Category Archives: Book review tours

Book Review Tour: Creatures of Chaos by Ashley Brandt

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About the Book:

Creatures of Chaos Book Cover

Life in Justice-Peace just got a little more interesting.

Casey Allen has a green thumb. Max Kinkaid is the high school football star. Debbie’s in a band. Parker is a serial-dater, and Finch is the science- whiz turned prankster. When these unlikely friends are forced to collaborate on a group project, they discover their talents go beyond their high school personas.

Casey can call the plants, growing and twisting them to her satisfaction. Nicholas Finch commands the animals, and Parker Watts can summon the fiercest of storms. Max Kinkaid has dominion over the four winds, and Debbie Fairfield can rock your world, literally!

Are these five an evolved species of human or the legacies of the gods?

Hunted by greedy scientists, these clever teens combine their extraordinary gifts to gain their freedom…but it will cost them the only lives they’ve ever known!

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61293788-creatures-of-chaos
Buy Link – https://geni.us/W1gor2

About the Author:

Ashley Brandt Author Photo

Ashley Brandt is a Paramedic and an author living in North Texas. When she isn’t reading or writing, Ashley enjoys hiking, swimming and photography. Ashley is a coffee addict and spends as much time at the bookstore as possible.

Follow Ashley at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087089264856
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley.brandt.9461/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandtB95480105
Website: https://www.ashleybrandtbooks.com/

My Thoughts:

It’s my stop today on the book tour organized by Zooloo’s Book Tours and I am delighted to be participating in it.

Creatures of Chaos is Book 1 in the series and is a short and quick read. The story follows 5 teenagers who go to the same school and are grouped together for a project. The story is told in first person from Casey’s point of view making it all the more personal and interesting. It feels as though she is talking to us directly and the reader feels involved in the story.

The group of teenagers slowly and suddenly realize that something strange is happening to them and discover that they each have specific powers. As they come to try and piece this together, they are discovered James Bradford who wants to conduct experiments on them to find a way to harness their powers.

The story is fast paced and the reader can sail through it quite easily. The chapters are short and the writing is easy to follow. The author has done a wonderful job in holding the plot together and she has created enough intrigue to keep us wanting more. The plot has a mix of genres starting with fantasy, adventure and some mystery as well. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

Creature of Chaos Tour Poster

Zooloo's Book Tours

Book Review: The Widow’s Walk by John Anthony Miller

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Book Blurb:

The Widow's Walk Book Cover
Cape May, N.J. 1976

When NYC editor Audrey Taylor finalizes her divorce, it seems as if her entire world has collapsed around her. And when she inherits a run-down Victorian mansion in a decaying N.J. beach town, it only seems to get worse. At least, until she finds the treasure map.

The Widow’s Walk is a tale of growth, self-discovery, and learning to appreciate all the good that life has to offer. A romance wrapped in a historical subplot, a mystery hidden in a centuries-old crime, it ties two unsuspecting people together to find a love that neither expected—which is far more precious than buried treasure could ever be.

About the Author:

John Anthony Miller Author Photo

John Anthony Miller writes all things historical—thrillers, mysteries, and romance.

He sets his novels in exotic locations spanning all eras of space and time, with complex characters forced to face inner conflicts, fighting demons both real and imagined.

Each of his novels are unique: a Medieval epic, four historical mysteries, two Cold-War thrillers, a 1970’s cozy/romance, four WWII thrillers, and the Revolutionary War spy novel, The Minister’s Wife.

He lives in southern New Jersey.

Follow him at:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorjamiller
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/authorjamiller/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjohnamiller/

Find the Book at:
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58911078-the-widow-s-walk
Buy Link – https://geni.us/weV9A

My Thoughts:

The Widows Walk follows Audrey Taylor, an editor who moves to a small beach town following a divorce. She is trying to get a fresh start as well as take some time off and this old Victorian mansion that she inherits from her aunt seems to be the best place to do this. The story follows Audrey as she finds herself, discovers a mystery, a treasure map and even happens upon new beginnings in the form of new relationships.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story which was a good blend of romance and mystery put together. The story flows at a steady pace with well thought out characters. I really enjoyed reading about the concept of a widow’s walk and how it fit into the plot. The history of the place that Audrey comes to live in and the story of the past were wonderful to discover along with her as she divided her time between the mystery and her work as an editor. This is a story of self discovery too as well as second chances and this is something I quite enjoy reading about. The author has done a wonderful job with the description of the places and provided special focus on the relationships between each of the characters along with glimpses into who they are.

I am participating in the Book Review and promotion tour hosted by Zoé via Zooloo’s Book Tours and am truly grateful to her and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. I recommend this to all readers who enjoy a nice cozy mystery which has just the right amount of mystery mixed in with some romance.

The Widow's Walk Tour Poster

Book Review: Dark Enough to See the Stars by Beth Duke

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Book Blurb:

Dark Enough to See the Stars Book Cover

The long-awaited sequel to bestseller and book club favorite IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU has arrived!
Violet Glenn.
Everybody loved her.
In 1946, that included her boyfriend’s best friend, Sam Davidson.
Ronni Johnson wrote a book about Violet. It changed her life. Now she’s back working as a registered nurse at Fairfield Springs, loving her patients and her job. She doesn’t have another book in her.
A mysterious email arrives from Chet Wilson’s son, asking Ronni to tell “the truth” about his dad.
She ignores it.
Sam Davidson’s family becomes inextricably linked with Ronni, though, and through them she learns a story that must be told.
Ronni finds herself back at the keyboard, determined to share the long-held secrets revealed to her.
And once again, Violet is reaching back through the years to touch Ronni’s life.
DARK ENOUGH TO SEE THE STARS is a story of human resilience and fragility; of joy and sorrow; of our ability to find family in one another. Alternating chapters between Sam’s world in the distant past and Ronni’s in the present, readers will witness lives woven together, hearts bound forever in surprising ways.

About the Author:

Beth Duke Author Photo

Beth Dial Duke is an Amazon #1 Best Selling author and the recipient of short story awards on two continents.
She is eyeing the other five.
Beth lives in the mountains of her native Alabama with her husband, one real dog, and one ornamental dog. She loves reading, writing, and not arithmetic.
Baking is a hobby, with semi-pro cupcakes and amateur macarons a specialty. And puns–the worse, the better.
Travel is her other favorite thing, along with joining book groups for discussion. If a personal visit isn’t possible, she is fluent in Zoom.
Please visit bethduke.com for more information, to request a book club visit, and to see photos of the most beautiful readers in the world!.
Follow her at:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5399106.Beth_Duke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlythebethforyou/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethidee
Website : bethduke.com
Twitter : https://twitter.com/bethidee

Find the Book at:

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65973853-dark-enough-to-see-the-stars
Buy Link – https://geni.us/7zkPLK

My Thoughts

I read this book as a part of the book tour hosted by Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours.

This is the second book after It All Comes Back to You. Unfortunately, I ended up reading the books out of order, having read this one, Dark Enough To See The Stars first. I like how the author brings to us a narrative set across two timelines, one in the present and one in the past, seamlessly weaving the events together. She makes sure to explain to us how events and decisions of the past affect the people today and of course how they shaped their lives.

The characters were interesting though I think I did miss out on some of the information or backstory due to not having read the first book. However, I was able to connect with them eventually and thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and their journey. As I understand it, we are once again thrown into the past, following Violet, Sam and others. As Ronni struggles with her decision on whether to pursue the story while balancing her job and life, we are drawn into a plot that we cannot ignore. The reader is drawn right in and remains hooked until the very end. Without giving away the story, and also considering I may or may not have the whole picture, I will say that I recommend this book to all!

Dark Enough to See the Stars Tour Poster

Book Review: Misfire by Tammy Euliano

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About the Book:

Misfire CoverA device that can save a life is also one that can end it

Kadence, a new type of implanted defibrillator, misfires in a patient visiting University Hospital for a routine medical procedure—causing the heart rhythm problem it’s meant to correct. Dr. Kate Downey, an experienced anesthesiologist, resuscitates the patient, but she grows concerned for a loved one who recently received the same device—her beloved Great-Aunt Irm.

When a second device misfires, Kate turns to Nikki Yarborough, her friend and Aunt Irm’s cardiologist. Though Nikki helps protect Kate’s aunt, she is prevented from alerting other patients by the corporate greed of her department chairman. As the inventor of the device and part owner of MDI, the company he formed to commercialize it, he claims that the device misfires are due to a soon-to-be-corrected software bug. Kate learns his claim is false.

The misfires continue as Christian O’Donnell, a friend and lawyer, comes to town to facilitate the sale of MDI. Kate and Nikki are drawn into a race to find the source of the malfunctions, but threats to Nikki and a mysterious murder complicate their progress. Are the seemingly random shocks misfires, or are they attacks?

A jaw-dropping twist causes her to rethink everything she once thought she knew, but Kate will stop at nothing to protect her aunt and the other patients whose life-saving devices could turn on them at any moment.

Author Bio:

TammyEuliano square 600K
Tammy Euliano writes medical thrillers. She’s inspired by her day job as a physician, researcher and medical educator. She is a tenured professor at the University of Florida, where she’s been honored with numerous teaching awards, nearly 100,000 views of her YouTube teaching videos, and was featured in a calendar of women inventors (copies available wherever you buy your out-of-date calendars).

When she’s not writing or at the hospital, she enjoys traveling with her family, playing sports, cheering on the Gators, and entertaining her two wonderful dogs.

Website: http://www.teuliano.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teuliano
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teuliano
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teuliano/

Author Marketing Experts tags for social media:
Twitter: @Bookgal
Instagram: @therealbookgal

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Chdv7t
Goodreads link: https://bit.ly/3Z8GTqu

My Thoughts:

I am participating in the blog tour conducted by Author Marketing Experts for Misfire by author Tammy Euliano. It’s my stop on the tour today and I am so grateful for the chance to have read this book!

This is the second book in the medical thriller series. The story follows Kate, Nikki and Christian in a brand new plot related to supposedly faulty defibrillators. These are a new kind and have recently been implanted in patients but are misfiring (hence the title I guess) and there seem to be issues. We follow the characters as they navigate this plot and try to find out why this is happening and how to stop it. I also loved reading about Aunt Irm. She was one character whom I absolutely loved reading about and I enjoyed her interactions with the other characters the most!

I have not yet read the first book and so some of the background was not very clear to me. It took me some time to understand the characters and their connections or the relationships they have with one another. However, this did not take away from the plot and I was still able to read this book as a stand alone and enjoy it. The plot starts of quit slowly initially which makes for slow reading. But as we progress, the plot thickens and it is indeed a race against time to solve the mystery. The author has written the story well and simplified the medical terms for us to understand. This made it even more easy to read the book and understand what was happening.

The story is full of twists and turns and I quite enjoyed reading it! I am definitely going to go back and pick up Book 1 soon!

Tammy Euliano Blog Tour

Book Review: The New Wife by Amanda Brittany and Karen Clarke

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About the Book:

The people you trust are the people who hurt you the most.

Nell Cosgrove is the new wife who got it all. She married her handsome, wealthy boss within six months of meeting him. They live in a beautiful riverside home. She has a flourishing career.

The only problem is her two stepdaughters, Ruby and Poppy, who are fiercely loyal to their mother, and reject all her overtures.

But now everything is falling apart. Nell’s marriage is starting to crack. Her husband spends more and more time away on business.

She gets creepy text messages from an unknown admirer. He sends mysterious bouquets of flowers to her office. She starts making mistakes at work.

Everything Nell thought she knew about her marriage and her new life is about to be turned upside down.

Book Links:
Buy Links – https://geni.us/dtHHa2
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63045634-the-new-wife

About the Authors:

Author Bio – Amanda Brittany


Amanda lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and cute dog. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog, reading (her go-to is fictional crime and psychological thrillers) and she is far too keen on red velvet cake. She loves sunny days by the sea, and snowy days through the window of a cozy room. Amanda has raised over £8700 in eBook royalties for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister. She is the author of six psychological crime thrillers, and co-writer of psychological suspense novels with author Karen Clarke.

Follow her at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandajbrittany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.brittany
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/amanda_brittany_author

Author Bio – Karen Clarke


Karen is a multi-published author of romantic comedies and psychological suspense novels, as well as co-writing thrillers with Amanda Brittany. She lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and three grown-up children and when she’s not writing, she reads (a lot), loves walking and taking pictures — the birds in her garden are probably the most photographed in the country.

Follow her at:
Website: https://www.karenclarkewriter.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenclarke123
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.clarke.5682
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenanne37/

My Thoughts:

It’s my stop on the Book Tour for The New Wife today! I am grateful to be on this tour with so many wonderful bloggers and reviewers.

The New Wife is a suspense filled psychological thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. The story is narrated from two points of view. One is of Nell, “the new wife” as she is called and the second is of one of her step-daughter’s, Ruby. Nell has a very unsteady relationship with her two step-daughters as they blame her for their parents break-up and divorce. They are rude to her and make life difficult for her in the hope that their father will leave her and reconcile with their mother.

All the characters in the story are portrayed in grey shades. As cracks start to appear in Nell’s marriage, she decides that perhaps couples counselling is the best way to save them. A fiercely independent woman, Nell hoped that marriage would bring stability and happiness to her life. However, she did not expect her husband to change as he did, or perhaps this was how he always was and she did not see it from the beginning.

A lot of things start to go wrong and Nell doesn’t know whom to trust. The authors have done a great job in throwing the reader off track while always focusing on Nell’s and Ruby’s thoughts and feelings. Little do we know that there are other forces and people at play and soon everything will come crashing down. I truly enjoyed the story and the twists and turns. Though some parts of it were predictable, I definitely did not see the ending and the events of the epilogue coming. That was a major curve ball which made me realize that I could not guess the complete story after all.

The story focuses on mental health issues and how the characters deal with it. It also shows us how the decision of each person affects them and the others around them. Overall this was a gripping read and I recommend this for all fans of psychological thrillers. It is definitely worth reading!

Book Review: The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

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Book Blurb:

The Perfect Home Book Cover
It’s a beautiful place to live. Or die.

June is very happy in her home. It’s where she raised her two kids – now college age – and every room is filled with memories, some beautiful, some painful. She loves the garden she has worked so hard to create. She likes her neighbours in this pleasant, leafy suburb.

But lately, something has changed.

There’s the new guy across the street. He seems rough, possibly criminal. And he’s been taking a definite interest in June’s rebellious daughter, Cathy.

And there’s June’s son, Sam. He’s always been open and friendly but recently he’s been sullen and secretive.

Even more disturbing, June’s cheating ex-husband suddenly seems to be everywhere. It’s almost as if he’s stalking her.

Then, when someone she knows is murdered, June begins to understand that all these different things are connected. And as she investigates further, she realises that she herself is in terrible danger.

Because someone out there wants June gone. Permanently.

Author Bio:

Kevin Lynch Author Photo

Kevin is a Guidance Counselor by day and a psychological thriller author during his off hours. He puts an original slant on some common experiences and creates engaging stories with a personal twist. Kevin lives in Dublin, Ireland with three great kids, a frenetic Westie, Alfie, and a wife who makes him laugh, which is really all he could ask for.
Kevin writes psychological thrillers. The Perfect Home will be his second novel published with Inkubator Books.

Buy Links:
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Home-gripping-psychological-heart-stopping-ebook/dp/B09QT37GYK
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Home-gripping-psychological-heart-stopping-ebook/dp/B09QT37GYK

My Thoughts:

It’s my stop on the Book Tour for The Perfect Home today! Thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tour for this opportunity.

The Perfect Home is a psychological thriller that follows June as she tries to unmask a killer and find out who is after her. June lives a perfectly good life. She has a good job, her two children who live with her in a wonderfully quiet neighborhood. All this changes with the arrival of a new neighbour, her ex-husband popping up more than expected and her children pulling away.

As time passes, we follow June as she goes about her normal routine while trying to figure out the new people on the block and their motives. The author does a good job in portraying her feelings and fear in many of the situations. I also liked how the plot line developed. It was easy to like some of the characters and dislike some of them. This is a kudos to the style of writing.

There were a few things that did not work for me. Firstly, I was not able to fully connect with June. I found her routine to be mundane and the narration was a little repetitive. Secondly, I was a little confused as to the location of the book which I figured out later. Finally, I found it hard to understand Cathy and her behaviour. It was not something that I could easily relate to.

However, putting this aside, I think the book was interesting and there was a plot twist that I did not see coming. Thus, I admit, despite the mixed feelings, I enjoyed the book and hope to read more by the author! I do recommend this for those who enjoy the genre!

The Perfect Home Book Tour Poster

Zooloos Book Tours

Book Review: Double Pursuit by Alison Morton

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About the Book:

Double Pursuit cover
She’s hunting arms smugglers. But who is hunting her?

One dead body, two badly injured operatives and five crates of hijacked rifles.
In Rome, former French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisende des Pittones is frustrated by obnoxious local cops and ruthless thugs. Despite the backing of the powerful European Investigation and Regulation Service, her case is going nowhere. Then an unknown woman tries to blow her head off.

As Mel and fellow investigator Jeff McCracken attempt to get a grip on the criminal network as well as on their own unpredictable relationship, all roads point to the place she dreads – the arid and remote African Sahel – where she was once betrayed and nearly died. Can Mel conquer her fear as she races to smash the network and save her colleague’s life?

About the Author:

Alison Morton
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Double Pursuit – the second in the new contemporary Mélisende thriller series, pub. 19 October 2021

Book Buy links:
Amazon: https://mybook.to/DoublePursuit
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/fr/en/ebook/double-pursuit
Apple: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/double-pursuit/id1585547953
B&N Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-pursuit-alison-morton/1140156361?ean=2940162379614
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/DoublePursuit
Paperback: https://www.alison-morton.com/books-2/double-pursuit/where-to-buy-double-pursuit/

Social media links:
Connect with Alison on her thriller site: https://alison-morton.com
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alison_morton @alison_morton
Alison’s writing blog: https://alisonmortonauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonmortonauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5783095.Alison_Morton
Alison’s Amazon page: http://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon
Newsletter sign-up: https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/

Other works by the author:
The Carina strand
INCEPTIO where New Yorker Karen Brown is thrown into a new life in mysterious Roma Nova and fights to stay alive with a killer hunting her
CARINA, a novella, Carina’s first mission abroad. What could go wrong?
PERFIDITAS, six years on, where betrayal and rebellion are in the air, threatening to topple Roma Nova and ruin Carina’s life.
SUCCESSIO, where a mistake from the past threatens to destroy the next generation.

The Aurelia strand
AURELIA, in late 1960s Roma Nova, Aurelia Mitela battles her life-long nemesis, silver smuggling and is forced to choose between her love, her child and her country
NEXUS Mid 1970s, London, where a simple favour for a friend becomes a chilling pursuit across Europe
INSURRECTIO, where Aurelia Mitela struggles against a manipulative tyrant grabbing power. But it may already be too late to save Roma Nova…
RETALIO, a classic tale of resistance and retribution – the endgame between Aurelia and Caius

Extras
ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories from AD 370 to the present

Contributions
‘A Roman Intervenes‘ in 1066 Turned Upside Down
How Galla Mitela, Roma Novan imperial councillor, attempts to stop the Norman invasion of England. One of a series of possible alternative outcomes of 1066.

‘The Mystery of Victory’ in Rubicon (HWA/Sharpe Books)
What did happen to the Altar of Victory in the dusk of the Roman Empire?

‘The Idealist’ in Betrayal (Historical Fictioneers, 2020)

Non Fiction
Military or civilians? The curious anomaly of the German Women’s Auxiliary Services during the Second World War.

The 500 Word Writing Buddy: 35 Inner Secrets for the New Writer

Memberships: International Thriller Writers, Historical Novel Society, Alliance of Independent Authors, Society of Authors, Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, Crime Writers’ Association

My Thoughts:

Double Pursuit is a fast-paced action thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat at all times. This is the second book in the series and the story follows Mélisende as she embarks on an investigation into missing firearms. The book dives right into the plot from page 1 and only becomes more intriguing as the plot thickens.

Having read Book 1, I already had a fair idea about some of the characters in this book. There are references to the past events, but this book can easily be read as a standalone too. You just have to be a little persistent. The characters are well developed and believable. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about each of their respective dynamics and how they worked together. Mel is definitely the highlight of the books and deservedly so. She is tough, independent and very good at what she does, but also soft at heart and caring towards those who matter.

The author has written the book so well, it is very easy to visualize each scene and it plays out like a movie in your mind. It is clear that she has done a great amount of research and also relied on her own experiences to write these books. The amount of details and the insight into procedures whether police or otherwise are explained in a way that everyone can understand it.

All in all I highly recommend this book and the series as such. They are definitely worth reading!

Note: This review and post is a part of the blog tour for the Book organized by author Alison Morton. I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book and the above review is my own honest opinion.

Double Pursuit Jan2022 tourbanner_sm

Book Tour: In Conversation with M. L. Rayner

Posted in Author Interviews, Book review tours, BookWorld by

Book Blurb:

Amongst the Mists Book Cover

It was the most anticipated summer break of their young lives.
For Bran Lampshire, that summer of 1986 would be far different. The lure of a wilderness adventure sends him and his friends on a troublesome journey that would see them far from home and into the isolated shadows of the Sleathton Estate. In a forgotten land where nature thrives, an unexplained mist settles upon the shaded grounds. And stories were told of events so chilling, they were forcibly buried over time.
Lose yourself beneath the endless trees. And discover that legends are sometimes so much more than ghost stories.

About the Author:

ML Rayner Author Photo

Born and bred in the county of Staffordshire. Matt is a keen reader of classical, horror and fantasy literature and enjoys writing in the style of traditional ghost stories. During his working life, Matt joined the ambulance service in 2009, transporting critically ill patients all over the UK. After writing his first novel, Matt was welcomed into the family of Question Mark Press publishing and now dedicates his time on future releases. His hobbies include genealogy and hiking, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Emma, his children, and his family.

Follow him at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLRayner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.l.rayner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_L_Rayner
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M.-L.-Rayner/e/B08LTXNSH4
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20902655.M_L_Rayner

Pre Order Links
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DHQDYG1
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DHQDYG1

Author Q&A:

Tell us a little about yourself.
33 years old, married with two children. My hobbies involve hiking/reading and of course, writing.

What prompted you to start writing?
It had been on my list to try for some years. I just didn’t know what to write about. When I finally started writing I had no idea I would get it published.

How did the book “Among the Mists” happen?

I wanted to write a more coming of age story. Very much like some of the books I had read in the past. 😊

Why this specific genre? Ie. What interests you the most about this book’s genre?
It’s the unknown that interests me. Anything can happen and you’re not restricted on what to write. I’m not a big believer in ghosts, but it’s the trill of this genre I enjoy as a reader and writer.

How much research went into the writing of this book?
I always try and research for accuracy. However, this book is somewhat different in terms of my research process in comparison to my last book.

How easy/difficult was it to write this book and create the characters for it?

I found this book flowed much smoother when writing it. With it being a coming-of-age book, I felt I put some my own experiences into the story.

How much does your day to day life inspire your characters?

Not much. I don’t tend to think of people I know when writing characters.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?
I try and catch up on as much reading as I can 😊

How much time do you spend on your writing on average per day?
Maybe 2-3 hours

What do you like best about writing a story?
Being able to create something that people can relate to.

What kind of impact do your stories have on you?
I’m very pleased with the outcome of my stories so far. All authors put so much time and effort into their books that you can’t help but feel a little proud of what you have created.

How much inspiration do you draw on from real life experiences, with respect to plot, characters etc?
I mainly get inspiration from locations rather than people. If I come across a place that captures the imagination its going in a book.

Who is your favourite author and which is your favorite book?
That’s a difficult one! I suppose I would have to go with my first love of horror, Misery by Stephen king.

Which book did you recently finish reading and what did you like about it?
It was actually the YA horror series by Jim Ody and Zoe O’Farrell. Both great books and the concept to get their books into school is very inspiring.

Finally, what message do you want to share with us readers?
Just a big thank you to anyone who has supported me and left reviews for my books so far. Your feedback and kind comments are a joy to read.

Amongst The Mists Book Tour Poster

Zooloos Book Tours

Book Review: Princess and Country by Emmanuelle Snow

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Book Blurb:

PIC2

Her love and her best friend
A passion that can’t be shared
A friendship that needs no words
A record deal that takes her all over the world.
And one fateful night that stops her world.

Country superstar Dahlia Ellis finds herself loved by both her best friend and his brother. Without leaving too many broken heart pieces behind, she must find a way to traverse through her own feelings and live her life with the one she was meant to be with, even if it means breaking a heart that loves her the most.
But life has its own game plan ready for her. Despite her best intentions, she will be sucked into a tornado of love and loss that will hurt her and the people she loves the most.

3 lifetimes…
One night will change the rest of her life
One loss will shatter everything she has ever known
And one encounter will give her the courage to dream again.

Fame, love, success aren’t enough to protect her heart from bleeding.
Will Dahlia be able to survive after everything she has ever known crashes and burns?

And just how many heartbreaks can she actually survive?

Princess and Country is the second book in this small-town, soulmate, country music romance series.

It’s full of raw emotions, sizzling moments, heat, banter, and chemistry. 

BOOK LINKS:
AMAZON USA https://amzn.to/2Up9TgC
AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/2UnMeNz

About the Author:

Smart, Sexy, and Sassy Love Stories
Emmanuelle Snow is a contemporary author of mature YA and New Adult love stories, who likes to give life to strong characters who’ll fight with all they have to reach their life goals and find their own happiness.
Emmanuelle is in love with love. Especially those complicated, deep, and passionate feelings that make a relationship extraordinary and complex, all at the same time.
In her spare time, when she’s not writing or reading, Emmanuelle likes to go on road trips—with her four kids and her own soulmate—watch movies, paint, or do some DIY, always with a cup of green tea in her hand and listening to country music.
She splits her time between beautiful Canada and the small US towns she adores.
Find all of Emmanuelle’s books here: http://www.emmanuellesnow.com/books

Author Social Media:

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/esnowauthor

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/snowvip

Newsletter: http://emmanuellesnow.com/subscribe/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/snowemmanuelle

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/snowemmanuelle

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@snowemmanuelle

Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/emmanuelle-snow

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/snowemmanuelle

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B094GR5ST4

Website: http://www.emmanuellesnow.com

Book link on website: http://www.emmanuellesnow.com/princess-and-country

Read an Excerpt:

My boyfriend turned to face me, and I hurried into his arms. “Princess, you’ll be amazing up there. Look at me.” I tilted my head back. “I’m so proud of you.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ears.
I rose to my tiptoes. “I love you.”
With the pads of his fingers, he wiped the tears pooling in the corners of my eyes.
“I love you too.”
I looked around. “It’s kinda scary. All those people. The stage, the crowd—”
“Carter will be up there with you. You have nothing to worry about.”
Riley stepped next to us. “Okay, Dahlia, time to go. Ready?”
“I guess.”
Would my voice be shaky like this on stage?
Butterflies took flight in my stomach. The not-so-fun kind.
I walked away, my hand locked in Jeff’s, touching until our fingers broke apart.
Carter neared me and snaked his arm through mine. “It’s okay, Dah. I’m here. We can do this. Just follow my lead, I’ll take care of everything.”
Those words.
My pulse evened.
We exchanged a smile as Stud padded in our direction and put his arms around us.
“Let’s show them what we’ve got.” He stopped and pulled us into his embrace. “We’re kicking off our first world tour. How awesome is that? Let’s do this, motherfuckers.”
Stud’s longish stubble rapped my cheek.
“Oh yes,” Carter said as I replied, “Let’s make history.”
The lights of the stage blinded me. My heart sank down to my toes. “Seventy thousand people,” I said, mostly to myself. “Seventy thousand.”
My insides tightened. Carter said a few words to the crowd, but I registered none. My eyes drifted to the right side where Jeff stood. Did I look like a deer caught in headlights? My fingers shook. My head turned. My legs wobbled. I tried to breathe, but my lungs were closed for business.
“You can do this,” Jeff mouthed.
I swallowed the lump choking me.
Carter strummed the first chords of “Heart for Rent.” My heart leaped in my throat. Why did I agree to this? I loved our simple garage band. This, right here, was way too big for a White Crest girl like me. I shut my eyes, silencing my thundering heart. I could do this. I breathed out. My fingers played on their own. I locked my eyes on my best friend. He winked. No one was here except the two of us—and Stud. We were back in Carter’s garage, dreaming about getting fifty people to come see us play.
This—right here—was our dream.
I rolled my shoulders—chasing the tension away—rotated my neck and found my voice.

My Thoughts:

Princess and Country is a lovely romance that will tug at the heartstrings and keep you reading until the end. This is not without its share of emotions, but is a light read altogether with everything coming together eventually.

The story follows Dahlia, a singer and country superstar, her best friend Carter and his brother Jeff. When Dahlia realizes that both Carter and Jeff love her, she has a hard time finding the balance and following her heart. She has been best-friends with Carter since childhood and they sing together, they are famous together. As Dahlia struggles to keep the people she loves together in her life, we follow them on this wonderful journey of discovery.

This is a story of love, friendship that endures, second chances even. With heartbreak just around the corner, it remains to be seen how Dahlia copes with her best-friend supporting her no matter what. This is indeed a wonderful example of true friendship!

I truly enjoyed reading this book and about the characters. They are charismatic and will draw you in making you feel a part of the group. The musical aspect is interesting and I love how they embrace this. The brothers are so different from each other and yet their bond is strong. This is the kind of book that one should read on a quiet summer afternoon or to spend a lovely evening! I highly recommend the books in this series by the author. (I have started reading Carter’s story after all)

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Book Review: Keep Forever by Alexa Kingaard

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Keep Forever
Alexa Kingaard
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: March 28th 2020
Genres: Historical Romance, Women’s Fiction

“Unlike some war stories that focus on intense, harsh and graphic depictions of post-combat trauma, this tale unfolds gently, like an Edna Ferber novel, spread across many decades, detailing the impact this soldier’s illness has on an entire family, including children and grandchildren. KEEP FOREVER is a wonderful, emotionally satisfying read that I highly recommend. ”
GARY SEIGEL, author of “Haskell Himself”

 

 

Paul O’Brien’s idyllic childhood in Southern California comes to a halt when his mother dies in the summer before his senior year of high school and a very different persona of his father emerges – isolating himself inside the house, turning to alcohol for comfort, and barely noticing his only child. Simultaneously, the war in Vietnam is sending shock waves around the world and young men from one coast to the other are being called upon to serve. Paul enlists in the Marines before receiving his draft notice.

Elizabeth Sutton is eager to gain some independence from her father’s old fashioned notions and looking forward to her first year in high school. At fifteen years old, tragedy strikes with the loss of both parents in an auto accident, turning her childhood into one of responsibility and worry overnight. The four siblings are scattered when her nine-year-old twin sisters are sent to live with their Aunt and Uncle on Nantucket Island, and Elizabeth is left behind in Boston with their grandmother. Her older brother, Sam, enlists in the Marines, eager to join the conflict a world away as opposed to dealing with the one unfolding at home.

A bond develops between Paul and Sam in Vietnam, and both are injured in a bloody battle that costs Sam his right hand and sets the stage for a lifetime of nightmares and sleepless nights for Paul. Matched by similar tragedies at a young age, Elizabeth and Paul’s first introduction by Sam upon their return from Vietnam is the beginning of friendship and love that survives five decades.

After marrying, welcoming their first child, and inheriting a small beach house, the couple adapts to their new surroundings, but distant memories of Vietnam continue to haunt Paul. In an era when veterans refuse to speak of their pain and the government denies that thousands of soldiers are coming home irreparably damaged, he is left to deal with the challenge of caring for his loved ones amidst his his erratic flashback episodes and moods. As their lives unravel from the lingering effects of PTSD, Elizabeth learns to accept the burden that Paul brought home, and together they make their own memories to keep forever.

Inspired By A True Story

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

ALEXA KINGAARD, a California native, currently resides in Carlsbad and is the mother of a son and daughter who continue to be her biggest fans and cheerleaders.

October 13, 2011, was the day that changed her life forever when her ex-husband, a Vietnam veteran, took his life during a PTSD flashback episode. Inspired to share this tragedy that continues to rob husbands and wives of their spouses, children of their parents, mothers of their children, brothers and sisters of their siblings, and comrades of their friends, Kingaard relied on her own experiences to shed light on this crisis. The burden brought home is not partial to Vietnam, but is an insidious aftershock endured by combat veterans of all conflicts.

Kingaard continues to pursue her literary career, writing about nostalgia and the human condition, the common denominator of our lives.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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My Thoughts:

Keep Forever is a story that will take the rider on a roller coaster of emotions. It follows the lives of Paul and Sam as they navigate their way through being Marines and their short experience with War in Vietnam. We also follow Elizabeth, Sam’s sister as she tries to hold on to her emotions and childhood while dealing with the loss of her parents and the responsibility of her younger siblings. A very well-written story, Keep Forever will pull the reader in and make up experience everything along with the main characters. The happiness, the turmoil, the heart-wrenching sadness and the flicker of hope.

Considering that this story is inspired by a true story, it is all that more eye opening. The reader is exposed to the concept of PTSD, the possible causes and the effects it may have on the person experiencing it as well as the people around. If a person is suffering from it, their pain and sorrow is difficult to relate to, but for the family, it is even more difficult to handle. The author brings in a lot of perspective on the topic and handles the concept with delicate ease. The main characters are well rounded and very well thought out. I enjoyed reading about their lives, and it was a humbling experience. We are also given a glimpse into the circumstances that shaped the characters and made them who they are, the reasons behind their decisions and finally the consequences of these decisions. These form the crux of the plot.

I particularly enjoyed reading about Elizabeth and how she grows into a strong woman. She takes control of her life, takes care of her family and builds a new one with the man she loves. Even in the end, she manages to give him distance while maintaining normalcy to ensure that he never feels useless. Her delicate handling of things and her ability to understand or make and effort to understand her husband’s pain is what makes her a wonderful person.

This story is a must read for everyone, a way to try and understand the nightmares of war and how it affects us human beings!