**Review and excerpt** The Jinx By Ernest Lancaster

Hello again Sparklers,

From Fiery Seas Publishing comes some goodies. I am so excited to share the cover, an excerpt and my review of “The Jinx” by Ernest Lancaster.

Thanks again for reading and please remember to share 🙂

Yours in literary sibling-hood,

xo

 The Jinx By Ernest Lancaster

Series: Memphis M.O. Book 1

Published by: Fiery Seas Publishing

Publish date: July 24, 2018

Genre: Suspense / Action

“Disaster strikes and innocents die as police sniper Rick Munro is plagued by a first-call jinx. As his career takes off, he must overcome his rookie mistakes, and keep his team members safe.

When Munro returns to TACT as a newly promoted lieutenant, the jinx torments him still. He must contend with team members’ rival agendas around every turn. Munro finds himself in a battle he can’t escape as corruption and death unfold around him.

Who can he trust? Will Munro break the streak or will it destroy everything he believes in?”

Review: (no spoilers) I gave “The Jinx” 5 out of 5 stars

Hang on to your seats, this one is fast paced ! The Jinx is action packed from the get-go. Sergeant Rick Munro’s life is demanding, stressful and dangerous. Dealing with the loss of his partner is just another complication that he can do without in a high demand job. When Munro’s return to TACT kicks off with a bang he is weary that the jinx has followed him through.

Author Ernest Lancaster’s experience in the police service and in TACT rewards us with what feels like a first hand view of the day to day operations of the officers. The banter is sharp and quick, the characters well developed and the action (did I mention there was action?) just keeps coming.

I appreciated the author’s writing style and that made this book especially enjoyable for me. His use of vivid imagery compelled me to find a place alongside Munro’s team. Okay I’ll admit that I felt a bit bad ass ! The Jinx promises to be a thrill ride for readers, especially those interested in the police/action genres. This is book one in the Memphis M.O. Series and I look forward to seeing what the following book/s bring.

Read on for an excerpt of “The Jinx”

 

EXCERPT: Chapter Three

Munro picked at the grit under his fingernails as he slogged his way to the command post with his rifle case slung over his back. He found the big mobile home, converted into a working precinct, parked a block up from where uniform patrol officers surrounded Wayne’s Grocery.

Caspar conferred with the field lieutenant. One by one, the rest of the team dragged up in their muddy BDUs. Kozart and Catfish hung to the rear of the crowd.

Caspar’s gaze trained to the fresh, blood-caked scar that striped Kozart’s forehead. “What the hell happened to you, Buzz Kill?”

“Ran into a door.”

“Catfish,” Caspar called. “Look at me.”

Catfish rose up from where he hunched behind the group. His eye was puffed like a mushroom.

“What happened to you?”

“Me too.”

“Where did you two find these badass doors?” He frowned. “You going to be able to look through a scope?”

“Yes, sir,” Catfish said. “It’s not my strong eye.”

Caspar turned to Munro. “Rick, see me inside.”

Munro wrestled the rifle case off his back and stepped up into the command post. As they made their way through the hall of desks and telephones, Earl raised up from a legal pad. “Lieutenant, the dispatcher has channel five reserved for us.”

“Thanks,” Caspar said.

Munro and Caspar snaked to the rear of the van, narrowed by benches and tables, and Caspar slid shut the accordion door, closing off the back half. Neither bothered to sit at the conference table that crowded the space. Instead, they stood face-to-face.

“Now, Rick. What the hell happened to Catfish and Buzz Kill? And don’t tell me they ran into a fricking door.”

“Uh, they ran into a corner of a building?”

“Damn it, Rick. We’ve got an armed nut holed up in a grocery store. I don’t have time for any crap. What happened to them?”

“What do you think? They got into a fight.”

“I knew it the second I saw them. Where?”

“In the parking lot.”

“What’s wrong with you guys? Why are you always fighting?”

Munro exhaled. “We’re high–strung. We fight like dogs. But when it’s time to go to work, we put it all behind us and pull together as a team. Every one of us knows that’s the only way to survive.”

“You guys even fight when you play basketball, or maul-ball. Look at Earl. We had to lie about his broken wrist.”

Munro shrugged. “It’s better than fistfights.”

“All of you need anger-management training.”

“We need jobs where we don’t have to kill people.”

 

BUY LINKS:

Fiery Seas Pub Bookstore

Amazon

About the Author:

 

Ernest Lancaster retired from the Memphis Police Department as a captain after serving as a cop for thirty-three years.

In the early seventies Lancaster spent two years walking a night beat in downtown Memphis, when The Peabody and Beale Street lay boarded up and crumbling and the center city became a dystopian ghost town after dark. He patrolled in ward cars, trooped for three days through a sea of pilgrims to Elvis’s funeral, edited the Memphis Police Association’s newspaper and acted as the association’s vice-president. For twenty-six years he held positions on the TACT Squad.

Lancaster now resides with his wife and Yorkie in the Smoky Mountains, where they love to hike and camp.

Social Media:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ernest.lancaster.98

Twitter https://twitter.com/ErnestLancast

Website https://ernestlancaster.com/

Advertisement

**Review of the new release- Because Forever by B. Cranford **

 

“If you’re looking for forever, why aren’t you looking at me?”

Title:     Because Forever

Series:  The Avenue #2

Author: B. Cranford

Release Date: July 13, 2018

• Blurb •

Everyone should have a chance at forever . . .

Twenty-Five Years. That’s how long Odette Peterson called Austin Andrews her best friend. Until he let his mouth ruin it—in more ways than one.

Five Minutes. That’s all it took for their friendship to fall apart, leaving her heart a little broken and her life a little emptier.

One Hour. That’s the amount of time she agrees to give him to try and find his way back into her good graces. Not that she thinks for even one minute that it might work.

It won’t, because . . .

Forever. That’s what Odette’s looking for. Someone to spend her life with; someone who’ll see her as more than just one of the guys. And there’s not a thing Austin can do to stop her.

Except maybe tell her that he loves her . . .

Review:

I rated Because Forever 5 out of 5 stars

            Because Forever is scrumptious! We first met Austin and Odette in About Time, part one of The Avenue Series. This is a lovely story of longtime friends finding that true love has been right in front of them all along.

            As these best friends contemplate risking it all for a chance at love, I was there, cheering them on through it all. It was easy to fall for this endearing love story when the Austin and Odette’s relationship feels destined for forever.

          The book is brimming with romance and love to give you that fuzzy warm tummy feeling. When combined with fun, cheeky banter and characters that are easy to invest in, this is one that you will just fly through!

           Read on for a yummy excerpt from Because Forever, buy links and a little bit about author B. Cranford. I hope y’all enjoy!

• Add to Goodreads •

→ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39338642-because-forever

• Buy Links •

#FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US → https://amzn.to/2ujE8Vo

Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/2m5emAs

Amazon CA → https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FC6J2ZS/

Amazon AU → https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FC6J2ZS/

Amazon Universal → http://mybook.to/BecauseForever

• Excerpt •

Chapter One

Odette Peterson was three sheets to the wind.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of her coffee table, with cherry red boxing gloves on her hands and a glass of wine precariously cupped between them, she was blinking madly and wishing for . . .

Austin.

No, she wasn’t going to say his name or think his name or spell his name or anything. Not anything. Because she was mad at him.

Fit to be tied.
Up in arms.
Seeing red.

Well, the red she was seeing was possibly the gloves, the wine or maybe her hair, reflected back at her in the window that looked out over a currently empty street.

Whatever, she was pissed at him. Still.

And just to make sure that anger stayed at the right temperature to stop her from caving and calling him—her best friend since she was seven years old and he was eight—she decided to listen to the voicemail he’d left the day after he’d ruined everything.

But first, she had to put the wine down, remove the boxing gloves and . . . something else. But what?

Pick up the phone, Odette. She nodded her drunken thanks to the voice in her head. And then, having negotiated all three steps with only one near-fumble of her glass and one slurred curse word, she cued up the message.

“Odie, come on. You’re being ridiculous and you need to talk to me. All I said was that you were better than him”—

She paused the message with a wobbly-but-righteous tap of her finger to the screen before giving Aussie a piece of her mind. “You stupid idiot, you didn’t say I was better than him. You said I was smarter than that and acting like a dumb girl.” She scoffed. Then added an eye roll for good measure. And if the eye roll was so pronounced she swayed in place, then fine. That just meant she was committed to her anger.

A second righteous tap and Aussie’s voice filled her ear again. “And you are. I didn’t mean to upset you, Garfield, so just call me back. You know you want to forgive me. And you know I’m right about Meatball McGee.”

“His name is Mike, not Meatball. And you’re not right. You’re, you’re, you’re–calling me?” She stared at the screen of her phone, a picture of Austin—eyes crossed, tongue poking out, sandy blond curls flopping all over the place—and decided she was going to answer.

For the first time in weeks, she was going to talk to him.

 

 

Also Available •

ABOUT TIME | THE AVENUE #1

→ http://mybook.to/AboutTime

“…an emotionally charged book that makes you feel all sorts of happy!” — Angela, Shameless Book Club

 

About the author

B. Cranford is a proud Australian living in the USA, a lover of books, breadsticks and bed, and the mother of two children who are far too similar to their father for her liking. A lifelong reader, she dove into the romance genre on the recommendation of her best friend and hasn’t looked back since. Her debut novel, The Brightest Star, a second chance romance with (she hopes) heart and humor was released on July 13, 2017, which just so happened to be her birthday. Because if you release a book on your birthday, you get twice as much cake, and that can only be a good thing.

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/bcranfordauthor/

Newsletter → https://www.subscribepage.com/BCranford

Book+Main → http://bookandmainbites.com/bcranfordauthor

BookBub → https://www.bookbub.com/profile/b-cranford

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bcranfordauthor/

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**EXCERPT** from: Beyond Circumstances by Gloria Joynt-Lang

Beyond Circumstances by Gloria Joynt-Lang

Series: Out of the Darkness

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Fiery Seas Everlasting

Dr. Lexie Draden didn’t want to leave her successful career as a surgeon in Chicago, but she didn’t have a choice. Her family needed to heal, and as long as she was around, it wasn’t going to happen. While adapting to her new community, she meets Zak Tifour, a man as intriguing as he is handsome.

Most of the small-town residents view Zak as a man who likes his privacy, but to a select few, something doesn’t seem right. Long-time resident Cicily McQuay believes she has the key to the man’s odd behavior – a link to terrorism. After all, he just isn’t the type of man who belongs in her community. But to belong, you need to be welcomed; something Cicily has never extended to Zak.

Zak knows plenty of terrorists and has even lived amongst them, but not like Cicily suspects. Escaping from a lifetime of bloodshed and regrets, he attempts to distance himself from the quirky townsfolk; people unable to comprehend boundaries. It appears to be working until he encounters the town’s new attractive doctor. Even though his secrets run deep, she ends up trusting him with her heart. But trust is fragile, and when Zak gets drawn back to his old life, Lexie must decide whether he’s a dangerous man or a broken hero.

Excerpt from Chapter One

She reached into her purse to grab her phone. Hopefully, tow trucks operated on

Saturdays in this rural area.

Crap. The phone was dead. She had meant to charge it, but then forgot. Just calm down, she told herself. Maybe there’s a charger in the glove box. Frantically, she searched. Damn.

At least she had a full tank of gas. She could avoid freezing to death for several hours.

Hours? God no. She couldn’t imagine being stuck in the vehicle for even several more minutes.

Maybe someone would come along. Yes, she was in the countryside, but it wasn’t some remote mountain village in Peru. She was only about an hour and a half from Chicago, and although it wasn’t a highway, it was a paved road. She thought back to how many cars she had passed on the way to town. She cursed, unable to recall any.

She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. No, she wasn’t going to cry. Not because she was strong, but because tears weren’t going to get her car to move back onto the road. She opened her eyes and looked around. It was so hard to see with all the snow swirling around. It was what meteorologists referred to as a ground blizzard. There wasn’t snow falling from the sky. Rather the white stuff was violently twisting up from the ground. The sixty-mile-per-hour winds were creating havoc on visibility. If only the wind could slow down for a second.

Then it happened. There were a few seconds where the wind paused, and Lexie was able to catch a glimpse.

“A driveway,” she exclaimed. She did a quick fist pump in the air. The gravel clearing was only a few yards away. The driveway would lead to a house. She would walk up the snow–covered road and ask to use a phone.

Oh, but what if it was a long driveway, or what if no one was home? Or maybe it was just an entrance to some wheat field with no house or residents.

She slammed her hands on the steering wheel in frustration, making the horn blare.

No, no. Don’t you dare cry.

She stared into the distance as she racked her brain for options. None came to her. Finally, she pulled the hood on her jacket over her head. She would take her chances and trek down the lane. If it looked like it was too far, she would simply return to her car.

She was about to open the door when she saw the outline of someone approaching. Relief washed over her. However, it quickly turned to fright when she saw an ax-wielding, masked man coming toward her.

Oh, my God. I’m going to die.

Quickly, she locked her door. If he was intent on killing her, she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. No, he would have to smash the window and pry her clenched hands off the steering wheel. She would make damn sure he exerted energy while dragging her away. Bludgeoning her to death would be work.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DMBG5T6/

 

         About the Author:

Gloria Joynt-Lang was born in Ars-Laquenexy, France and spent her childhood experiencing the vast landscapes of Canada. A graduate of the University of Alberta with a degree in Criminology, she devoted her career to working in the criminal justice system. She now splits her time living in rural Alberta, Canada as well as Southern California with her husband and their two dogs, a Maltese named YaHoo and Yorkie named Smookie Bijoux. Why the Yorkie has a stripper name shall remain a tight guarded secret. A lifelong nerd, she is most comfortable with a book or laptop close by except when she transforms to cool biker chick, hopping on her motorcycle for a speed limit abiding ride to the nearest bookstore.

Social Media

Website: https://www.gloriajoynt-lang.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gm.joynt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/glojoyntlang

Excerpt and Review: BOY OF BLOOD by Megan O’Russell

Thank you to Fiery Seas Publishing for the review copy of this book ! 

Boy of Blood By Megan O’Russell

✨Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing

✨Series: Girl of Glass

✨Genre: YA Dystopia

✨Release Date: April 10, 2018

✨Summary

After Nightland’s vicious attack on the domes, the safety and perfection of the world within the glass has been contaminated. Desperate to rebuild, outsiders are allowed into the domes to help, breaking the cardinal rule: outsiders and Domers must always be separated. But the city is in shambles, crumbling into chaos without the Vampers of Nightland to keep order, and one name is carried on the wind: Nola.

Clinging to Jeremy, Nola struggles to find a way to exist in the domes, turning her back on all she learned in the city. But when one of the outsiders brings the dark secrets of the domes to light, the line between survival and murder blurs against the spectre of the dying world.

Can Nola follow the dark path laid out by the Domes? Will the dangers of the night become her new sanctuary?✨

✨I rated Boy of Blood  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4 1/2 stars out of 5)

Note: Boy of Blood is book two(2) in the Girl of Glass series

This book picks up just where it’s predecessor left off. Offering all the fast-paced, plot twists and drama expected of the series, Boy of  Blood delivers as anticipated!

Set in a dystopian world, society is separated into the fortunate dome dwellers and the disadvantaged outsiders. The protagonist Nola grapples with consequences of the difficult decisions she made in book one(1). In addition to the loss of her blissful oblivion, her choices cost her the love of someone dear. Through the book she slowly begins to pick up the pieces to embrace the potential of a new interest. #teamJeremy

Author Megan O’Russell succeeds at building a strikingly vivid world that just comes alive with multidimensional characters and plots. I enjoyed her writing style. Much more, I enjoyed how cohesive the story was in bringing the plots together.

Boy of Blood will find a place in the heart of readers of many genres including dystopian fiction, young adult novels or for the adventure buffs.

✨Read on for an excerpt from Boy of Blood !

 

BOY OF BLOOD by Megan O’Russell

Excerpt from Chapter Nineteen

“Jeremy.” His name came out as a whisper through her tears. “Jeremy!”

He was running toward her house. His stride long and even. Blood and dirt marked his uniform, but relief brightened his face as soon as he saw her.

Scrambling back over the roof, Nola dropped over the edge and through her window, all pain forgotten as Jeremy’s heavy boots pounded up the stairs.

“Nola, are you hurt?” The words were out of his mouth before he was in her room, but she didn’t answer. She had already thrown herself into his arms and was kissing him with everything she possessed.

Explosions and blood melted away. Death and fear didn’t matter. Jeremy was alive and holding her.

The room didn’t sway, and she didn’t want it to. She wanted to hold on tighter, to pull herself closer so no one would ever be able to separate them again. There was no more her or him. No difference between them at all.

His fingers found skin at her waist and drifted up her back. She gasped at the warmth of his touch, craving more. Her heart raced as he hungrily grasped her side with his hand. Suddenly, her shirt became a hateful thing, another horrible barrier between them. Nola eased her hold on him only enough to reach for the edge of her shirt but as soon as she moved, Jeremy was there pulling it off for her.

Blood rose to her cheeks not with embarrassment, but anticipation. He let go of her for a moment to take off his heavy guard’s vest. But that brief moment felt like an eternity. Like he would fall away from her completely.

She pulled herself closer to him. Kissing him again as though trying to prove he was still alive. With only his thin guard’s shirt between them she could feel his heart racing against her. The taste of him, the feel of his heat radiating through her, washing away all the cold fear that filled her.

“Nola,” Jeremy whispered, and her heart soared. He wasn’t saying a name, but a prayer that they would always be together. That he would always hold her tight, and the demons of the outside world would never again come between them.

Fingers trembling, Nola undid the buttons of his shirt, letting her chest press to his. She slid his shirt away without looking.

In one movement that made her heart fly from her chest, Jeremy scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Laying her down gently, he gazed at her. His brown eyes smiling down at her. She reached for him, pulling him closer. The light from the sunrise shone through the window, casting an orange light on Jeremy’s bare chest. A red mark glistened on his arm.

About the Author:

Megan O’Russell is the author of the young adult fantasy series The Tethering, and Nuttycracker Sweet, a Christmas novella. Megan’s short stories can also be found in several anthologies, including Athena’s Daughters 2, featuring women in speculative fiction. Megan is a professional performer who has spent time on stages across the country and is the lyrist for Second Chances: The Thrift Shop Musical, which received its world premier in 2015. When not on stage or behind a computer, Megan can usually be found playing her ukulele or climbing a mountain with her fantastic husband.

Social Media:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Blog

 

BUY LINKS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Blood-Megan-ORussell-ebook/dp/B07BTN6B1X

Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1128329145?ean=9781946143501

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/boy-of-blood

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/boy-of-blood/id1366578407?mt=11

Rafflecopter:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f5c43bfb2/?

 

Review: P.B.F Psycho Best Friend

Publish date: October 15th 2017

Publisher: Independently published

Thank you to Author Jescina C. Miller for the review copy of P.B.F(Psycho Best Friend)

Synopsis:

Estella has moved around a lot. She is lonely and never really made any friends. That was until Beth. A girl who’s past she knew nothing about. Then she meets Gus, the new guy in town. They become friends. Beth gets enraged and starts to fly off the handle. After a bit, Beth comes after her just like she did with her ex-dead-best friend Katie.

Review:

Author Jescina Miller gives us , a story of friendship, secrets and betrayal. Estella becomes enamored with and befriends a handsome newbie at school. In this simple action Estella unwittingly causes turmoil to brew within her friendship with Beth. Estella quickly discovers the dark side of a friend she thought she knew. 

Overall P.B.F Psycho Best Friend has a good story-line and plot. I think professional editing would have truly allowed the book to shine. Despite this obvious shortcoming, Author Jescina Miller creates an interesting story that would certainly appeal to the Young Adult crowd. I look forward to reading more from this author as she continues to write and publish.

About the Author

Biography

My name is Jescina C. Miller. I am twenty-four years old. I live in Tennessee. I have always loved writing. It is what helped me through a lot growing up. It gave me peace when nothing else did. I could write for ages and still not want to stop. Helping others with my words is what I want. Because I want people to know that they aren’t alone. I hope one day I achieve that.

Follow Jescina C. Miller here:

https://www.facebook.com/jescinas.books/

 

Cover Reveal & REVIEW: To Discover A Divine(Rise Of The Stria Book 1) By Tessa McFionn

Fiery Seas Publishing
March 20, 2018
Sci-Fi Romance

When Kahlym cal Jhuen, freedom-fighting leader of the Chandar Stria, breaks into a prison ship controlled by the Rimmarian Thrall, he only expected to rescue two of his crew. But when he discovers a terrified female during his escape, he is immediately captivated by her unique beauty and makes a snap decision to take her with him. However, his good deed backfires when he learns he has stolen the Thrall Emperor’s prize.

Down to her last dollar, Evainne Wagner expected nothing out of the ordinary when she stepped out of her Boston apartment. Instead, she found herself in the middle of an intergalactic firefight, complete with strange soldiers with deadly weapons pointed directly at her. Salvation arrives in the nick of time in the form of a mysterious leather-clad warrior, skidding in and whisking her away. Trusting her heart, she follows, hoping to find answers as well as a way home.

Safely on board his ship, he learns more about her and her rare skills, triggering the memory of a half-forgotten prophecy spoken at the time of his cursed birth. Outcast because of a cruel twist of fate, he finds unexpected acceptance, even affection, from his new passenger.

Could she be the one who holds the future of his people, as well as his own heart, in her tender hands?

*Note: Thank you to Fiery Seas Publishing for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (posted below).*

I gave To Discover A Divine (Rise of the Stria Book 1) a very sound 4 out of 5 stars in the SciFi Romance genre. 

In what was supposed to be the straight forward prison break of his crew members , Kahlym’s plans quickly go sideways. Caught in the middle of all the melee is a civilian (gorgeous no less). In an unexpected gutsy move she saves his life- meaning that for royal outcast Kahlyn, this beauty now holds his blood debt. 

Things aren’t exactly hunky dory for the civilian Evainne Wagner. The shit hit the fan big time! She literally walks out of her mundane life right into a dream or perhaps it’s a nightmare? Yikes! Thrust into an alien world, she struggles to find answers but don’t be mistaken, Evainne is no damsel in distress. 

Flames of passion are blazing between Kahlyn and his “ziat’xahn” (little one) but his foul-mouthed, sassy guest is so much more than he could have imagined. Evainne, his Earthly civilian romance is also a Divine Healer and the key to his destiny.  

To Discover A Divine is intergalactic magic. It is fun, engaging and filled with action right from the very beginning.  Author Tessa McFionn provides an exquisitely detailed alien world and allows us to be awed along with Evainne. I have a deep appreciation for the headstrong, saucy spunk that Evainne’s character unapologetically brings to the story.

This an action packed sci-fi adventure with an abundance of hot under the collar romance. It will get you invested in Kahlyn, Evainne and their crew, and leave you positively ravenous for the next installment in the series! 

 

 

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Buy Links:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/to-discover-a-divine
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-discover-a-divine-tessa-mcfionn/1128074950?ean=9781946143471
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/to-discover-a-divine/id1353410825?mt=11

About the Author:

Tessa McFionn is a very native Californian and has called Southern California home for most of her life, growing up in San Diego and attending college in Northern California and Orange County, only to return to San Diego to work as a teacher. Insatiably curious and imaginative, she loves to learn and discover, making her wicked knowledge of trivial facts an unwelcomed guest at many Trivial Pursuit boards.

When not writing, she can be found at the movies or at Disneyland with her husband, as well as family, friends or anyone who wants to play at the Happiest Place on Earth. She also finds her artistic soul fed through her passions for theatre, dance and music.

A proud parent of far too many high school seniors and two still living house plants, she also enjoys hockey, reading and playing Words With Friends to keep her vocabulary sharp. She is currently the treasurer of the San Diego chapter of Romance Writers of America and loves spending time working with such amazingly intelligent and creative writers.

Social Media:
Twitter 

Facebook
Website
Blog

The Secrets She Keeps By Michael Robotham

The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham

Description: “ Everyone has an idea of what their perfect life is. For Agatha, it’s Meghan Shaughnessy’s.

At least that’s how Agatha sees it.

These two women from vastly different backgrounds have one thing in common- a dangerous secret that could destroy everything they hold dear.

Both will risk everything to hide the truth, but their worlds are about to collide in a shocking act that cannot be undone.

The Secrets She Keeps is a compelling psychological thriller that will keep you gripped and break your heart…”

✨Quote:

“The whole idea of getting married and having children terrifies me. What if becoming a parent doesn’t make me grow up? It could be just a cheap disguise.”
“It’s not cheap.” •

✨ I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars
✨ Delightfully disturbing, The Secrets She Keeps was a quick read. Once I finished the first chapter it was clear that this would be a intensely thrilling ride. The many twists and turns kept me absorbed and I blew through it in just a couple nights.

I felt such a mix of emotions for Agatha and Meghan, ranging from empathy and interest to disgust though I’ll let you see for yourself!

If you’re looking for a gripping, entertaining thriller The Secrets She Keeps will not disappoint.

The ending raised some questions at our book club meeting. Has anyone read this one? I would love to hear your thoughts on Agatha’s state of mind at the end of the book !

Hatsune Miku !

Product description
“First published in Japan in 2015 by Ichijinsha Inc., Tokyo.”
About the Author
Hitoshizuku-P x Yama is a Japanese song composer whose lyrics have been used as the base for a vareity of light novels and manga.

I might just be a tad naughty here, I am already heavily invested in two novels but sometimes it’s good to mix things up.

This was very different from the games but offered a quick, entertaining read.

If you’re a fan of manga or just curious, this book might be the perfect test. Go ahead, dip your toe in the manga water. You might find it to your liking !

I gave this book 4 out of 5 ⭐️ ( manga category)

Review-“Just Like Family” by Kate Hilton

Product Description

From the nationally bestselling author of The Hole in the Middle, a witty, insightful new novel about juggling the demands of three husbands—a work husband, an almost husband and an ex-husband—and figuring out the true meaning of family.

Avery Graham has built a life that anyone would admire. She has a brilliant career as chief of staff to Peter Haines, the charismatic mayor of Toronto. She has a devoted partner in Matt, her live-in boyfriend of fourteen years. And she has a loving family and deep friendships that stretch back to childhood summers at the cottage.

But when Matt proposes, Avery’s past threatens to engulf her present. Can she contemplate a lifetime commitment to Matt after her disastrous first marriage to Hugh? And is Matt really the love of her life, when she has spent so much of it by Peter’s side? Avery could use some good advice from the women who know her best, but her closest friends, Jenny and Tara, have drifted away over the years.

When a scandal erupts at city hall, Avery must overcome her deepest fears about love and loss and discover what it means to be a family.

 

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (May 30 2017)

I gave Just like family⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(4½ out of 5)stars

Memorable quotes:

“ Marriage is a great cure for romance..”

“ The sad fact is that the past, perhaps especially our own past, is mysterious. Lodged in the present, you move further away each day from the reasons why you took this path or that one. And you’re left with only the story you’ve told yourself, the one with perfect lighting and a flattering angle. The one that even you know doesn’t really look like you.”

Just like family is a remarkable journey with friends Avery, Emily and Tara through their early years and into adulthood. We experience their transformations as they explore life, find themselves,and decipher relationships and marriage. We hurt with them they experience loss in the family.

It is a story of true love and the unrelenting balancing act that many women face. The unbridled, all consuming struggle to keep part of themselves even as they give all to their families, careers and friendships.

Canadian cottage life provides a safe, comforting backdrop to the otherwise heavily political life of our heroine Avery. In a fist-clenching story, karma is the ray of sunshine that will see you through.

My rating fell just short of 5 stars because I felt that some of the dialogue was longer than necessary and felt a bit like page fillers at times.

Side note***I had the pleasure of meeting author Kate Hilton at a book signing and I just cannot say enough about how gracious and kind she was.

 

 

 

REVIEW ! A Pleasure And A Calling by Phil Hogan (4 1/2 out of 5 stars)

Description

Mr. Heming loves the leafy English village where he lives. As a local real estate agent, he knows every square inch of the town and sees himself as its protector, diligent in enforcing its quaint charm. Most people don’t pay much attention to Mr. Heming; he is someone who fades easily into the background. But Mr. Heming pays attention to them. You see, he has the keys to their homes. In fact, he has the keys to every home he’s ever sold in town. Over the years, he has kept them all so that he can observe his neighbors, not just on the street, but behind locked doors.
Mr. Heming considers himself a connoisseur of the private lives of others. He is witness to the minutiae of their daily lives, the objects they care about, the secrets they keep. As details emerge about a troubled childhood, Mr. Heming’s disturbing hobby begins to form a clear pattern, and the reasons behind it come into focus. But when the quiet routine of the village is disrupted by strange occurrences, including a dead body found in the backyard of a client’s home, Mr. Heming realizes it may only be a matter of time before his secrets are found out.

Rating : I gave A Pleasure And A Calling 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
✨Narrated by Heming, we are given insight into his memento loving character. Getting a sense of how he justifies his behaviour gives us a glimpse through the cracks of what is otherwise a well packaged persona. The mischievous boy becomes a creepy, disturbed man who has become adept at remaining unnoticed to feed his obsessions.Mr Hemming is diabolical and brilliantly creepy.

“Think of me as an invisible brother or uncle or boyfriend. I’m no trouble. I may be there when you are, or when you are gone, or more likely just before you arrive. I agree it is an idea that takes some getting used to. But do we not all have a life to make, to mould it somehow around that of others, to search for the dovetail that seems best to fit?”

Author Phil Hogan interestingly gave Heming relatives who remained cognizant of his deeds even as he built an impressive facade. How true this rings to reality, isn’t it most difficult to hide our true selves from those closest to us?

Guaranteed to give you chills, A Pleasure And A Calling is uncomfortably good at breathing life into our paranoia. What will you think of the next time you get chills upon entering your home?

The novel lived up to my expectations as a must read #thriller #mementos

✨Did I change locks after my builder handed over keys ? 🔑 🔐😱😮

(PS Hope you like my pic !)