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#Book Review #When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting #Contemporary Romance @St.Martin’s Griffin

Synopsis:

But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.

Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
ISBN 9781250624703, 1250624703

My thoughts:

Friends/Best friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, but I do appreciate it isn’t easy to do it well. You have to show the emotional connection and the development of the relationship. Helena Hunting does a great job of doing this as well as creating likeable characters and an entertaining storyline.

Avery Spark lost her parents in a car accident when she and her sisters London and Harley were teenagers. Now all three of them run Spark House (a hotel/an events centre) together. They have a very close relationship and complement each other. Avery enjoys organising events and dealing with customer relations and tries to expand the business by bringing in new contracts. She is on her way to a business meeting at her former university when she gets into a bad car accident. Her best friend/roommate Declan was supposed to be with her driving his SUV to the meeting (Avery’s car wasn’t suitable for the weather conditions), but he really messed up. Feeling guilty for what happened and eager to earn Avery’s forgiveness, he promises to take care of Avery and all her needs.

There is a good reason why these two are best friends-they really understand each other and care. There are also very good reasons why neither of them has had a serious romantic relationship for a long time. Avery had her heart broken by Declan’s friend and is happier spending her time at work or doing sports rather than dating, and Declan… Declan has a lot of emotional baggage. If you like the trope of close proximity, you can guess that sparks will fly (and bring in lots of heat- this is a Helena Hunting book, expect lots of steam), but will Avery and Declan find it easy to navigate the new dynamics of their relationship? The book is told from two alternating perspectives -Avery’s and Declan’s, so we get a pretty good insight into their feelings. This kind of narrative also helps with the pace of the story esp. since the romance itself is slow-burn.

I really liked Avery and her sisters. It was interesting to read about the way they ran the business together dividing roles according to their strengths and how they all had to pull their weight to make sure the company stayed successful. They had very different personalities, but it was obvious that they cared for each other. Avery also has a very supportive group of friends. There is clearly a potential for a series-hooray! I love a good catch-up to see what happens after the HEA.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters. If you are a fan of Helena Hunting’s writing style, you know her books are very easy to read and have an addictive quality. Looking forward to reading London’s and Harley’s stories!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author HELENA HUNTING lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. She writes all things romance — contemporary, romantic comedy, sports and angsty new adult. Helena loves to bake cupcakes, has been known to listen to a song on repeat 1512 times while writing a book, and if she has to be away from her family, prefers to be in warm weather with her friends.

It’s Monday! What are you reading? September 20th, 2021

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week

Last week I went for ‘lighter’ reads-2 paranormal cozies set in London and a contemporary romance:

Hexing the Ex (House of Magic#1) and Saved by the Spell (House of Magic#2) by Susanna Shore

I didn’t expect to be evicted the first thing I returned from my holiday, but thanks to my roommate Nick, that’s what I was facing.

It’s not exactly easy to find a new place to live in London, so when Phoebe Thorpe spots a room-to-let sign at the window of a magic shop, she doesn’t hesitate. The room is perfect, even if chores are part of the rent. There is only one thing odd about her new landladies. They seem to believe magic exists.

Phoebe doesn’t believe in magic, but unfortunately magic believes in her. A mysterious statuette is sent to her boss, Archibald Kane, and she accidentally triggers a curse meant for him. Naturally, the first person she curses is her ex-boyfriend. But why would anyone want to curse her boss, a perfectly ordinary antiques dealer? Or is he?

Phoebe sets out to break the curse with the help of her new housemates. But it isn’t easy trying to solve a mystery she doesn’t even believe is real. Then again, that hellhound chasing her seemed pretty solid… Maybe there’s more to magic than hexing one’s ex.

This is the first book in House of Magic, a new series by Susanna Shore blending mystery and magic, with a resourceful heroine and plenty of action.

Magic and I hadn’t exactly had a good start, but thanks to a spell that made me repulsive to men, I was seriously considering becoming a witch hunter.

A chance encounter with a charming stranger makes Phoebe dream of a happily-ever-after, until she learns that there’s a spell on her that makes her repulsive to men. Luckily her boss, Archibald Kane, and her new landladies are experts on magic. Only this one seems to confound them all.

Who has spelled her and why? Is it a challenge on Kane’s leadership of the mages? Or is there a more sinister game afoot?

Phoebe doesn’t mind the space men give her in the tube, but her cousin’s engagement party is coming up. How is she to celebrate, if she makes half the guests nauseous? And how is she to charm the man of her dreams when she suspects he’s part of the problem?

It might take the Archmage to break the spell—if only they could find him. A spell may be needed to save them both.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting

Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy.

But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.

Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.

What I am reading/listening to now:

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

Catriona Ward’s The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House.

In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three.

A teenage girl who isn’t allowed outside, not after last time.
A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory.
And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible.

An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all.

What I’m reading /listening to next:

Don’t Look Now by Mary Burton

A homicide detective in the dark. A serial killer on the loose. Both have their obsessions in a nerve-twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.

Austin homicide detective Jordan Poe is hunting a serial killer she fears is the same man who assaulted her sister, Avery, two years ago. The details line up: the victims are the same age, same type, dead by the same grim MO. Luckily Avery survived. But the terrible memories linger, making Jordan more determined than ever to stop this monster in his tracks.

Texas Ranger Carter Spencer isn’t one to poach on a detective’s territory. Yet no matter how resentful a capable lone wolf like Jordan is, when she is attacked at a third crime scene and suffers a trauma that leaves her with limited vision, it’s up to Carter to help Jordan navigate a world she no longer recognizes. He needs her instinct, her experience, and her fearless resolve to crack this case. A case that’s about to get even darker.

A stranger is watching. He’s closing in on his ultimate prey. And no one but the killer can see what’s coming.

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

#Book Review of Under The Whispering Door by T.J.Klune @Tor Books

A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in this delightful new queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Welcome to Charon’s Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: September 21, 2021

ISBN 9781250217349, 1250217342

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My thoughts:

Heartwarming…this word has become a commonplace in commercial fiction reviews, but never have I felt this description has been more accurate than in talking about Under the Whispering Door. If you loved The House at the Cerulean Sea and are worried it isn’t going to live up to your high expectations, rest assured T.J.Klune’s trademark writing style is as beautiful as ever. If this is your first book by this amazing author, welcome to his world of quirky characters, original storylines, tender moments, drama and optimism.

This time T.J.Klune tackles the topic that rarely gets discussed, although it is the only certainty in our lives- we are all born and we all die, and sooner or later we all have to face this inevitaility and come to terms with it. The protagonist of the book Wallace Price may have a bit of a problem accepting the fact that he died of a heart attack in his office at the ripe age of forty. His funeral is a sad, but eye-opening affair with only four colleagues and a bitter ex-wife in attendance. Then, a Reaper appears and takes him to a waystation between Life and Death, a quaint tea-shop run by the Ferryman Hugo, the Reaper Mei, Hugo’s dead grandfather and Hugo’s dog. The purpose is to make sure Wallace has enough time (and courage) to get ready to move on to the next stage, and he is the only one who decides when he is. This is a beautiful story of second chances in the most hopeless situation, and Wallace does get his chance to change from a heartless corporate lawyer who doesn’t take no for an answer into a much better person.

When Yesha (check out her review of the book ) and I started our buddy read we both expected the story to be more solemn. Not that there aren’t any poignant or even heart-breaking moments- T.J.Klune doesn’t shy away from more difficult aspects- violent death, death of a child from a terminal disease, death by suicide…Yet, there is also kindness and humour and lots of tea…The tea chosen by Hugo is unique for every person who comes to the Charon’s Crossing Tea shop, a great reminder that like everybody’s life and what we make of it is different, everyone’s death is different too.

The supporting characters are absolutely wonderful. Hugo, the Ferryman, is the embodiment of empathy and love. He carries the weight of his mistakes on his shoulders, because in a way he is the last frontier of humanity in this setting. His mistakes are all about finding a delicate balance of showing you love and care, and letting the other person exercise their free will, trusting them to do what is the best. The Reaper Mei, the one with the best hugs in the world, knows too well what it’s like not to be accepted because you’re different. Nelson, apart from being deliciously mischievious, throws light on the issue of being there for the person when and until they need you and then letting go when they truly get on their feet. All of the characters in the book help each other to correct their mistakes,to heal, to become stronger, to find love and peace of mind.

This is a love story in a way, although romance is of a slow-burn kind- where there is life, there is love, and this is T.J.Klune’s unique point of view on afterlife. The romance gradually, slowly develops, and it’s impossible not to wish well to this adorable couple.

The Manager and the ending have surprised me…I thought I knew where the story was going and then there was a twist (should have expected given what we were told about Wallace’s character) and things have taken a new, hopeful turn.

I loved this beautiful and unpredictable book ….If you are looking for something heartfelt, original, philosophical at times, humorous at other times, Under the Whispering Door is a book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.

Book Blitz #Monster Hunter for Hire: Super Beast (Monster Hunter for Hire #1) by L. West @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
Monster Hunter for Hire: Super Beast(Monster Hunter for Hire #1)
by L. West
Publication date: September 18th 2021
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
After a run-in with the Sebring Beach police department where a vampire’s servant ended up dead, Helena Graves is offered two choices – help the local PD chase down wanted monsters or spend the next ten years in prison.
Since she has a teenage daughter to raise, it was an easy decision for her to make.
Between running a somewhat controversial business, tense teacher conferences, and killer supernaturals on the loose, there’s never a dull moment in Sebring Beach or Helena’s life.

And for the first time in decades, her love life is about to get very interesting.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

L. West is the pseudonym of husband and wife writing duo, Lane Hart and D.B. West.

They’re excited to invite you into their supernatural world in the new Monster Hunter for Hire series!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

Grab the first story of this series,
Monster Hunter for Hire: Filthy Creatures,
for FREE!

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)-ends September 23rd

$50 Amazon gift card

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#Book Blitz #Beneath the Destiny Stone by Sarah Charles #Time-Travel @XpressoBookTours

Book & Author Details:
Beneath the Destiny Stone
by Sarah Charles
Publication date: September 6th 2021
Genres: Adult, Time-Travel
Synopsis:

A medieval Scottish blacksmith and a millennial from Detroit walk into a bar…

By the age of six, Fiona could sink a bank shot.
By eight she could mix a perfect Manhattan.
By twenty-two, she had a business degree and a concrete plan to save her grandfather’s failing bar.

Then she was pushed through a time-portal.

Now Fiona is stuck in fourteenth-century Scotland with no way home. There’s a good chance time-soldiers are after her. And Henry, the guy she’s shacked up with, is a grumpy son-of-a-bitch who doesn’t get her at all.

He is hot, though.
And brave.
And most definitely the love of her life.

If the two of them can stop bickering long enough, Fiona just might be able to have it all—the tavern of her dreams and the first man who can actually keep up with her. That is, if they can survive the battles, murder, and mayhem of the Middle Ages and the time-soldiers who have a hand in it all.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

**10% of books sale profits and 100% book merchandise profits go to The Three Penny Project, Sarah’s charity working to plant food-bearing, perennial plants throughout Toledo!

AUTHOR BIO:

Sarah Charles is the author of Beneath the Destiny Stone, a book she wrote to keep from going insane while recovering from a spinal injury. (It mostly worked). A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, Sarah graduated suma cum laude with degrees in Psychology and German. Since then, she’s worked in the mental health field, owned a custom cake business, and given birth to three future super villains. She currently spends her days writing and working to bring food forests to Toledo through her charity The Three Penny Project. In her rare moments of free-time, Sarah dabbles in all things craftsy. She particularly enjoys wood-burning, rehabilitating old furniture, gardening, baking, and playing with clay.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$25 Amazon gift card + ebook copy of Beneath the Destiny Stone
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#Book Blitz #In the Absence of Light by Adrienne Wilder (Morgan & Grant, #1) @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
In the Absence of Light
by Adrienne Wilder
(Morgan & Grant, #1)
Publication date: December 15th 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Synopsis:

For years Grant Kessler has smuggled goods from one end of the world to the next. When business turns in a direction Grant isn’t willing to follow he decides to retire and by all appearances he settles down in a nowhere town called Durstrand. But his real plan is to wait a few years and let the FBI lose interest, then move on to the distant coastal life he’s always dreamed of.

Severely autistic, Morgan cannot look people in the eye, tell left from right, and has uncontrolled tics. Yet he’s beaten every obstacle life has thrown his way. And when Grant Kessler moves into town Morgan isn’t a bit shy in letting the man know how much he wants him.

While the attraction is mutual, Grant pushes Morgan away. Like the rest of the world he can’t see past Morgan’s odd behaviors

Then Morgan shows Grant how light lets you see but it also leaves you blind. And once Grant opens his eyes, he loses his heart to the beautiful enigma of a man who changes the course of his life.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Adrienne Wilder (trans-man) is an author of gay contemporary and speculative fiction and artist of all things monster. Several of his books have been best sellers both nationally and internationally.

He writes original stories with powerful characters and emotions as well as a fast-paced plot.
While his books have a romantic element, they are not traditional romance. And the stories he paints are done outside the lines of traditional genres.

If you’re looking for something different, exciting, and unique, his books are for you.
Check out Adrienne’s website for updates and how to contact him.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram / Blog / Newsletter / Amazon / Patreon

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

2 copies of In the Absence of Light

$20 amazon gift card

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#Book Review #Love Life by Nancy Peach @HarperCollins UK @One More Chapter

Synopsis:

An uplifting and feel-good read perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Beth O’Leary!
‘A heart-warming, life-affirming gem . . . full of wry humour’ Pernille Hughes

Palliative care doctor, Tess Carter, is no starry-eyed heroine. After all, if your dad left without a backward glance and you found your last boyfriend in bed with another guy, you wouldn’t believe in romance either. And the voices in Tess’s head – you know, the ones that tell you you’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not clever enough – well, these voices are very loud. Very loud indeed. Especially when the disagreeable son of one of her patients starts challenging her every decision.

Edward Russell might have a big job and a posh voice, but Tess is determined not to let him get to her, especially if she can get her inner monologue to stop with the endless self-sabotage. And Edward, it turns out, may be less of a prat than he first appears…

In the real world, where gentlemanlike manners and out-of-the-blue declarations of love are a story-book fantasy, it’s up to Tess to decide whose voice to listen to … and how to make her own heard.

TW: Cancer, death of a loved one, detailed scenes during hospice care

My thoughts:
One of those books that is very difficult to classify in terms of its genre.

Romance?the title would make you think so, but there’s so much more going on in the book. Rom-com? If you’ve read the blurb and the list of Trigger Warnings, you know Tess is doing her Palliative Care placement in a hospice, and this is probably the last place where you would expect a romcom to be set.

Women’s fiction? the protagonist of the book Dr Tess Carter is still finishing her medical training before she can start working as a GP, so she has less life experience than what we usually expect from the main characters in women’s fiction.

Chick-lit? there are some features… Tess is suffering from self-esteem issues following her boyfriend’s betrayal. She also needs to silence her inner saboteur, an imaginary daytime TV presenter, who takes a great pleasure in attacking every step Tess makes. On the bright side, Tess is constantly defended by another imaginary figure-Miss Jane Austen herself!
Tess has a wonderful best friend/flatmate Kath, a chubby ginger cat Morris, a very supportive mum and brother, and a job she loves. She just needs to figure out what to do with her love interest Edward who vanished from her life five years ago and now suddenly re-appeared – this time as an angry, mistrustful son of one of her patients.

I decided to leave aside all of my expectations and genre stereotypes and just went with the flow of the story. It turned out to be a very engaging book which touches on a variety of real-life topics ranging from absent fathers, eating disorders, double standards in raising boys and girls to general avoidance of talking about death, the only certainty in our lives. I was surprised how many of them hit close to home!
What I liked the most about this book were the more serious parts- Tess’s work with her patients, Dr Fielding’s talk with Tess’s patient and her family, the general atmosphere of calm, support and mutual respect. Favourite supporting character? Mary Russell, Tess’s patient and Edward’s mother.

I also liked seeing Tess grow into herself. If you find the TV host’s voice unbearably irritating, you will appreciate how he gradually fades out as the book progresses. I didn’t like some of the things Tess did- I can understand her feelings, though, and her desire to re-affirm life. I think it was important to raise the thought-provoking issues of trust, vulnerability, professional distance and boundaries, as well as the emotional toll this job takes, and make the readers react in the most visceral way.
I would have prefered a different kind of ending (although Kath’s reaction to seeing Edward was priceless), a less uplifting, but more realistic one? I’m probably going to be in minority 🙂

Overall, I’m glad I picked up this book. It wasn’t exactly light-hearted, but it was engaging and I would love to read the next book Nancy Peach writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Harper Collins UK, OneMore Chapter) for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

About the author:

Nancy is a writer of commercial women’s fiction, a mother of three and an owner of various ridiculous looking pets including a dog who unexpectedly grew to be the size of a small horse. She is also a practicing doctor working for both the NHS and a national cancer charity. Over the years her medical job has provided her with an insight into many aspects of human behaviour, across all walks of life, and she is endlessly fascinated by the people she meets.

She has always loved to write and finds the process incredibly therapeutic as well as being a welcome diversion from some of the less glamourous aspects of her other roles. Being a medical doctor, her sense of humour is already quite dark; she prides herself on being able to find comedy in challenging scenarios and has found this to be an essential skill in both her domestic and working life. Love and laughter are the best of medicines and she tries to channel as much of them as possible into her blogs www.mumhasdementia.com and www.nancy-peach.com as well as her books – casting a wry and discerning eye over the human condition and tackling heavyweight issues with a light comedic touch.

Nancy’s work has been longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize and shortlisted for a Harper Collins / Gransnet competition. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and is represented by Tanera Simons at Darley Anderson Literary Agency. Her debut novel Love Life is published by One More Chapter at Harper Collins.

Website: https://nancy-peach.com/
Facebook: Nancy Peach Writer
Twitter: @Mumhasdementia
Instagram: @nancy.peach

If you would like to find out what other bloggers thought about the book, I recommend checking out Yesha’s review (booksteacupreviews.com) Julie’s review (alittlebookproblem.co.uk) and Julie’s Romancing the Romance authors Qand A with Nancy Peach.

#Thriller Thursday #Book Blitz #Dead Cat, Run by Annabelle Lewis #Mystery #Thriller @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
Dead Cat, Run
by Annabelle Lewis
Publication date: February 21st 2021
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Synopsis:

You’re where you’re meant to be. Run, if you can.

High school senior Jenny Gallagher’s psychic abilities have made life in her small New England town rocky. Her premonitions and déjà vu have given her a reputation, one she’s not happy with. Tragedy is about to strike, however, and oddly, this time, she doesn’t see it coming. Is her gift betraying her?

Not far from Jenny, Wellesley Professor Maximus Dyer also has a gift—a painful and useless one. His ability to see the past has brought him insight into history, but otherwise, he’s never known what to make of it. The psychic shocks he receives through his unprotected hands have made any genuine human relationships beyond his grasp. Then someone who doesn’t trigger a vision enters his life—a dog?

Sidrah Keeling runs determinedly optimistic throughout her life, trying hard not to ask the big questions about why. Her foresight, her ability to see glimpses of the future in her dreams, often drives her to follow a path she doesn’t understand. Alert and listening, with the guardrails of security she’s erected in place, she’s forced again to follow her dreams. This time to a man. Who is he?

Lurking deep in his sensory deprivation tank, Turner Black sees it all. Born out of the great chaos of time, he once again feels the forces of good gathering to move against him. Not in this life. This time, his darkness will reign supreme. The hunt for his antithesis will begin again now. He can’t wait to feel his opponent in destiny bleed.

A fast-paced contemporary mystery thriller with a supernatural hierarchy, Dead Cat, Run will keep you up all night, glued to your seat.

Goodreads / Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:

Annabelle Lewis—a pseudonym for the author—lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regrettably? Perhaps. She still believes she’s a Texan even though the math no longer supports that. Nor her birthplace. Nor her residence. No offense, Minnesota. You’ve got your good points too, but only about six months of the year.

In her youth, Annabelle was a complete failure. Ask anyone who knew her. Any of her teachers and family would tell you this. High school graduation was a sad day for all when Annabelle walked proudly off the high school stage, her thoughts consumed with boys, beer, and after-parties, and later into the arms of her parents. Her father’s laughter and singular remark? “I didn’t think you’d make it. Get a job at the post office, they have a good retirement plan.”

A high bar and words to live by, but Annabelle wanted more. She needed to flunk out of college too. But damn, she sure did have a good time. Trivial arrest records not-withstanding, it was a growth period for our girl. And if you look closely, you’ll see a bit of what was to come when she majored in criminal justice. Her lifelong aspiration was to become a judge. Hmm.

For better or worse, Annabelle didn’t graduate from college but did find gainful employment and a fulfilling career. This path ended when she became a mom. Married to her wonderful George, who to this day can hardly remember an actual proposal, Annabelle finally became a mother. She didn’t have a clue how hard she would need to work to keep those self-imposed requirements of Downey-fresh, iron-pressed sheets, home-baked meals, and mom-of-the-year awards arriving. She composed a small self-affirmation song and made her children sing it to her for money. She was a very good mom.

After clearing the largest hurdles of motherhood and regrettably, begrudgingly, and not-without-tears, launching her children onto the world, she looked around and realized she had a lot to say. Picking up a laptop, she got to work.

Annabelle spends her days continuing to tackle the challenges of motherhood, for both her humans and canines. She also writes. And reads. And cleans. And cooks. And bakes. And cleans again. She also supports her husband, George, in an administrative capacity for their small business. She’s in charge of payroll and cuts George’s checks. This leads to no marital acrimony.

In the beginning, with the blank page staring at her and possibly in a hostile mood after being literally mauled by a dog and by the world in general, she had an idea. What if she could wield a force of good upon unsuspecting evil-doers? What if she had the resources to get the job done without dealing with committee and anyone else’s whiney-ass opinions?

It was gold. It took off. Annabelle sat down and began to write and couldn’t stop. To date, having written over a million words in the Carrows Family Chronicles and her second series on the Boston Clairvoyants, several items have become quite clear. Annabelle had a lot to say. Annabelle really enjoys writing. And although she hates all things technology, she begrudgingly pounds her head on her desk daily as obstacles are thrown in her path. Almost a hero.

Since entering her world of make-believe, she has rebelled against all intrusion of real-world responsibilities. Her house is a mess, but she tries. Her family is fed, but more often than not, on takeout. She vows to shower every day, but no, it’s a vow she’ll never keep. Her friends are neglected, but not in her heart.

Read her mordacious blog! Read her books! Follow her on social platforms! Sign up for her newsletter! These are all good things. What are you waiting for? Jump into bed with Annabelle. She’s having a swell time. You should join her.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$25 Amazon gift card

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#Can’t Wait Wednesday #The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St.James @Berkley

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about which we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The book I’m waiting for this Wednesday is…

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St.James

Synopsis:

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect—a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases—a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

Story Locale: small town Oregon (Fictional)

Publisher:Berkley

Expected Publication Date: March 15, 2022

Genre:Fiction / Thrillers / Supernatural

Goodreads

Simone St. James is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Author Website:simonestjames.com

Author Social Media:

Facebook.com/simonestjames;

Twitter @simone_stjames;

Pinterest @simonestjames;

Instagram @simonestjames

Thank you for reading thispost!

What upcoming releases are you waiting for this Wednesday?

#Book Blitz #The Family Cross by Gabrielle Ash(Circle Seven, #1) @Xpresso Book Tours

The Family Cross
by Gabrielle Ash
(Circle Seven, #1)
Published by: City Owl Press
Publication date: July 6th 2021
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:

Matilda Ashby has a pair of Ivy League degrees and a dream of unseating her brother as their billionaire father’s favorite. But just as she inches close to her goal, Matilda’s world is rocked by monsters roaming the Manhattan streets and the elusive enemy at her father’s corporation who hired them to kill her.

With assassins on the heels of her Manalos, and the family business’s reputation in danger of being destroyed, Matilda hires the mysterious Samson, a telepath with a shady past, to help her find out who wants her dead.

But when the would-be assassins can take the form of anyone in her life, Matilda doesn’t know who she should fear most—the monsters hiding inside her family business or the ones coming for her head.

If you like Charlaine Harris, K. F. Breene, or Phillipa Bornikova, you’ll love this urban fantasy romance with mystery, suspense, and family drama!

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

AUTHOR BIO:Gabrielle Ash is an author and perpetually tired mom of four from the great state of Texas. Born into a family of mischievous storytellers, she grew up listening to tales of the chupacabra, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night, never entirely confident that she wouldn’t get eaten if she went out to the creek after sunset.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, which ultimately landed her in a high school classroom to teach writing and coach the debate team. Dismayed at her inability to wear sweatpants to work, she left the classroom and now dedicates her brain power to books and taking care of her daughters.

When not writing, she spends time with her husband, four daughters, and their dog. The Family Cross is her debut novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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