Book & Author Details: Falling for Another Darcy by Kate O’Keeffe (Love Manor, #3) Publication date: May 5th 2021 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Women’s Fiction
Synopsis:
Don’t miss this laugh-out-loud, heart-warming final instalment in the Love Manor romantic comedy series for fans of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, Sinéad Moriarty, and Bridget Jones’s Diary.
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage. Right?
That’s the way the song goes, anyway. For Emma Brady, marrying her Mr. Darcy was a road to happiness that is about to take a sharp turn to trouble. Creating a tiny Mr. Darcy isn’t exactly proving to be easy. Sure, being newly-weds mean they’re more than happy to give it a good shot, but as time ticks along, Emma and Sebastian’s efforts come to nothing.
It’s time to call in the big guns.
For Emma, that means mood swings, hot flashes, ovulation kits, and more needles than a haystack. Add that to an increasingly-disapproving granny, and Sebastian and Emma’s love is being put to the test in a way they never saw coming.
Will they get the family they so desperately want? And will their love survive? Or will Emma’s fairy tale ending with her Mr. Darcy slip between her fingers?
Visit kateokeeffe.com and sign up to her newsletter so you never miss out on new releases and great book deals again! Follow her on Bookbub to learn about deals on her books. Just cut and paste this link into your browser: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-o-keeffe
Kate O’Keeffe is a bestselling author of fun, feel-good romantic comedies. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand with her family, two scruffy dogs, and a cat who thinks he’s a scruffy dog too. He’s not: he’s a cat. When she’s not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it.
Visit kateokeeffe.com to sign up to her newsletter to keep up to date on new releases, great deals on books, and more.
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland.
Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow
Every family has its secrets, and at Hedgehog Hollow there is no exception…
It was always Samantha’s dream to run her beautiful rescue centre, Hedgehog Hollow, full-time. But just as her wish comes true, she becomes a victim of her own kindness when she finds herself with a house full of guests – all with their own problems and secrets – looking to her for support.
When her self-absorbed cousin, Chloe, unexpectedly turns up at the farm – swiftly handing over her baby to Samantha to care for – trouble is definitely brewing. Especially as Chloe won’t tell anyone why she’s left her husband, James…
As Samantha juggles new hedgehog arrivals, family dramas and her own health challenges, it soon becomes clear that she needs to start putting herself first for once. Little does she know that life-changing secrets from the past are about to unravel and turn their lives upside down…
Return to glorious Hedgehog Hollow with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for a heartwarming, emotional but uplifting story of family, friendship and moving on from the past.
If you like reading about complex family relationships, secrets and a fair bit of drama, animal rescue, love, friendship, and forgiveness, this wonderful, feel-good series is for you. I’d recommend reading the books in order (Family Secrets at Hedgehog Hollow is the third book), but if you want to start from this one, rest assured you won’t feel lost – Jessica provided a helpful re-cap of the previous events to bring you up to speed.
Sammie continues to dedicate herself to giving the best care possible to hedgehog rescues people keep bringing in. She is also quite busy helping Josh’s Dad and stepmum Beth and their young family who have been and are still going through a lot of health problems. On top of this, Sammie has to look after her cousin Chloe, who unexpectedly left her husband, and Chloe’s baby boy. Not many people would find it easy to forgive Chloe for what she did to Sammie in the first book and her stroppy attitude in the second book. Well, this book might help you understand issues Chloe has been dealing with a bit better. The book is told from two alternating POVs – Samantha’s and Chloe’s- and we get an insight into what why Chloe didn’t find early days of motherhood easy and why she is so prone to self-defeating thoughts and angry at the same time. Chloe goes through a lot of development in this book and I would love to see what happens to her and her family in future.
Sammie continues to be as lovely as she was in the previous books, although she is stronger now. It was a real pleasure to see other familiar faces and learn more about what has been going on in their lives. There were other revelations in the book that changed my attitude towards some of the characters and once again highlighted Sammie’s forgiving personality and willingness to give everybody a second chance.
I loved every minute spent with Sammie’s little charges and the little factfile (True/ false quiz and Dos and Don’t of Hedgehog Care) at the end of the book.
This was a lovely escape from reality and I must admit I was hoping for another cliffhanger at the end of the book, because it would mean we are getting the fourth book in this much loved, heartwarming series. The good news: it was there! Can’t wait to read the continuation!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley,Boldwood Books and Jessica Redland for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio:
Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Book & Author Details: Text Wars: May the Text be With You … by Melanie Summers, Whitney Dineen (An Accidentally in Love Story, #3) Publication date: May 4th 2021 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
May the text be with you…
Seraphina Lopez is not your typical airy-fairy astrology fanatic. First and foremost, she’s a businesswoman who happens to have a fascination with the stars. Her lifestyle app, “Live for Your Star Sign” is blowing up, and when she’s asked to be a guest on New York’s most watched Morning Show, she knows the exposure will launch her app into the stratosphere.
Astrophysicist Ben Williams just landed his dream job at NASA’s Goddard Institute, Not only is he heading a multi-disciplinary team in search of habitable exo-planets, he’s also been tapped to be the spokesman for the project. While he’d much rather be crunching the numbers to pinpoint the location of Earth II, he also has to sell the concept to the American public.
When Seraphina and Ben meet on the set of the Morning Show, sparks fly! Sera is there to show viewers how to dress for their star sign. Ben is there in the name of science. Their explosive chemistry sets records for the network’s viewing audience. As such they’re asked to host a regular segment–together.
Ben and Sera hate each other so much, they resort to texting instead of talking when they’re off air (and sometimes on). Yet somewhere in the haze of dislike, they start to realize they have more in common than they thought possible. Is love written in the stars or will it burn up on impact?
Find out in the Text Wars, the third installment of the deliciously funny and romantic Accidentally in Love Series.
AUTHOR BIO:Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.
Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.
In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally – then she’ll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for ‘K’ Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn’t require makeup and/or nylons).
Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she’s not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken ‘from above’. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something–more like just staying until they turn the lights off.
She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International
Book & Author Details: Trip the Light Fantastic by Nicole Bea Publication date: May 4th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Nothing heals a broken heart like an enticing new dance partner.
Eighteen-year-old freshman Chelsea DesRosiers is ready to reinvent herself. After an abysmal breakup with her cheating ex, Chelsea vows to step out of her comfort zone.
The answer? Swing dance classes. Maybe not the best idea for someone with two left feet, but the overwhelmed Chelsea soon finds herself in the arms of swoon-worthy campus dance president, Lux Colford. The attraction rises as the two spend their extra evenings practicing their moves until an old flame of Lux’s shows up.
Can Chelsea risk her heart again? Will Lux prove worthy of her trust, or will finding her inner strength mean walking away?
NICOLE BEA is a short story author and novelist who primarily focuses on contemporary teen fiction. An avid storyteller since childhood, she has honed her skills through a variety of educational programs including management, sociology, legal studies, and cultural diversity in the workplace, most recently engaging in coursework about communication for technologists. In addition to writing for young adults, Nicole is also a technical writer for a global manufacturer of CPAP masks, machines, and other products that manage sleep-disordered breathing.
When she isn’t busy updating her manuscript portfolio or catching up on her To Be Read pile, Nicole can usually be found gardening, horseback riding, or pursuing her new hobby of learning to cook. She and her husband share their home in Eastern Canada with a collection of multi-colored cats and a lifetime’s worth of books. Author links:
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Competing with the Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager. Today I’m delighted to present an extract from the book.
Competing with the Star
The perfect guy, the perfect location. What could go wrong? Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect. Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams. She and Nick form a deep bond, but insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend—who just happens to be the beautiful teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson. Nick claims to be over Simone, but then Hadley is blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school. Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs TV drama when you’re busy competing with a star?
In this scene, Hadley is dealing with dating a guy who had a beautiful and popular ex-girlfriend that Hadley finds herself comparing herself to. Hadley thinks about how her favorite celebrity, Valeria Joseph, has to deal with that and wonders how Valeria handles it. It shows how a lot of people struggle with the dating past of the people they go out with.
The next morning, I woke up and grabbed my phone to see if I had any messages. There was only one from Asia asking if I was okay and wishing me luck on my date today. Yeah, assuming he didn’t cancel last minute because a make out session with his ex sounded more exciting than hanging out with boring little me at the nursing home. I went downstairs and my mom was making waffles with Aunt Faith.
“Blueberry or buttermilk?” Mom asked.
“Buttermilk. Thanks,” I said, pouring myself a glass of juice. “Ew, you didn’t strain this? It’s so thick I could chew it. Gross.”
Mom laughed. “I thought you’d be on cloud nine today what with your date and all.”
“Yeah, I’m excited.”
Aunt Faith looked at me and tilted her head. “Everything okay?”
I shrugged. “Do we have that berry syrup?”
Mom went into the pantry to check and Aunt Faith leaned forward. “What’s up?”
“Nick’s ex was at the movies with us and she kind of implied they used to be a bit…physical.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “She told you that?”
“She said something like that in front of me.”
“Did he hear?”
“She was saying it to him.”
Aunt Faith cleared her throat. “How did he react?”
I told her he poured half a pitcher of soda into my lap. She burst out laughing and then covered her mouth with her hand embarrassed.
“I fail to see the humor myself,” I said rolling my eyes as she winced and patted my hand.
“What’s so funny?” Mom asked, walking up with the syrup.
“Nothing,” Aunt Faith said. “Hadley just told me a funny story.”
“Yeah, hilarious.”
I ate quickly and then went upstairs to get ready. My excited, fluttering feeling over the idea of a sweet date with Nick was gone. Instead, I had this anxious, sick feeling over
the Reagan thing. It sucked to have to deal with some guy’s past when I didn’t have one myself. How did famous people do it? My favorite actress, Valeria Joseph, dated celebrity guys
and not only did she know about their exes, but she could just go online and find tons of pics of her boyfriends with their exes. Plus, she’d run into the girls on sets and stuff. How did
she handle it? It was bad enough for me having to go to school with Reagan. However, no one was there watching my facial expressions to see if I looked upset when she was around and taking pictures. Not so for Valeria—there were tons of gossip blogs that would say stuff like, “Valeria Joseph throwing shade at Laura Hewson.” So annoying.
I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked so much younger than Reagan. Did Nick have any idea he was the only guy I had ever kissed?
I heard my phone getting a text and saw Nick was on his way over to pick me up. I unplugged my curling iron, mad I got so caught up with my anxiety that I didn’t get to fix my
hair. Although it wasn’t as if doing my hair was going to suddenly make me look more sophisticated. I put on some lip gloss and mascara and went downstairs to wait for him. I
didn’t want him to have to deal with my parents, so I walked outside when I saw him pull up and got into the car.
Author Bio
Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. Her work includes YA contemporary, middle grade fiction, and adult and young adult rom-coms. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, and Competing with the Star, Dating the It Guy, Can Dreams Come True, and In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety.
Krysten’s work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times, Springfield News-Sun, Grand Blanc View, Dayton Daily News and on the talk show Living Dayton. She received her BA in English and master’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Michigan-Flint.
Thank you to Krysten Lindsay Hager for providing an extract from Competing with the Star!
Hope you enjoyed reading it and are ready to pick the book. If you wouldlike ro read more extracts, Q and As, or other bloggers’ reviews of the book, here is the full blog tour schedule:
Book & Author Details: Adult Supervision Required Sarah Peis Publication date: May 6th 2021 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
Nora Lindberg doesn’t let life get her down. Disowned by her family and left by the man who was supposed to love her for the rest of their lives, she packs up her kids and goes in search of a second chance.
The small town she lands in was supposed to be her fresh start, her chance at a better life. But instead, she’s a broke single mom who spends her nights looking for the chocolate she hid from her kids.
When her ex lands on the local Motorcycle club’s most wanted list and leads them straight to her door, her life is once again turned upside down.
But maybe a broody hot guy on a motorcycle is just the thing she never asked for but got anyway.
Now the only question is: Will he be her savior or her downfall?
Supporter of all things written, defender of the e-book revolution and master of the take out order – I’m not afraid to say I can’t cook, go a week without breaking something, read labels correctly or park cars in a straight line.
I love the written word in all forms and shapes and if I’m not glued to a book I’m attempting to write one. I’m a frequent blonde moment sufferer and still trying to figure out how to adult. I live in Melbourne, Australia, with my two little humans, the holder of my heart and two furry demons. I love to hear from readers so feel free to get in touch.
Today I’m delighted to participate in the blog tour for Second Chance at First Love and host a guest post from Zoe Allison, the author of this contemporary romance. How many times have you said ‘If only I had more time…’ or ‘I’d love to do this, but where can I find the time?’ Here is Zoe’s answer to these common frustrations:
How do you find the time?
In real life I’m a doctor, a wife, and a mother of two young children. When I finally came out as a writer to my friends and family the question that I was asked most frequently was ‘how do you find the time?’ I still get asked this question often, by the same friends and family, and now also from people in the writing/book communities whenever they discover that I’m a doctor and a mother, as well as a writer.
My real answer to this question is the same as when people used to ask it when I began running several years ago in order to improve my wellbeing, and managed to get much fitter as a result. My female friends would notice a different in my physical form and ask me how I found the time, and I would tell them that I made the time. This is how I now approach building in time to write.
The first issue is carving out a protected section of time that is yours to do whatever it is you need to do. I use the word ‘need’ deliberately, here. We all need a little bit of space that is for us alone, to partake in whatever past time or hobby brings us joy. This is immensely important for self-care and something I see neglected particularly in women, and especially in those who have families. The weight of their other responsibilities can weigh heavily on their minds and they don’t feel able to take any time for themselves. As a result, their sense of self is gradually eroded away, leading to mental health struggles.
The second issue is that after deciding when this unit of time is going to be (and that’s different for everyone) you have to take that time, rather than asking permission to use it for this purpose. You make the decision and then distance yourself from your guilt. This is both internalised guilt and also the guilt that society bestows upon women whenever we try to achieve something that is just for us and not for someone else’s benefit. You do not need to feel guilty about this, everybody has to nurture their sense of self, and the activities that you feel you ‘should’ be doing instead can wait until your allocated period is up. Or, if somebody else can shoulder a little bit of the burden and perform those other activities for you during that duration, or at another moment, then so much the better.
So, that’s all there is to it for me:
Identify the time;
Claim the time;
Absolve the guilt.
Though it is easier said than done—in psychological terms—because I would say that internalised guilt is the main barrier to overcome. However once you do, your wellbeing and that of those around you is enriched as a result. Plus, after the year we’ve all had, I think this issue is now more important than ever.
Second Chance at First Love
Eva Mathers is a successful woman, except for when it comes to matters of the heart. When she returns home to Yorkshire as a pending divorcee, she realises her childhood friend and first love Damon Evans is also newly single. It’s a pity he’s never noticed her romantically and had no idea that she was in love with him at school. But at least they can support each other as friends again. Damon is attempting to adjust to life sharing the kids with his ex. His reconnection with Eva is strong, but she was always too good for him and made her indifference clear after they drifted apart during their younger years. In any case, she still seems to be hung up on her charismatic ex-husband. Eva is hiding things from Damon, secrets from her past. He wants to be there for her, so why can’t she let him in? Eva is dealing with trauma, but she won’t confide in her loved ones. Can Damon help her break down her walls before it’s too late and they miss their second chance at first love?
Zoe lives in Scotland with her husband and two children. A medic by day, she started writing in her spare time as a means to counter burn out and found that this was a balm for the soul.
She is a fan of the romantic genre and its ‘happy ever after’ ethos. A sharp contrast to what she can, at times, see in her day job. Zoe is keen for the female lead in romantic fiction to disabuse stereotypes and walk on an equal footing with her male counterparts. She prefers male leads who do not display signs of toxic masculinity and believes that positive masculinity is much more attractive to women and healthier for men.
Book details: The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He Published by: Roaring Brook Press Publication date: May 4th 2021 Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Perfect for fans of Rick Yancey and Marie Lu, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a sci-fi fantasy with mind-blowing twists, ready to burst onto the YA scene, from the critically-acclaimed Descendant of the Crane author, Joan He.
Cee awoke on an abandoned island three years ago. With no idea of how she was marooned, she only has a rickety house, an old android, and a single memory: she has a sister, and Cee needs to find her.
STEM prodigy Kasey wants escape from the science and home she once trusted. The Metropolis—Earth’s last unpolluted place—is meant to be sanctuary for those commited to planetary protection, but it’s populated by people willing to do anything for refuge, even lie. Now, she’ll have to decide if she’s ready to use science to help humanity, even though it failed the people who mattered most.
Joan was born and raised in Philadelphia but still will, on occasion, lose her way. At a young age, she received classical instruction in oil painting before discovering that stories were her favorite kind of art. She studied psychology and Chinese history at the University of Pennsylvania and currently writes from a desk overlooking the city waterfront. Descendant of the Crane is her young adult debut.
For updates, please sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c5rvdL. For business related inquiries, please contact her literary agent, John Cusick of Folio Lit.
Science-fiction is one of my favourite genres and when the writing is as good as Joan He’s, it invokes deep and powerful emotions and makes you think about the world created in the book for days and days afterwards. The Ones We’re meant to Find has numerous twists and, while I am dying to tell you how brilliant the plot is, I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Straight from the beginning we are thrown into a mystery. We meet Cee who is stranded on an island, lost her colour vision and most of her memories, and is desperately trying to find her sister Kay. Then the story switches to Kasey and her life in this futuristic dystopian world and we get a new set of elements that might seem confusing at the beginning (there are also multiple timelines), but it will all come together into a mesmerising overall picture.
Joan He’s use of different forms of narrative (first person for Celia, third for her sister Kasey) was absolutely brilliant. The characters are so well-differentiated and unique and you are compelled to read on to understand their personalities and their motivations. Both sisters are flawed in their own ways and you might relate more to one or the other, or more likely than not, you will relate to both of them at different points. The strength of the bond between them and their love for each other is undeniable and will break your heart.
Whatever expectations you have, the book is going to surprise you. I loved the steady pace and this feeling of being on the verge of figuring it all out. Of course, then you get another piece of the puzzle which shifts your perspective on this world, the characters, and the story.
It is one of the most engaging and emotional stories I’ve read this year. Everything in it including the futuristic world with its environmental disasters that is paying consequences for our actions in the present, the complexity of characters, the intensity of emotions,the plot- all of it was so well-written that the book left me with a bookish hangover. I really can’t recommend it high enough. This book is so much more than just a gorgeous cover….
Can’t wait to read what Joan He writes next!
Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley and Roaring Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Book details: The Wise One by K.T. Anglehart (The Scottish Scrolls, #1) Publication date: October 28th 2020 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Mckenna’s never thought much of her nightmares, but on her seventeenth birthday, a vivid dream of burning at the stake awakens her dormant abilities, thrusting her into a world where faeries are real, spirits hold a grudge, and a High Priestess obsessed with a 16th-century prophecy is tracking her every move.
Now, her overprotective dads, Seán and Andre, are forced to tell her the truth—they know who her birth mother is, and her life is not the surrogate story she’s always been told. Abigail, Mckenna’s mom, is some sort of mystic, and Mckenna a Wise One.
Whatever the hell that means.
With the help of a persistent little wren and company of a newfound friend, Mckenna journeys to Ireland in search of her mother and real answers. Along the way, she learns to harness her innate magic and trust her intuition, as best she can anyway—Cillian, a kind and passionate delegate who crosses her path, is proving much harder to read.
Only her mother could truly help her halt her ill fate and prepare her for what’s to come . . . before she gives in to the darkness she knows is buried deep within.
The Wise One was a very quick and entertaining read with its mix of Celtic folklore, new age, witch-hunting history and urban fantasy elements. It follows the story of a seventeen year old American girl McKenna McDwyer who discovers that her origins and her true nature are shrouded in secrets and she may have special powers. McKenna goes on a quest to find her birth mother and gradually build up the knowledge of what she herself is capable of.
There were so many things I liked about the book. First of all, the writing style was extremely engaging. I felt transported into McKenna’s world and felt her confusion and her desire to solve the mystery of her mother’s whereabouts. Then the setting, of course-at some point McKenna and her friend Nissa reach Ireland and we see this wonderful country through their eyes. The characters- there’s nothing more relatable to a teenager than the desire to find the place where you belong or the people you belong with. There is also the gradual discovery of what makes you special, makesyou stand out.
There were a few things that didn’t particularly work for me. The story is set in 1991, so the author takes pains to let the reader know what the political situation was at that time, but McKenna expressing her hastily-formed opinion seemed detached from the story. What I was more interested in was the environmental angle which could have been developed more. Another thing I wasn’t particularly sure about was McKenna and Nissa’s insta-friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed this first part of what promises to be an interesting series and I can’t wait to read the next book!
Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
AUTHOR BIO:Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is a born and bred Italian-Canadian from Montreal. A devoted academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting; and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. After dabbling in TV writing and working as a digital marketing content manager, she left the nine to five to launch her freelance editing and coaching career. Today, she relishes in helping aspiring authors to develop and refine their stories.
Besides English, Katrina speaks French, Italian, and Spanglish. When she’s not writing, diving into magical reads, or Netflixing, she’s travelling with her favourite human–her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy–and obsessing over her pet bunny, Magic, and newly rescued pup, Nessie. Katrina currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Thank you to Rachel from rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Death of a Texan, a cozy mystery set in Costa Rica. This is the second book in the series following The Bellhop Only Stalks Once, published in August 2020.
Death of a Texan
A grieving widow. A sketchy admirer. An adoring boyfriend. But one of them is up to no good.
Chloe’s new life in Costa Rica seems perfect: her relationship with Mateo is heating up, and her career as a private investigator is off to a good start. She only wishes that her cases were more interesting than the lost dogs or cheating husbands she’s been hired for so far… She gets her wish when a dead body lands, almost literally, at her feet. Hired by the highly strung Elena Vargas to follow her husband, Victor, Chloe discovers that not only was he cheating on his wife – he’s been murdered.
As Chloe delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Victor’s death, she uncovers secret after secret. The danger becomes all too real when she narrows in on the killer’s identity. Someone is following her everywhere, and threatening notes arrive on her doorstep.
As if that’s not bad enough, her relationship with Mateo begins to unravel, and his coworker, Jaime, seems intent on convincing her that Mateo is a cheater.
Desperately trying to figure out what’s going on, Chloe becomes more and more enmeshed in a sordid world of lies, sex, and murder.
Who can Chloe really trust? And can she catch the killer before she becomes the next victim?
Death of a Texan is the second book in a series of dark and quirky cozy mysteries featuring Chloe, an American girl from Baltimore who settled down in Costa Rica and opened a PI agency. I could follow the story, as the author mentions Chloe’s previous big case quite a lot. Still I think it is better to start from the beginning of the series in order to appreciate the development of significant relationships in Chloe’s life.
Life of a PI isn’t all glamour. As Chloe finds out it involves lots of trivial cases, including tracing kidnapped chickens and checking out on erring husbands. On the other hand, these tend to be far less dangerous, if not slightly boring. That is until Chloe tries to get evidence of her client’s husband’s cheatingand finds his dead body instead. Chloe feels she owes her client Elena at least some kind of closure and enthusiastically continues her investigation which has turned into a murder case. Her loyal team Juan and Patty and her boyfriend Mateo are considerably less enthusiatic, as they feel Chloe might be getting into something which should be dealt by the police. It quickly becomes apparent that Victor Vargas’s widow Elena is hiding some secrets of her own. There are also rumours of a serial killer on the loose and young women disappearing across several countries. The case keeps getting bigger and bigger. Can our fairly inexperienced PI handle it?
The lead character Chloe is obviously going through a lot of soul-searching. Free-spirited and independent, she is still getting over her previous realationship with an overbearing and controlling ex. This means that she is mistrustful of anyone who tries to protect her, as she sees it as lack of confidence in her abilities. On top of that she is missing her best friend who obviously complimented Chloe’s character in many ways. I don’t want to give the story away, in case you want to start from Book 1.
The writing was quite entertaining with a bit of quirky humour, perfect for a cozy mystery. I liked the location, although I can’t say how faithful the place descriptions are, but it was interesting to see have an expat/protagonist, who has to rely on other people’s useful contacts to get information. It was also very easy to follow the plot, despite some fairly unusual (ok, downright outlandish, to be honest) characters.
Overall, it was an entertaining mystery with good pace and a lovely, somewhat stubborn protagonist, who is trying to work out what she wants and needs from various relationships in her life. I would like to read the next book in the series and see where Chloe ends up.
Thank you to Rachel and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio
Cat Hickey has a Master’s degree in Biology, and teaches Anatomy and Physiology at a university in Baltimore, MD, USA. She writes light-hearted mysteries and thrillers that are based, partly, on her extensive travels around the world. She is also an avid yogi who teaches aerial yoga and practices aerial circus arts, and spends the rest of her time with her three rescue animals, which consist of three cats and a horse.
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