and Jackie Gray has made sure that her sons know what is important in life and have their hearts in the right place.

If you like gangland thrillers, you know you can expect an action-packed plot (with a fair bit of grit and violence) and colourful characters. The book is as gripping as the first one and Heather Atkinson’s fans will be happy to read this new addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Author Bio:

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre. Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Her new gangland series for Boldwood, set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow began with Blood Brothers in December 2020.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksofheatheratkinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherAtkinso1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercrimeauthor/
Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/HeatherAtkinsonNewsletter
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-atkinson

Thank you for reading the post! Have a great Thursday!

#Book Review of The Ticklemore Trove by Liz Davies #Blog Blitz @rararesources

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog blitz for The Ticklemore Treasure Trove, the third instalment in Liz Davies’s Ticklemore series.

The Ticklemore Treasure Trove

Nell Chapman has always assumed that one (or the other) of her twin sons would help run her antique shop once they finished university. The boys, however, have other plans, when they announce they’re going backpacking for a year, leaving Nell feeling bereft and lonely.

Not only that, but with their father (her lying, cheating ex-husband) back on the scene and demanding half of the business, there might not be anything left for her boys to help manage when they return.
However, she hasn’t counted on the unexpected support of local landscape artist, Silas Long. And neither has she considered the possibility she might fall in love again – especially since Silas is so distant and moody, and has his own cross to bear.

Should Nell take a chance and risk her heart, or should she leave well alone? And why has Silas painted her portrait if he doesn’t feel anything for her?

A perfect romantic read for fans of Heidi Swain and Sarah Morgan

Purchase Link – http://mybook.to/TicklemoreTreasure

My thoughts:
It was so lovely to re-visit the village of Ticklemore with its familiar faces and find out more in the new story! The Ticklemore Treasure Trove is the third book in the series (if you are interested in what happened in the previous two books, you can check out my reviews of The Ticklemore Christmas Toy Shop and The Ticklemore Tattler). You can definitely read and enjoy this one as a standalone.

I really wanted to find out more about Nell Chapman and how she started her antique shop business from scratch after her husband cheated on her and left her for ayounger woman. Nell has a great eye for rare and beautiful things which are not always expensive, but often need a bit of TLC and the right kind of home. When her husband Riley sold their house, he took what he wanted and left the ‘useless knick knacks’ to his discarded wife and mother of his twin sons. Now Riley is back and is suddenly interested in how much profit the shop is making. He is somehow under an impression he is entitled to half of Nell’s business. This isn’t the only thing that is heavy onNell’s mind. Her twin boys have just graduated and instead of coming back home, they are heading abroad for a gap year.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was intrigued by the mystery and sadness surrounding Silas, Ticklemore’s painter and art gallery owner. Silas moved to the village five years ago and hasn’t shared much of his past. Even Hattie, the indomitable octogenarian waitress in Bookylicious bookshop/cafe, hasn’t been able to find out much. Once I got to know Silas’s secret, my heart immediately went to him. Liz Davies really knows how to tug at your heartstrings and make you love and sympathise with her likeable characters. It’s obvious that Nell and Silas are meant to have a second chance at love and happiness together, but do they know it themselves?

Once again, Liz Davies made me marvel at her ability to create well-rounded, memorable, and relatable characters. Her writing flows easily and the story pulls you in straightaway. I am a big fan of the Ticklemore community and absolutely loved Hettie’s new apprenticeship scheme. It was also great to see that Juliette, Nell’s best friend and the owner of the Ticklemore Tattler is happy and doing well.
I really enjoyed this new addition to Liz Davies’s heartwarming Ticklemore series and can’t wait to findout what happens in the next book! Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Author Bio

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love.
She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat – she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.
She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper can and travel the world in it.

Social Media Links

Website: https://lizdaviesauthor.wixsite.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizDaviesAuthor1
Twitter https://twitter.com/lizdaviesauthor