A Place Called Harmony (Harmony - Book 8) by Jodi Thomas
Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Books
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425250784
ISBN-13: 978-0425250785
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Books)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Jodi Thomas on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Harmony
1. Welcome to Harmony
2. Somewhere Along the Way
3. The Comforts of Home
4. Just Down the Road
5. Chance of a Lifetime
6. Can't Stop Believing
7. Betting the Rainbow
8. A Place Called Harmony
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, A Place Called Harmony, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas has captivated America with her novels set in the small town of Harmony, Texas. Now she tells the story of the three hard-luck men who first settled the town, a place where last chances and long-awaited dreams collide…
Desperate to escape his overbearing father, Patrick McAllen disappears with his bride, heading north to build a new town—discovering strength, honor and true love along the way.
After drinking away the grief from his family’s death, Clint Truman avoids jail by taking a job in North Texas and settling down with a woman he vows to protect but never love—until her quiet compassion slowly breaks his hardened heart wide open…
All Gillian Matheson has ever known is Army life, leaving his true love to be a part-time spouse. But when a wounded Gillian returns home to find her desperately fighting to save their marriage, he’s determined to become the husband she deserves.
Amidst storms, outlaws, and unwelcome relatives, the three couples band together to build a town—and form a bond that breathes life into the place that will forever be called Harmony.
Thoughts:
Fans of the Harmony series by Jodi Thomas will simply love this book. In A Place Called Harmony, Thomas takes readers back to Harmony, Texas before it even existed. This historical novel will captivate readers, taking them back in time to the founding of the town and the ancestors of Thomas' modern day heroes and heroines. Why is the town called Harmony? Who was the first sheriff? What were the challenges and triumphs in building a new community? Readers will find out all this and more in this great new book from a born storyteller.
What I liked:
I love the Harmony series. This is a wonderful small town populated by people who routinely steal the hearts of readers. It's a place you might want to start a family and build a life. The town itself is part of what has made this series so successful. And now readers are getting a real treat with this book. They get to go back to the beginning and see how it all got started. It's a prequel of sorts and would make a wonderful introduction to the series for anyone who hasn't been fortunate enough to read these books yet. A Place Called Harmony is a great opener and fans of the series will fall hard for the pioneering families and their stories and struggles.
Three families given the opportunity to earn 40 acres of land free and clear for constructing and living in a town for two years. In post Civil War Texas, that was probably a dream come true. A realistic endeavor that would provide homes and a legacy. I loved the idea and premise that Thomas gives readers here. The only way to make this work was if the men who came to build the town were married. Not all of these marriages were made in heaven and some of them didn't know each other from Adam. But it worked. In spite of the circumstances and the secrets that surround this group of pioneers or maybe because of them... it works. Thomas gives readers a look at what it took to build the town of Harmony and it was a joy to read about.
The new sheriff has a military background but he's lately been known as a drunk. One young man is running away from a tragic past and a father that won't stop hunting him. One family has four boisterous and obnoxious boys. All of the stories are unique and different. Each set of circumstances and situation added to the western flavor of the book and will keep readers engaged and ready to find out more. Given these are the ancestors of some of their favorite book characters, it had to be good. And Thomas does not disappoint.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the way the Trumen's, Matheson's and McAllen's exemplified the characteristics of their modern day counterparts. The founding families were a joy to read about and Thomas does a remarkable job of leading it all back to the current series. I'm not often fond of books that go back and try to set the scene after I've already read about the people, but this one was remarkably enjoyable.
Bottom Line:
If you are a fan of Jodi Thomas or the Harmony series you have to read this book. If you've never read anything by the author, start with this one. It will make you enjoy the series all the more and get you started with an author who knows how to tell a good story. Thomas has quickly become one of my favorite's. Read this book... it's that good!
A Place Called Harmony is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Jodi Thomas is a certified marriage and family counselor, a fifth generation Texan, a Texas Tech graduate, and writer-in-residence at West Texas A&M University. She's the New York Times bestselling author of the Harmony series, including Welcome to Harmony, Somewhere Along the Way, and The Comforts of Home, as well as the McLain series and the Whispering Mountain series. She lives in Amarillo, Texas.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of A Place Called Harmony by Jodi Thomas.
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~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 14th.
1. Please leave a comment. Do you like prequels? Or books that go back and tell the history of the series?
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Rules for a Proper Governess (MacKenzies and McBrides/ Highland Pleasures - Book 7) by Jennifer Ashley
Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425266036
ISBN-13: 978-0425266038
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Jennifer Ashley on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
1. The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie
2. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
3. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron
4. The Duke's Perfect Wife
4.5. MacKenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift
5. The Seduction of Eliot McBride
5.5. The Untamed MacKenzie
6. The Wicked Deeds of Daniel MacKenzie
6.5. Scandal and the Dutchess
7. Rules for a Proper Governess
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Rules for a Proper Governess, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
TO KISS A THIEF...
Scottish barrister Sinclair McBride can face the most sinister criminals in London--but the widower's two unruly children are a different matter. Little Caitlin and Andrew go through a governess a week, sending the ladies fleeing in tears. There is, however, one woman in town who can hold her own.
Roberta "Bertie" Frasier enters Sinclair's life by stealing his watch--and then stealing a kiss. Intrigued by the handsome highlander, Bertie winds up saving his children from a dangerous situation and returning them to their father. Impressed with how they listen to her, Sinclair asks the lively beauty to be their governess, never guessing that the uncoventional lady will teach him a lesson or two in love.
Thoughts:
Jennifer Ashley returns to the Highland Pleasures series with her seventh book, Rules For a Proper Governess. When a Scottish barrister meets an East End pickpocket, most would not expect romance to follow, but Ashley will make you suspend your belief in the impossible with this leading couple. Readers looking for a historical with a unique perspective will love this book and it's underlying nod to stories like "My Fair Lady." Another enjoyable romance features one of the McBride's and the MacKenzie's.
What I liked:
The Highland Pleasures series follows two families, the MacKenzie's and the McBride's. The MacKenzie's tend to be my favorites because their books have been the more passionate of the series, with heroes and leading ladies that are a step above most historical pairings. However, I enjoyed this book featuring Sinclair McBride as much, or more than most of the MacKenzie books. Pairing McBride with a pickpocket was a remarkable way to add flavor to the book and a different kind of excitement. Ashley draws the reader in with a stolen watch and holds on tight.
I did have to suspend my ideas of what I thought was likely to happen in this book to some extent, but that's what it's all about. I wanted it to be possible for a young woman from the streets to meet a well educated, wealthy man and fall in love and Ashley made me believe it could happen. When Bertie, the heroine becomes the new governess for Sinclair McBride's children, however I did have a few doubts.
Bertie was a real joy as a heroine. From her Cockney accent to her zest for love and life. But she was still an uneducated woman from the East End. Just because McBride's children liked her, may not have been enough for her to get the job in any normal circumstance, but it was enough in this book. Of course the sparks flying between her and Sinclair might have had something to do with it. She gave him a new lease on life that he needed so desperately. It had to take a character that was completely different from the normal historical romance lady to draw McBride out and Ashley provides that in Bertie.
Sinclair is mourning the death of his wife seven years later. No has been able to bring the tortured, broody hero around, until he meets someone completely outside his normal existence. I liked the fact that Ashley doesn't make him perfect. He is flawed and heartbroken. He doesn't know how to take care of his children or how to move on. Bertie's refreshing take on life might have been a bit unconventional, but it was what he needed. Ashley made me believe in this connection, in this unorthodox romance, despite it's implausibility. They were simply perfect for each other.
Bottom Line:
Ashley's writing style in this one was very succinct. She had a plan as to how it needed to go and she executed it well. There were moments of levity and moments of action. Times where family and friends were the central theme and times when the lead couple were center stage. There were issues to overcome and even a bit of mystery. I thought the author did a great job of bringing it all together in a story about people from different sides of the tracks finding love together. A very good addition to this wonderful series.
Rules For a Proper Governess is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical and paranormal romance as Jennifer Ashley; paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Allyson James; and mysteries as Ashley Gardner. Jennifer's novels have won RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards among others.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley.
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~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 14th.
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The Forgiven (Keepers of the Promise - Book 1) by Marta Perry
Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Books
Genre: Amish Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0425271412
ISBN-13: 978-0425271414
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Books)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Marta Perry on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, goodreads
Excerpt from, The Forgiven, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
When three women, all cousins, are given the task of sorting through the treasures of several generations of their Amish family, they each discover a story from the past that provides insights and inspiration for their own lives.
Central Pennsylvania, current day. Rebecca Fisher gladly accepted her husband Paul’s dreams as her own, but now that he has passed away, she’s struggling to raise two children and keep her home. Renting her stable to carpenter Matthew Byler offers a partial solution—even though Matthew has a troubled history, having sometimes failed to embrace Amish beliefs. As Matthew seeks to prove himself, Rebecca realizes how dependent she has become on others. Where can she find the courage to grow and change?
Lancaster County, 1941. As war threatens, Anna Esch pours her experiences into her diary. Her world seems to crumble as neighbors turn against the Amish and her love, Jacob, is sent to a camp far away for refusing to fight. She can’t know, as she grows from a girl into a woman during a time of trouble and grief, that one day another Amish woman will gain strength from the words she writes and will learn that she, too, can become a keeper of the promise.
Thoughts:
Marta Perry brings readers a new Amish romance series. The Forgiven is the first book in the Keeper's of the Promise series featuring three Amish cousins and their struggle to preserve their family heritage. Readers looking for a sweet portrayal of love and loss will find this book both compelling and inspirational. Perry captivates readers with, not one, but two stories interwoven to create a great reading experience and proves that some things are same no matter what you believe in. Grief, love and family are universal.
What I liked:
Marta Perry isn't new to Amish fiction. In fact she has several very successful Amish series', including the Pleasant Valley series and the Amish Suspense series. Perry may not be considered an expert on the subject, but she certainly knows a lot about the simple style and strong belief system of the Amish people. Living in Amish country will do that to you. It gives the author an interesting perspective because she is on the outside looking in, but is still able to capture the spirit and determination of this remarkable people.
The Keeper's of the Promise series has a unique and interesting premise. You have three Amish cousins who are tasked with going through their grandmother's attic. Grannie wasn't a hoarder but she did keep a lot of things that were meant to keep the Amish heritage of her family alive and she wants the girls to carry on with her legacy. Each young woman will find something in the attic that helps them in their current circumstances in life. I often find it amazing how the past tends to repeat itself and how we can learn so much from those who have gone before us. I think Perry captures that idea and infuses it into this story. It gave the book a heart-warming and nostalgic feel to it that couldn't be beat.
Rebecca is the heroine in The Forgiven. While she is cleaning the attic she finds a diary belonging to an ancestor living during WWII. Rebecca is struggling to find herself in the wake of her husband's death. Paul had big dreams and was on his way to fulfilling them, but his death leaves Rebecca as a single mother with a mortgage and very little practical experience. Perry gives readers a young woman in the midst of grief and loss. Rebecca will grab the heart of the reader and won't let go. She finds the strength within herself to move on with the help of Anna's diary. I loved the dual stories and how they played out within the pages of this novel. Perry does a great job of weaving the lives of Rebecca and Anna together.
Matt is an Amish man seeking redemption. His wild younger years drove him from his Amish community and his return is fraught with a lot of misgivings and feelings of unworthiness. When he asks to rent Paul's unused stable as a woodworking shop, he not only gives Rebecca a way to save her home, but he also finds salvation for himself. I loved the fact that Perry doesn't give us a hero that is flawless. Matt has his issues and his own demons to tame and that was refreshing for this kind of novel.
The Amish people are portrayed in this novel as more than just a religious group, who doesn't believe in cars or electricity. Perry gives this group of people a human face. She shows their struggles and their victories in such a way that is should remind readers that we are all no so different after all. We all want to live and love and keep the heritage of our family alive. It was a well told story with a lot of heart.
Bottom Line:
I loved the tender and thoughtful romance that develops between the lead characters. Matt and Rebecca have a lot to overcome and the story has an underlying message of forgiveness that is very captivating. Perry's character development was beautifully done and readers who are looking for a series that is both lovingly crafted and well written will find this one top notch. This is Marta Perry at her best!
The Forgiven is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta Perry to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than fifty inspirational romance novels including the Pleasant Valley series and the Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley series. She lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Forgiven by Marta Perry.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 13th.
1. Please leave a comment. Have you read any of Marta Perry's other Amish Romances? If so, what do you think?
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Murder Off the Beaten Path (Search and Rescue Mystery - Book 2) by M.L. Rowland
Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425263673
ISBN-13: 978-0425263679
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
M.L. Rowland on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Search and Rescue Mystery
1. Zero-Degree Murder
2. Murder Off the Beaten Path
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Murder Off the Beaten Path, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
As a member of a mountain search and rescue team, Gracie Kinkaid routinely volunteers to put her life on the line. But it’s at her new day job at a residential camp in the mountains of southern California where she finds her life is really in danger…
As a volunteer for Timber Creek Search and Rescue, Gracie responds to a call out for a car that’s gone over the side of a treacherous mountain road. The crash, which Gracie quickly suspects is no accident, proves to be one in an escalating and deadly series of events that lead her right back to Camp Ponderosa, a church-owned camp where she works as Program Director. As Gracie probes more deeply into the dark secrets at the camp, she unearths a hidden world of illegal activities, including murder…and finds herself going head-to-head with desperate perpetrators who will do anything to silence her forever.
Thoughts:
Murder Off the Beaten Path is M.L. Rowland's second book in her Search and Rescue mystery series. Rowland has a great eye for detail. Her descriptions of the scenery, the search and rescue missions and daily life at Camp Ponderosa were spot on and very detail oriented. Readers who are looking for a little adventure in their cozies with appreciate Rowland's vast experience with SAR and her way of writing a good whodunit. A great second book in the series!
What I liked:
In M.L. Rowland's first book in the Search and Rescue mystery series, Zero-Degree Murder, I questioned whether or not the book truly fit into the parameters of the cozy sub-genre. It leaned quite heavily toward being a thriller, but in Murder Off the Beaten Path, Rowland has settled into a more common cozy pattern. The balance between adventure and amateur sleuthing is much better in this one, but it still gives the reader a good dose of heart pumping action.
Rowland's experience as a form mountain search and rescue operative is essential to giving this series it's authenticity. It is obvious that this author knows exactly what's she's talking about when it comes to this subject. It gives her main character Gracie Kincaid a lot of credibility and makes the story so much more believable. The powers that be often tell new writers to write about what they know. Rowland has certainly taken that to heart and provided readers with a very well written portrayal of what a woman faces working in the search and rescue arena.
Gracie impressed me in this book. In the first book she was a bit more complacent. She didn't quite have the confidence I thought she needed in the beginning of that book, but throughout the course of the read she earned that confidence and became a much better heroine. In Murder Off the Beaten Path, Gracie already has a handle on who she is and where she fits. I liked her spunk and her zest for life. I appreciated her need to be of service and help people not only in her search and rescue efforts but also in her work at Camp Ponderosa. She is coming into her own as a heroine and Rowland continues to develop her character until the final page of the book.
The search and rescue missions are important in the book but Gracie's search for answers is central to the theme of this one. When her friend is killed in an accident under suspicious circumstances, Gracie begins to question her work with Camp Ponderosa a church supported camp in the area. As things start to come together in her amateur search for clues, Gracie becomes more determined than ever to find out what is going on behind the scenes at the Camp. It was a very well written mystery that kept me guessing all the way through. It was a true cozy mystery and Rowland excelled at bringing it all together.
Bottom Line:
I liked this one even better than the first book in the series. Gracie is becoming just as much a sleuth as she is a search and rescue worker. Rowland's balance between adventure and sleuthing was much better in this one and readers will appreciate her attention to detail in every aspect of the book. This book really rings true and feels real and believable. A great second book in the series!
Murder Off the Beaten Path is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
M.L. Rowland is the author of Zero-Degree Murder: A Search and Rescue Mystery.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Murder Off the Beaten Path by M.L. Rowland.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 13th.
1. Please leave a comment. Have you had any experiences with search and rescue?
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Unbinding (World of the Lupi - Book 11) by Eileen Wilks
Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 0425263371
ISBN-13: 978-0425263372
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Eileen Wilks on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
1. Tempting Danger
2. Mortal Danger
3. Blood Lines
4. Night Season
5. Mortal Sins
6. Blood Magic
7. Blood Challenge
8. Death Magic
8.5. Human Error (Tied in a Bow)
9. Mortal Ties
10. Ritual Magic
11. Unbinding
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Unbinding, courtesy of
Synopsis:
In the newest Novel of the Lupi, the human and elven worlds are both about to come under attack…
After questing through the sidhe realms with her ex-hellhound lover, Nathan, Kai Tallman Michalski has finally returned home. But she knows Nathan will eventually be called back to serve his queen—and Kai will have to decide whether to enter her majesty’s service as well. Sure, the job comes with great bennies, but there’s one big downside: she would have to swear absolute fealty to the Queen of Winter.
For now, though, Kai is glad to be home, and glad that Nathan completed his mission for his queen with surprising ease. But what seemed to be a quick conclusion turns out to be anything but. The two of them helped thwart the sidhe god of chaos—and he is not happy about that. He’s got plans for them. Plans, too, for the sidhe who killed him some three millennia ago. Nor has he abandoned his plans for Earth, as they learn when chaos begins bursting out all over...
Thoughts:
Eileen Wilks returns to the World of the Lupi with her eleventh book in the series, Unbinding. Readers who have followed the series from the beginning might miss the normal lead characters, Lily and Rule, but if they give this one a chance, they should be really pleased at how it fits into the series. Wilks is a fantastic storyteller and her world building, though sometimes complex, is always intriguing and multi-layered. Kai and Nathan's story enhances what Wilks has already done with this series, but also transforms it, adding a much needed new direction.
What I liked:
As many of you know my favorite paranormal character is the werewolf. One of the things that I have always loved about this series is that it is so wolf-centric. From the title of the series to the pack dynamics and everything in between, this is a series, though populated with many types of supernatural characters, has always been about the wolf. Wilks has been able to create an amazing world with an interesting belief system and that continues in Unbinding, though there are some major differences.
Lily and Rule have been the main characters in the series from the git go and they are noticeable absent in this book. Wilks was obviously trying to change things up a bit. Ten books into the series, I thought that was a very wise move. Lily and Rule, though amazing, have become a little set in their ways. Their stories are becoming more predictable. By giving the reader a new lead couple in Kai and Nathan, Wilks changes the direction of the series and gives it a more realistic trajectory. These characters didn't just show up out the blue and readers will be somewhat familiar with them, enhancing the overall idea of the series.
Kai is what is described as mindhealer. I found that concept really captivating. I wanted to know more about what she could do and how she used her magic. Kai was a little hard to get used to in the beginning. She was having some issues with confidence and she seemed a little petulant and very stubborn. Her resistance to anything related to the fae and faery was hard to understand, given that her lover Nathan is sworn to the service of the Queen of Winter. Did I mention that this one has a lot of sidhe referencing and interactions? Another reason I liked this book a lot.
Nathan is a former hellhound and quite the leading man. I liked his straightforward attitude. He was certainly an alpha male but he didn't come off as overbearing or condescending as some do. He was very driven and loyalty meant everything to him. Kai and Nathan are already together when this story begins so the reader doesn't get to see the genesis of their relationship but that didn't take away from how well they worked. They made a great couple and brought out the strengths in each other that was needed in the face of the conflict with the god of chaos.
The god of chaos was a formidable foe and Wilks made him all the more sinister. The action in this book doesn't really get going until the second half. The beginning of the book was a bogged down a bit by the descriptions of the gods and what they could and couldn't do. I felt like this was something the reader needed to experience, through the actions of the gods instead of being told about it. But Wilks does give the reader a lot of information about the god of chaos and how he figures into the story.
Bottom Line:
Once the tempo picked up this one started to get better and better. Wilks is a master storyweaver. She has so many things going on that all relate to the story and the way she works them altogether is just a joy to read. I found myself enjoying the growth and changes in the characters, the thrilling sequences with the villain and the overall new direction that this book took me in. I'll have to say that if Wilks was intending to make a statement with this book, it worked. The World of the Lupi has a lot more in store.
Unbinding is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Eileen Wilks is a USA Today bestselling author, a three-time RITA Award finalist, and the recipient of a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times. One of the previous Novels of the Lupi,Blood Challenge, was a New York Times extended list bestseller.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Unbinding by Eileen Wilks.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 11th.
1. Please leave a comment. What do you know about elven legends and stories?
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Bless Her Dead Little Heart (Southern Ladies Mystery - Book 1) by Miranda James
Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425273040
ISBN-13: 978-0425273043
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Miranda James on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, goodreads
Excerpt from, Bless Her Dead Little Heart, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
The new series from the author of The Silence of the Library and Murder Past Due...
New York Times bestselling author Miranda James returns to Athena, Mississippi, with an all-new mystery featuring Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote, two snoopy sisters who are always ready to lend a helping hand. But when a stressed socialite brings murder right to their doorstep, even they have trouble maintaining their Southern hospitality…
With the Mississippi sun beating down, An’gel and Dickce are taking a break to cool off and pet sit their friend Charlie Harris’s cat, Diesel, when their former sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan, shows up at their door unexpectedly, with her ne’er-do-well adult children not far behind.
Rosabelle’s selfish offspring are desperate to discover what’s in her will, and it soon becomes clear that one of them would kill to get their hands on the inheritance. Suddenly caught up in a deadly tangle of duplicitous suspects and deep-fried motives, it will take all of the sisters’ Southern charm to catch a decidedly ill-mannered killer…
Thoughts:
Author Miranda James brings readers a new series, set in Athena, Mississippi. The Southern Ladies mystery series is a spin-off of James' Cat in the Stacks series and readers will be thrilled to see the Ducote sisters get their own stories. James is a master at character development, as well as, weaving a complex and well layered mystery. Filled with tons of Southern charm and humor, Bless Her Dear Little Heart is sure to be a great success!
What I liked:
The Cat in the Stacks series featuring Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, has been one of my favorite cozy mystery series' for a long time. In the fourth book in that series, Out of Circulation, readers were introduced to the Ducote sisters, An'gel and Dickce. Readers who loved their southern charm and hospitality in that book, will be thrilled that James has written a spin-off series, with the sisters as the main characters. They remind me of the lovely Baldwin sisters from the old Walton's television series. Set in their ways, Southern to the bone, and ready to get knee deep in a good mystery. James really pulls out all the stops with this new series and readers are going to love it.
To say that James is good at character development is a big understatement. This author does a fantastic job of creating memorable characters that readers will want to read about again and again. The Ducote sisters have a charm and wit about them that is unique, but also comfortable. There is just something about them that will make the reader feel reminiscent and perhaps even a bit nostalgic. But when it comes to sleuthing they have their own way of doing things. I liked the way James introduces the ladies and lets the reader jump right into the action with them.
A former sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan arrives unexpectedly and needs An'gel and Dickce's help. She thinks her children might be trying to kill her for her money. The sisters don't think much of this because Rosabelle was always known for exaggeration. But when her adult children show up on the door step and murders start to follow, it's up to these two southern belles to get to the bottom of it. James give readers a very dysfunctional family with plenty of suspects. The motive is an easy one, but no less intriguing. The clues were believable and the scenario, though hilarious at times, was completely plausible. I think readers will find this whodunit full of surprises.
Bottom Line:
As with any new series, it is sometimes hard to introduce readers to everything they need to know for the series background and still provide a thoughtful and interesting mystery. But James pulls it off with style. This is a series that I will definitely be keeping my eye on. The Ducote sisters have already garnered a place in my heart. A great start!
Bless Her Dead Little Heart is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Miranda James is a pseudonym for Dean James, the Agatha Award-winning author of several works of mystery nonfiction as well as four mystery series including the New York Times bestselling Cat in the Stacks series including such titles as Out of Circulation, File M for Murder, and Classified as Murder.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Bless Her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 11th.
1. Please leave a comment. About other Miranda James books you have read and how you think this series will be.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Priestess Dreaming (Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon - Book 16) by Yasmine Galenorn
Publication Date: 09/30/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Jove
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 051515475X
ISBN-13: 978-0515154757
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Jove)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Yasmine Galenorn on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon
O.5. Etched in Silver
1. Witchling
2. Changeling
3. Darkling
4. Dragon Wytch
5. Night Huntress
6. Demon Mistress
7. Bone Magic
8. Harvest Hunting
9. Blood Wyne
9.5. Ice Shards
10. Courting Darkness
11. Shaded Vision
12. Shadow Rising
13. Haunted Moon
14. Autumn Whispers
15. Crimson Veil
16. Priestess Dreaming
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Priestess Dreaming, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. Menolly is a vampire married to a gorgeous werepuma. And me? I’m Camille, a Moon witch married to three hunky husbands, and I’m about to journey through the veils to search for a long lost legend…
With the war in Otherworld raging, the Queen of Shadow and Night summons me to her court. Aeval orders me on a quest through the mists to find an ancient ally of hers. I am to seek out The Merlin and wake him from his long sleep. Surrounded by danger on all sides, with Morgaine and Bran along for the journey, I must pray they are allies rather than enemies, as we undertake a perilous search through the labyrinth of time…
Thoughts:
The D'Artigo sisters are back in Yasmine Galenorn's sixteenth book in the Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon series, Priestess Dreaming. This book is a work of art from the gorgeous cover illustration to the strong female characters and sexy men who love them. Galenorn once again thrills readers with an action packed story that will keep them on the edge of their collective seats. Camile, the Moon witch is the main protagonist in this one and fans of the series will love her search for The Merlin and the nod to the legends of King Arthur. A good addition to the series!
What I liked:
I was a little skeptical the first time I read a Yasmine Galenorn novel. I mean let's face it, she is a little intimidating. Especially, with a series that is sixteen books in. But after reading Crimson Veil the book that comes before Priestess Dreaming, I at least felt like I had a good understanding of the world building, the important relationships and an overall grasp of the story arc. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to jump into this book and feel good about where I was within the story. I'm not a big proponent of starting a series that is this far along, but I might make an exception for this one.
One of the things that I really like about Galenorn's writing is the strong female characters that she writes. All three of the D'Artigo sisters have a strength that is born of adversity. Camile, is a Moon witch and is the lead character in Priestess Dreaming. She has a tough skin and has been through a lot. But she knows who she is and is comfortable in her own skin. She has three sexy husbands and somehow still manages to make it look easy. But she also has a vulnerability about her that makes her endearing and intriguing at the same time. A very well written character.
I love the interactions between the characters in Galenorn's books as well. In this book, we don't see a lot of the interplay between Camile and her husbands because she is on a quest that does not require them to all be together. But we do get to see how she works around people she trusts and those she doesn't. While she is trying to find The Merlin to bring him Earthside to help her destroy a new foe that has been unleashed, Camile is still learning about herself and growing. I thought her character was expressive and easy to like and her attitudes towards others and her life was interesting.
Most of the action in the book begins closer to the middle of the book, than in the beginning. Galenorn goes to great lengths to inform readers who may be reading her books for the first time about what has gone on before and how we got to this point. So, there is an inordinate amount of backstory in the beginning, but once the quest to find The Merlin begins the action picks up to a frenzied pace.
When The Merlin finally returns Earthside to take on the wyrm, the showdown is over very quickly. I wasn't quite sure how to take that. It seemed like the resolution was a bit too easy for my tastes. This is supposed to be one of the most villainous foes they have ever faced, but it only took a few pages to take him out. I was expecting a more formidable bad guy and to feel like the characters were really facing mortal danger.
Galenorn does bring the conflict in The Otherworld a little closer to home and the sisters face some loss in this book that was unexpected. Galenorn, thankfully, is not one for cliffhangers and the book does come to a good ending point. I do think the overall story arc has veered a little bit off course. This book didn't have a whole lot to do with Shadow Wing and the war going on in the Otherworld, though it does touch the subject here and there. We'll see what happens I hope we get back to that. I want to know where this is headed.
Bottom Line:
I had my ups and downs with this one. I loved the character building and the world building was fantastic as usual. But I felt that the resolution was a bit too easy and that it did not stick very close to the overall story arc. I still liked it a lot and want to read more. Definitely a great series for Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance readers.
Priestess Dreaming is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Yasmine Galenorn is the New York Times bestselling author of the Otherworld series (Crimson Veil, Autumn Whispers, Haunted Moon) and the Indigo Court series (Night Veil, Night Seeker,Night Vision).
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Priestess Dreaming by Yasmine Galenorn.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 10th.
1. Please leave a comment. The D'Artigo sisters are a very eclectic bunch. If you've read the series, which sister is your favorite and if which do you think will be?
2. Please fill out the FORM.
