Sunday, October 29, 2017

DEATH IN D MINOR BY ALEXIA GORDON

Genre: Paranormal Mystery / African American Sleuth

Publisher: Henery Press

Date of Publication: July 11, 2017

Pages: 236

Synopsis:

Gethsemane Brown, African-American musician and expatriate to an Irish village, solved a string of murders and got used to living with a snarky ghost. She can rest easy now. Right? Wrong. The ghost has disappeared, her landlord's about to sell to a developer, and her brother-in-law's come to visit. She scrambles to call her spectral roomie back from beyond and find a way to save the cottage from destruction. But real estate takes a backseat when her brother-in-law is accused of stealing a valuable antique. Gethsemane strikes a deal with an investigator to go undercover at a charity ball and snoop for evidence of a forgery/theft ring in exchange for the woman's help clearing him. At the party, she accidentally conjures the ghost of an eighteenth-century sea captain, then ends up the prime suspect in the party host’s murder. She races to untangle a web of phony art and stolen antiques to exonerate herself, then the killer targets her. Will she bring a murderer to justice, or will her encore investigation become her swan song?

Praise for Death in D Minor:

Gethsemane Brown is everything an amateur sleuth should be: smart, sassy, talented, and witty even when her back is against the wall. In her latest adventure, she's surrounded by a delightful cast, some of whom readers will remember from Gordon's award-winning debut and all of whom they won't forget. Gordon writes characters we want resurrected. ~Cate Holahan, author of The Widower's Wife and Lies She Told

Erstwhile ghost conjurer and gifted concert violinist Gethsemane Brown returns in this thoroughly enjoyable follow-up to last year’s Murder in G Major. Facing eviction from the historic seaside cottage she calls home, Gethsemane must clear her brother-in-law’s name - as well as her own - when a priceless artifact goes missing and the wealthy dowager to whom it belonged is “helped” over a high balcony railing. With the help of a spectral sea captain she accidentally summoned, Gethsemane tries to unravel the mystery as the murderer places her squarely in the crosshairs. ~Daniel J. Hale, Agatha Award-winning author

Buy Now:

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Excerpt:

Death in D Minor by Alexia Gordon

***

“This is ridiculous.”

They stood in the doorway of Walsh and Sons Men’s Tailor and Haberdashery. Frankie crossed his arms and mimicked the expression of a schoolboy told there’d be a pop quiz.

“It’s not.” Gethsemane tugged at his arm. “Tailors keep records. My grandfather kept a record of every detail about every suit and dress he ever made. Color, cut, size, fabric, price. He even kept fabric swatches and sketches of the finished piece.”

“So you’re just going to walk in there, hand the proprietor your ‘appropriated’ button, and ask him who he made it for. If he made it. It could’ve come from anywhere.”

“Not anywhere. Custom-made sterling silver buttons engraved with coats of arms don’t come from the local superstore.”

“Walsh and his sons aren’t the only tailors around.”

“They’re the only ones in Ballytuam.” She pulled him into the shop. “Come on.”

“If it is his button, he’s not going to volunteer the name of the person he sold it to. Don’t high-end shops pride themselves on keeping their clients’ details confidential?”

“Yes, they do. Which is why you’re going to distract the Messrs. Walsh while I have a peek in the office.”

***

About the Author:

A writer since childhood, I put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. Medical career established, I returned to writing fiction. I completed SMU's Writer’s Path program in Dallas, Texas. Henery Press published my first novel, Murder in G Major, book one of the Gethsemane Brown mysteries, in September 2016. Book two, Death in D Minor, released July 11, 2017.

Murder in G Major won the Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best New Novel, and was selected one of Suspense Magazine's Best Debuts. I listen to classical music, drink whiskey, and blog at www.missdemeanors.com, voted one of Writers' Digest magazine's 101 best websites for writers, and featured on Femmes Fatales.

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: Signed copy of Death in D Minor + Whisky Field Guide, Sea Salt & Bay Rum soy candle, Notepad, $20 Starbucks Gift Card
2nd Prize: Signed copy of Death in D Minor, Ceramic Skull Coffee Mug, $20 Amazon Gift Card
October 25-November 3, 2017
(U.S. Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Blogs on this Tour:

25-Oct	Review	Hall Ways Blog
25-Oct	Notable Quotable	Texan Girl Reads
26-Oct	Top 5 List	Books and Broomsticks
27-Oct	Review	Momma On The Rocks
27-Oct	Playlist #1	Texas Book Lover
28-Oct	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
30-Oct	Author Interview	The Librarian Talks
30-Oct	Review	Forgotten Winds
31-Oct	Playlist #2	Syd Savvy
1-Nov	Review	Tangled in Text
1-Nov	Top 5 List	Bibliotica
2-Nov	Notable Quotable	Missus Gonzo
2-Nov	Notable Quotable	StoreyBook Reviews
3-Nov	Review	Reading by Moonlight

LOVE ANTHONY BY LISA GENOVA

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

My book club decided to read Lisa Genova's book, Love Anthony, for our upcoming meeting in November. I am probably part of a small minority of readers who has not read Still Alice (nor seen the movie), but I did read Left Neglected and enjoyed it immensely. I had hoped I would enjoy Love Anthony just as much, but it kind of fell flat for me.

The story is starts off rather depressing and doesn't offer much hope throughout. There's a slight glimmer at the end, but I finished the book just feeling, eh. It wasn't a horrible book, but it didn't wow me. I was quite ready to move on to the next story in my ever-growing to be read pile.

The book features two main characters, Olivia, who had a son with autism who died at age 8, and Beth, who is recently separated from her philandering husband. To reclaim her identity, Beth begins voraciously writing. The outcome of her efforts is a story about a young boy who has autism. As a reader (or even if you aren't a reader), you can tell where this story is going, right? Both women cross paths and are drawn together by the account of a fictional and real boy with autism who is used as a vehicle to help them both manage their grief and loss.

The story is promising, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I found the parts where the little boy, in the book within the book, narrated to be mundane. I get that Genova was trying to give the reader a fuller picture of what having autism is like, but it was a little much for me. Similarly, there were parts where Olivia re-read her journal during the time that she cared for Anthony. It seemed that the book was comprised more of the characters reading and re-telling events than it included actual substance of what was going on in present time.

Recommendation: Genova is a detailed storyteller. Her background, as a neuroscientist, provides another dimension of depth to stories like this. If you're looking to gather another perspective on autism, this might be a good choice. However, I would recommend reading it when you're in good spirits because it is quite sobering.

Until next time ... Read on!

THE SECRET LIFE OF SARAH HOLLENBECK BY BETHANY TURNER

Synopsis:

Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that’s obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she’s made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing. Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she’s chosen. She’s still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she’s not sure she can write anymore. She’s beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a "scandalous" book. And the fact that she’s falling in love with her pastor doesn’t make things any easier.

With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn’t afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.

Praise:

“The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is a rare treat packed with humor, hope, and heart. Sarah’s struggles are real and nearly tangible, and she feels like a friend we’ve all had. I laughed with her and fell in love alongside her and couldn’t wait to hear her whole story. What a charming, delightful book!” ~Liz Johnson, bestselling author of The Red Door Inn

My Review:

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I've always had a love for reading, but as I get older I find myself reading more books and consuming television and movies a lot less. Having said that, I do enjoy a good book that flows like it's made for live entertainment. In reading Bethany Turner's debut novel, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, the story read very much like a picture perfect movie that might appear on the Hallmark Channel.
In this romantic, Christian comedy, we meet the titular character who is grieving her recent divorce. In an effort to re-discover who she is, Sarah joins a book club. One thing leads to another and she ends up a wealthy author of some very steamy romance novels (think 50 Shades of Grey steamy). In the midst of her success and with the help of her BFF, Piper, Sarah becomes a born-again Christian and decides to once again re-invent herself. If that wasn't enough, she finds herself in love (at first sight) with the pastor of her new church. Chaos ensues, but everything is tied up nicely in the end.

While this brief synopsis might make the book sound rather superficial, make no mistake, Bethany Turner does an excellent job of presenting realistic and complex situations any of us could find ourselves in. The author's gift as a writer is that she takes those situations and offers a fresh perspective with a bit of hope and a dash of humor. It's often said that comedy helps us digest difficult circumstances with a bit of sugar. Turner certainly has mastered this craft. Additionally, she offers wonderful insight into common issues that all couples face, but specifically she creatively demonstrates how Christians can approach these issues while remaining true to the faith.

I also enjoyed the construction of this book. Many of the books I've read as of late simply number the chapters in chronological order. I liked that Turner included descriptive headings for each of her chapters. It makes the reader anticipate what's to come in the secret-turned-very public life of Sarah Hollenbeck. What's more is all of the characters seem so genuine. They're relatable and broken, but not beyond repair and redemption. And most importantly, not beyond the grasp of God's grace and mercy. This is what gives the book an overarching theme of hope. (As an aside, I really want Piper to be my best friend!)

My only criticism of this novel, albeit a personal one, is that I found some things in the book a bit unrealistic. For example, I don't believe in "love at first sight." You can disagree though. Let me know what you think in the comments. Also, I would have liked the book to include a little more breadth in terms of ethnic diversity.

Recommendation: I found this story to be a delight, containing nuggets of truth that convicted but also inspired me. It is a story about overcoming grief, releasing guilt, forging friendships, and reading and writing books. What's not to love? I think it would make for a great book club discussion as well as an individual read. Pick up a copy and see for yourself. Or check out the giveaway further down this page and enter for a chance to win your own copy plus some other sweet prizes!

Until next time ... Read on!

Buy Now:

About the Author:

Bethany Turner is the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former VP/operations manager of a commercial bank and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she’s chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.
Connect with Bethany | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: Copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck + a typewriter tote bag + a typewriter notebook + Columbia Jo's coffee + Novel Teas teabags

2nd Prize: Copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck + a typewriter hardcover journal + typewriter enamel lapel pin

3rd Prize: Copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck + $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card

October 19-October 28, 2017

(U.S. Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Blogs on this Tour:

19-Oct	Author Interview	Forgotten Winds
20-Oct	Guest Post #1	Margie's Must Reads
21-Oct	Review	Texan Girl Reads
22-Oct	Deleted Scene	Reading by Moonlight
24-Oct	Guest Post #2	Texas Book Lover
25-Oct	Review	Tangled in Text
26-Oct	Playlist	Books in the Garden
27-Oct	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
28-Oct	Character Interview	Books and Broomsticks

HIDDEN SEA BY MILES ARCENEAUX

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Date of Publication: November 2017

Pages: 384

Synopsis:

Charlie Sweetwater saw Mexico—especially the Mexican Gulf Coast—as a spiritual second home. He’d worked, played and lived there for much of his life, and thought the country suited him better than anywhere this side of his home on the Texas Coast.

But now a worrisome and potentially dangerous development has shown up on Charlie’s radar. Young Augustus Sweetwater, affectionately known as Augie, hasn’t reported in after completing a south-of-the-border sales trip for Sweetwater Marine. Raul, Augie’s father and Charlie’s nephew, is worried sick. Drug cartel violence in Mexico has reached epidemic proportions and Augie’s path took him through the heart of the narcotraficantes’ territory.

Charlie figures Augie just went off the grid to do some well-deserved fishing, surfing and beer-drinking at the end of his trip. He’d done the same in his time. But as Augie’s unexplained absence grows, Charlie and Raul become increasingly alarmed and set off for Mexico to bring their boy home.

What they unearth is far more than the sum of their fears. The familiar and friendly Gulf of Mexico has turned into a hidden sea plagued by smugglers, human traffickers, crooked politicians and even pirates. And Augie is lost somewhere in the middle of it all.

Charlie and Raul must summon an unlikely cast of characters to aid them, including a hilariously dissolute ex-pat musician, a priest whose faith struggles against the rising tide of refugee migration, a Mexican tycoon who may have secrets of his own and a beautiful maritime “repo man”. At the end of their quest, as the deepest secret of all is revealed, Charlie Sweetwater learns that neither Raul and Augie, nor the Gulf of Mexico, nor even himself, will ever be the same again.

Praise for Hidden Sea:

“A riveting story from Texas that wanders down the cartel-invested Gulf Coast of Mexico and drifts across to lawless Cuba. The characters are as salty as the sea and the plot pulls you along as powerfully as the loop current. ~W.F. Strong, Stories from Texas, Texas Standard Radio Network

“Hidden Sea is a total blast: smart, funny, and riveting, with unforgettably colorful characters and a world so alive that you’ll swear you’re really there.” ~Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of The Long and Faraway Gone

“In Hidden Sea, Miles Arceneaux tosses us in the drink of a timely contemporary adventure tale with the Sweetwater clan, complete with pirates, slave ships, family secrets, and the mother of all plot twists, in his patented Gulf Coast noir style.” ~Michelle Newby Lancaster, Contributing Editor, Lone Star Literary Life, NBCC Literary Critic

Buy Now:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Author Interview: Miles Arceneaux
(1) How has being a Texan (or Texas) influenced your writing?

Well, each of us is a native Texan. It’s a place we know and a place we love, but moreover, there’s a real sense in which the characters we know and write about couldn’t arise from anyplace else. To be a Texan, however, means a great many things. For example, the landscape or the climate of El Paso or Dallas has very little in common with Beaumont or Galveston or other parts of the Gulf Coast. But I think that Texas writers, in general, have a real sense of vastness, or a wonder of open spaces. That’s particularly true of West Texas, where we all have roots. I think Texans also have a unique sense of humor, often as dry as a Lubbock dust storm, which runs throughout our books.

(2) How long have you been writing together?

As strange as it sounds looking back on it, we have been doing this together for about forty years now. It began as a lark, arising out of a group of friends getting together over Labor Day in Rockport, drinking and telling stories. I think for us, the books arose out of our compulsion to tell each other stories and make each other laugh. The novels have provided a good excuse to get together through the years and the miles. Fortunately, our books met with some early success, otherwise we might have decided to band together in some sort of felonious association and gone on a crime spree instead.

(3) Are there common themes running throughout your books?

All of our books revolve around the intersection of cultures when they collide. Whether it’s the border with Mexico, Vietnamese immigrants, West Texas rubbing up against the Gulf Coast, or racial interactions, most of the books involve the consequences of cultural junctions. Usually, that means that one or more of the characters feels like, or actually is, an outsider. Also, because the books are a series that tells the story of a family over a period of about 60 years, they necessarily deal with the idea of family and home. We’ve explored what it means to have a family and a home, and what it might mean to lose them.

(4) What was the hardest part of writing this book?

I would say that in this book, like all our books, the most challenging part of our writing is actually the editing process. The whole notion of three people writing a novel is . . .well, it’s a fool’s errand. It’s not . . .well, it’s just not a smart thing to do. We have three people, with three distinct writing styles and three different ideas of the story and the characters. Obviously, the final goal is to leave the reader with a consistent narrative told in a single voice. So, the editing process becomes paramount. We usually take our books through at least 10 complete drafts, which means three people rewriting the book 10 times. Again, it’s probably the worst possible way to write a book, but it’s worked for us so far.

(5) Being from Texas, a notoriously red state, do you want to say anything about Texas politics?

Nope.

(6) Do you have a mantra for writing and/or for life?As strange as it sounds, we kinda do. It’s a funny story that arose from a sad event. Several years ago, John Terry’s father passed away. And James and Brent were driving up from San Antonio to the funeral in Santa Fe. Now, that’s a drive of about 700 miles, and after we got the car loaded, Brent looked at James and said: “Now, I don’t want you to say anything stupid.” James observed that over the course of a twelve-hour drive, that was very unlikely. Since then, whenever we’ve done an interview or a reading or a book festival, someone always says, “Don’t say anything stupid.” It’s a rule that’s observed more often in the breach than in conformity to it. Well, it’s probably more of a guideline than a rule.

About the Author:

“Miles Arceneaux” is the pen name of three long-time Texas friends. James R. Dennis is a former attorney turned Dominican friar who lives in San Antonio. Brent Douglass is an international businessman from Austin. John T. Davis, also of Austin, is a journalist and author. Together, as “Miles,” they have been featured authors at the Texas Book Festival, the San Antonio Book Festival, and the Lubbock Book Festival.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: Autographed copies of all five Gulf Coast series books by Miles Arceneaux + a copy of Geoff Winningham's Traveling the Shore of the Spanish Sea -- The Gulf Coast of Texas and Mexico

Two Runners-Up: Each win an autographed copy of Hidden Sea
October 11-October 20, 2017

U.S. Only

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10/11	Promo	Texas Book Lover
10/12	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/12	ICYWW #1	Bibliotica
10/13	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/14	Excerpt 1	Syd Savvy
10/15	Review	Texan Girl Reads
10/16	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
10/16	ICYWW #2	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/17	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/18	Excerpt 2	Books and Broomsticks
10/18	Playlist	The Page Unbound
10/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/20	Review	Tangled in Text
10/20	ICYWW #3	The Librarian Talks

THE UNREMEMBERED GIRL BY ELIZA MAXWELL

Genre: Psychological Suspense / Mystery

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of Publication: November 1, 2017

Pages: 332

Synopsis:

In the deep woods of East Texas, Henry supports his family by selling bootleg liquor. It’s all he can do to keep his compassionate but ailing mother and his stepfather—a fanatical grassroots minister with a bruising rhetoric—from ruin. But they have no idea they’ve become the obsession of the girl in the woods.

Abandoned and nearly feral, Eve has been watching them, seduced by the notion of family—something she’s known only in the most brutal sense. Soon she can’t resist the temptation to get close. Where Henry’s mother sees a poor girl in need, his father sees only wickedness. When Henry forges an unexpected bond with Eve, he believes he might be able to save her. He doesn’t know how wrong he is.

Eve is about to take charge of her own destiny—and that of Henry’s family. As both their worlds spin violently out of control, Henry must make an impossible choice: protect the broken young woman who’s claimed a piece of his soul, or put everyone he loves at risk in order to do the right thing.

Praise for The Grave Tender, Maxwell's previous book:

"An emotional powerhouse of a story that will leave readers reeling from the beginning to the end.” ~Christena Stephens, Forgotten Winds

"Beautiful and intoxicating.” ~Chelsea Humphrey, The Suspense is Thrilling Me

"Haunting. Lyrical. Beautiful. Dark. At times, sickening.” ~Julia Byers, Books in the Garden

“This is dark psychological suspense that skillfully inspires a slow-dawning dread. . .It will shred you.” ~Michelle Newby, Lone Star Literary Life

My Review:
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
If I had one word to summarize the overriding theme of The Unremembered Girl by Eliza Maxwell it would be sacrifice. If I had one word to describe the creativity of this story and the beautiful way in which it was told, I wouldn't be able to do it because it is worthy of so much more than one word.

The Unremembered Girl starts off with a preview of a future dark, yet sacrificial activity involving the main character, Henry. The introduction creates a bit of confusion, but with her enchanting and captivating writing, Maxwell quickly draws the reader into this story setting the foundation for a suspense-filled novel. This piece of fiction covers a lot of ground including human trafficking, rape, cancer, death, infertility, grief, guilt, and more.

Henry is tasked with doing the right thing for Eve, a stranger his mother rescued for the back woods of east Texas. Like most real-life families, there’s a bit of dysfunction involving the secondary characters of Henry’s stepfather, stepbrother, and his stepsister-in-law. Maxwell portrays Henry as a most sympathetic protagonist, so much so that even when he commits seemingly amoral acts, you as the reader, still root for him to win. The story is very easy to follow, and even with so many complex topics being presented, the overall pace of it is rather fast. No spoilers, but the ending will leave you with a myriad of feelings that will have you thinking about the characters long after you’ve turned the last page.

Recommendation: Do something nice for yourself today: Get a copy of this book, and carve out some time to indulge yourself. You won't need much because it is a quick read. This slow reader was able to finish it in 3 days. Oh! And don't forget to enter the giveaway below. Not only do you have a chance to win an autographed copy of the book but some vodka, a cake stand, and a gift card too!

Until next time ... Read on!

Buy Now:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Murder by the Book

Book Trailer:

About the Author:

Eliza Maxwell lives in Texas with her ever patient husband and two kids. She's an artist and writer, an introvert and a British cop drama addict. She loves nothing more than to hear from readers. You can find her at theelizamaxwell@gmail.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Grand Prize ($90 value): Autographed copy of The Unremembered Girl, 1.75 mL bottle of Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Jusalpha white porcelain decorative cake stand, recipe for "Caroline's Coconut Cake" (featured in the book), $20 Amazon Gift Card.

2nd Prize: Autographed copy of The Unremembered Girl, $10 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: Autographed copy of The Unremembered Girl

October 5-October 14, 2017

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(U.S. Only; proof of age 21 or older required to receive vodka)

More Blogs on this Tour:

10/5	Notable Quotable 1	Texas Book Lover
10/5	Notable Quotable 1	Reading by Moonlight
10/6	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/7	Top Ten List	The Librarian Talks
10/7	Top Ten List	Blogging for the Love of Authors & Their Books
10/8	Review	Texan Girl Reads
10/10	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/10	Author Interview	Books in the Garden
10/11	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/11	Guest Post	Missus Gonzo
10/12	Review	Tangled in Text
10/13	Notable Quotable 2	Books and Broomsticks
10/13	Notable Quotable 2	Margie's Must Reads
10/14	Review	The Page Unbound