Review and Giveaway: Town in a Cinnamon Toast

Town in a Cinnamon Toast (Candy Holliday Mystery - Book 7) by B. B. Haywood

Publication Date: 02/02/2016
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425278557
ISBN-13: 978-0425278550

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

B. B. Haywood on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Candy Holliday Mystery

1. Town in a Blueberry Jam
2. Town in a Lobster Stew
3. Town in a Wild Moose Chase
4. Town in a Pumpkin Bash
5. Town in a Strawberry Swirl
6. Town in a Sweet Pickle
7. Town in a Cinnamon Toast

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Synopsis:

The author of Town in a Sweet Pickle brings back Candy Holliday, a blueberry farmer with a green thumb for sleuthing...

The much-anticipated wedding of local resident Maggie Tremont and popular baker Herr Georg has stirred up the usually quiet coastal town of Cape Willington. To make sure the wedding of the year goes off without a hitch, the participants gather at a pre-wedding dinner—everyone, that is, except the best man...
 
Worried, Candy, the maid of honor, goes looking for him, finally tracking him down to the upstairs archive rooms at the English Point Lighthouse and Museum. There’s only one problem: he’s dead, struck over the head with a bottle of champagne, the same exclusive brand that was ordered for the dinner. Before the wedding plans fall flat, Candy rushes to find the murderer, unearthing a conspiracy that could spill over into the whole town...

Thoughts:

Cape Willington, Maine is gearing up for a wedding! Herr Georg Wolfsburger and Maggie Tremont will finally tie the knot in the latest Candy Holliday mystery by B.B. Haywood. Town in a Cinnamon Toast, follows in the tradition of the series. It's charming, it's a little quirky, and it's full of surprises. Readers who haven't tried this series, will be wishing they hadn't waited so long when they get a hold of this one. A great addition to this clever mystery series.

What I liked:

A lot of things come to mind when I think about what I love about this series. The setting, in a small Maine coastal town is perfect for the series. It may put you mind of Cabot Cove, but Candy Holliday is nothing like Jessica Fletcher. The town itself has taken on all the characteristics of a character of it's own. I love coming back to Cape Willington with each new installment because I want to know more about these people and what they have been up to while I've been away. Haywood always seems to know how to draw the reader back in and make them a part of the landscape of the town. A hallmark of a good author.

Candy once again finds herself in the middle of a murder. She may be a blueberry farmer, which I find both comical and believable, but she's a darn good amateur sleuth. She takes a few things a little too far and she is more curious than any cat I've ever known but she often surprises me and that's hard to do when you read tons of cozies every month. As a heroine she rocks. As a person in the real world, I'm not so sure she would get away with her sleuthing ways...lol!

I'm glad we are finally getting to see Herr Georg find love. He is one of my favorites in this series and his wedding to Maggie is a celebration that Cape Willington and readers will never forget. I'm glad Haywood decided to center the mystery around the wedding. When the best man doesn't make it to the ceremony that can cause problems. Candy is on the case and readers will enjoy the clues, red herrings and delectable suspect list. Not to mention Haywood's knack for writing about food. My taste buds were watering with this one and those recipes in the back are going to hit the spot.

What I didn't like:

Not too much to dislike about this one. One thing about most cozies that bugs me is that the main suspect is never really the killer. Readers who read a lot of cozies know that, but wouldn't it be cool if you spent the whole book trying to pin it on somebody else and it really was the main suspect? Maybe it's just me but too much predictability is never a good thing. Haywood's books are not your average cozies and tend to have interesting plots and great mysteries. So honestly, there isn't much I don't like about this one. 

Town in a Cinnamon Toast is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

B. B. Haywood is the author of the New York Times bestselling Candy Holliday murder mystery series, including Town in a Sweet Pickle, Town in a Strawberry Swirl, Town in a Pumpkin Bash,Town

in a Wild Moose Chase, Town in a Lobster Stew, and Town in a Blueberry Jam.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Town in a Cinnamon Toast by B.B. Haywood.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.

~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, February 16th.

1. Please leave a comment describing the perfect Cinnamon or French Toast.

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Earnest

Earnest by Kristin Von Kreisler

Publication Date: 01/26/2016
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint:Kensington Books
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 256
ISBN-10: 1496700430
ISBN-13: 978-1496700438

(Received for an honest review from Kensington Books)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Kristin Von Kreisler on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from Earnest, courtesy of Kensington Book's tumblr page.

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of An Unexpected Grace comes a richly insightful novel of matters of the heart—both human and canine—in an uplifting story of love, loyalty, and new beginnings…Earnest. It’s the perfect name for a sweet, eager-to-please yellow Labrador retriever. Anna and her boyfriend Jeff fall for him the minute they see those guileless eyes gazing up from behind his gate at Seattle’s Best Friends Shelter. In no time at all, they’re a pack of three, with Earnest happily romping in their condo on Gamble Island.

During the day, Earnest keeps Anna company in her flower shop, located in a historic gingerbread Victorian on the island’s main street. Anna hopes to buy and restore the house, once owned by her beloved grandmother. But when that dream is threatened by Jeff’s actions, Anna’s trust is shattered. For so long, the house has encompassed all her ideals of security, home, and family. Yet Earnest’s devotion to his two people, and theirs to him, make it impossible for them to walk away from each other. And when a crisis hits, it’s Earnest—honest, stubborn, and uncannily wise—who will help Anna reconcile her past and embrace what the future can bring…

Thoughts:

Author Kristin Von Kreisler brings readers a tale of love both human and canine in her latest novel, Earnest. This is a heartfelt story about two people at a crossroads in their relationship and how the love of their pet changes everything. Kreisler's knowledge of human nature and canine antics is inspiring. Readers who love both a good love story and a story about the relationship between people and their pets will love this one. A good story about finding the path that leads you to those you love.

What I liked:

Jeff and Anna have been together for awhile and are considering taking their relationship in a new direction. Anna wants kids and a home to call her own. She has her own successful business but there is more on her mind than just the flowers in her shop. Jeff is an up and coming architect who needs just the right project to get his career headed in the right direction. Both characters are looking to their own needs and agendas. Where they come together is in the love of their rescued dog named Earnest. Earnest is the glue that holds this couple together. 

What I found interesting in the beginning of the story is that Anna looked at adopting Earnest as a precursor to having kids and getting Jeff to propose, while he looked at Earnest as a buddy or a just a companion of sorts. They both obviously love him dearly. As a character Earnest captivates the story. I appreciated the fact that the author didn't give us too much information. Earnest remained a normal dog. He didn't have moments where his thoughts were projected into the story or where he became more than what he was... he was a dog and a great one. A totally lovable character that epitomised the relationship between pets and people. The best part of the book by far. 

Kreisler did a wonderful job of allowing readers to see how the relationship between humans and canines develops. She used her knowledge of dogs and even breeds to bring Earnest to life. Earnest is a Labrador Retriever and Kreisler showed all of the qualities of the breed by making Earnest loyal, smart and energetic. She also excelled at showing the human frailties and faults of her other characters. Where some might consider Anna and Jeff's characters to be self-serving and even shallow, I found them to be realistic and an unfortunate parallel to a lot of young people today.

What I didn't like:

This was a good story. The main premise was a bit over the top. Jeff and Anna end up splitting up for a while because of the fact that Anna wants to buy the Victorian house which belonged to her grandmother and Jeff wants to tear it down and build something new. Anna has her heart set on owning the building that houses both her flower shop, "Plant Parenthood" and the shops of two other friends. It belongs in the family and it symbolises to her, home and security. Jeff has a totally different view of what it can do to boost his career if he razes the building and redevelops the area. It would mean success and pride. But neither seems to want to consider the others stance on the subject. 

I felt like the author made a bit of a mountain out of a mole hill. Not sure this is something that would be a deal breaker in a relationship. Communication was obviously the issue with these two and were it not for the mutual love of their dog, they wouldn't have survived it. But the end is one of those that is tried and true and tied with a ribbon. A little too pat and perfect, but still a good story of love and devotion to pets and how our stupidity often causes our pets to suffer. 

Bottom Line:

Kreisler did a good job with certain aspects of the story while missing the mark a little bit on others. I loved Earnest. Any dog lover with fall for him in a heartbeat. I appreciated Kreisler's knowledge of the breed and that she didn't make Earnest a superdog with special canine powers. Her other characters were a bit static. They were not as well developed but probably pretty realistic. Today's society is all about what I need and what I want. It was nice to see these two characters come together in their love of their pet. A quaint ending that was a little predictable but I stilled loved the fact that Earnest got the family he deserved.

Earnest is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Kristin von Kreisler writes articles and bestselling books about animals. To get her stories, she followed a grizzly bear for a week, went hang gliding to see how an eagle felt soaring through the sky, and watched in awe as millions of bats emerged from a cave at dusk like clouds of smoke.

After writing three acclaimed nonfiction books, Kristin made a smashing fiction debut with the bestselling novel An Unexpected Grace. Kristin's books have been translated into twelve languages.

She lives on an island in Washington with her husband and their rescued German shepherd, Bridget. From her desk she watches ospreys and seals, and every day an otter wanders through the yard to go for a swim. Visit her on Facebook or atwww.kristinvonkreisler.com.

Where Haveeeee You Beeeeen???

I've been away for awhile now... since September. Usually, when I disappear it's health related. As many of you know I am a diabetic and have several health issues related to the disease that keep me from blogging on a regular basis sometimes. 

But that wasn't the case this time. I had a busy week that week. I hadn't had much time to blog and I had plans for several posts that I had in mind to post in the coming days. But God had other plans. 

On September 15th my dad had a horrific truck accident that eventually took his life a few days later on September 19th. My world was shattered in a moment. My dad meant the world to me and his death has completely changed my life. 

He drove a heavy equipment truck my whole life and never in 50 years had an accident. He was never really sick much in his life either, even though he was 73 years old. It was such a shock and such a loss to our family and to our community. My dad wasn't a CEO or a big shot in any way. He was a mechanic and he could build anything. He was 'Mr. Fix-It' not only to us but to everyone in the area. He was a man of few words, but his words held weight and he is truly missed by everyone who knew him. 

As you might imagine my mom is devastated. She was married to my dad 51 years and they had hardly spent a night apart in all that time. She never liked to stay by herself even when dad was living. So this loss has been a tremendous change for her. I have one sister and one brother. We all have families. Since I only work a seasonal job from Jan. to April and they both work everyday, I am staying with my mom during the day and some nights, even some weekends. It's a new reality for all of us. 

Blogging has been far from my mind these past few months. My life has changed completely. I have not even been able to concentrate on reading much, but am starting to feel the urge a little the past couple of weeks. My heart is still very heavy and everyday is a struggle in it's own right. I don't know how often I will blog, what I will blog about or anything else at this point. It won't be everyday... not for awhile. My family needs me. But I love reading and I love blogging so don't count me out completely. I just need some time to figure out how my life goes on... and how this reading community fits into it. 

I love you all and wanted you to know what was going on. 

Thank-You in advance for your kind words. Don't be offended if I can't answer back right now. I can't really find the words.

RIP Dad! I love you!

Review: There You Stand

There You Stand (Between Breaths - Book 5) by Christina Lee

Publication Date: 04/21/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: InterMix
Genre: New Adult (m/m)
ASIN: B00S75RYBS

(Received for an honest review from InterMix)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, itunes, Kobo

Christina Lee on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Between Breaths

1. All of You
2. Before You Break
3. Whisper To Me
4. Promise Me This
5. There You Stand

Coverart: 

Synopsis:

From the author of All of You and Before You Break comes a new Between Breaths male/male romance about the silent, inked up skateboarder and the tattoo artist who unravels him piece by piece...

Tattoo artist Cory Easton has worked long enough at Raw Ink to know, just by looking at a dude, what his body art reveals, what makes him tick, what even makes him scared. Until he meets the quiet and remote Jude York--so unreadable, so unreachable, and so unlike anyone else, he can't help but arouse Cory's curiosity.

As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery--and Cory's falling fast and hard under his spell. Against his better judgment to steer clear.

The rumors of Jude's past overshadow him--whispers of prison and an unmentionable secret that's kept him in the protective shadows of a local motorcycle club. As Cory probes deeper, he wonders how much he really wants to know. Especially since Jude has awakened something inside him that has been buried too long--and has him feeling completely alive for the first time in forever...

Thoughts:

Christina Lee's Between Breaths series continues with the m/m novella, There You Stand. Readers who are looking for a new adult novel with a same sex couple will find this one captivating. Cory and Jude's relationship starts out as a crush and ends up in unchartered waters. There is plenty of angst, a lot of peeling back layers of a character's persona and some secrets. First and foremost is a love story, between two unlikely characters. An interesting new tale from Christina Lee

What I liked:

I don't review too many same sex couple romances. It's not because I have issues with the subject matter or that it disgusts me or bothers me in any way. It's just a preference like anything else. When I go to pick up what I like to read, it's simply not my first choice. That doesn't mean I don't give these kinds of stories a fair shake like any other book I read. I do and that's the case with this one. I loved the other books in the Between Breaths series and I wanted to read this one because it is a part of that series. Christina Lee, after all is a fantastic new adult writer. 

What I got with this one was a very complex love story between two very different characters. Cory thinks Jude is straight basically because he doesn't talk or act in any way that Cory expects. He's handsome, British, has a way about him that is completely different from anyone Cory has ever met. Jude was an enigma. Mysterious and secretive. But it comes from a difficult past. Once Cory starts peeling back those layers, a man with a lot of hurt starts to appear. There is tons of sexual tension in this one and the angst is out the roof. You kind of just want to grab them and say, kiss already... LOL!

Lee brings out a story that is part mystery and part romance. She uses the mysterious aspects of the story with a deft hand, since this is a romance after all. I thought she did a great job of showing how committed Cory was to getting to know Jude better, to understanding him and letting him know it was okay to be exactly who he was. The sex scenes were intense I won't lie. These two know a thing or two about passion and when they do let go it's explosive. 

What I Didn't Like:

I felt like readers got a great build up in this story. They were pumped up further and further by the details, but the ending didn't have much punch to it. I won't say it was anti-climatic because that wasn't really the feel of it. It just kind of felt like we discovered what we needed to a little too early on. The building of the relationship took precedence over the rest of the story, so the end was a little flatter than expected. Not to say that was a bad thing, just not a great thing. Make sense?

Bottom Line:

I liked this one. It was angsty and deep. It had a British guy in it (wink). It was romantic and passionate and had a tattooed guy in it (double wink). It was a really relationship kind of book and I liked that. Slow build to a great romance, but maybe not quite a page turner. A little less longing and a little more action might have made it a bit better. All in all a good addition to the series. 

There You Stand is available NOW from your online bookseller. 

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Christina Lee is also the author of the Between Breaths novels including All of You, Before You Break, Whisper to Me and Promise Me This. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She believes in true love and kissing so writing romance has become a dream job. She also owns her own jewelry business, where she hand-stamps meaningful words or letters onto silver for her customers.

Review and Giveaway: Law and Author

Law and Author (Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery - Book 5) by Erika Chase

Publication Date: 09/01/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425278204
ISBN-13: 978-0425278208

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Erika Chase on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Ashton Corners Book Club
1. A Killer Read 
2. Read and Buried 
3. Cover Story 
4. Book Fair and Foul 
5. Law and Author 

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Synopsis:

The author of Book Fair and Foul reconvenes the Ashton Corners book club to solve a murder in their own backyard . . .

Bob Miller, retired police chief and member of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society, is stunned by the arrival of his twenty-one-year-old granddaughter, Darla, whom he has never seen. Bob has been estranged from his own daughter for decades and hopes to make up for his absence in Darla’s life. But some of the ladies of the book club find their Southern hospitality strained as they question the motives behind this sudden reunion.

After a dead man is found in Molly Mathews’s backyard, their concerns grow more serious. Lizzie Turner saw Darla arguing with the stranger the day before, but when the police question her, Darla proves to be an unreliable narrator. It’s up to the book club to uncover the real story . . . before another victim is written into the plot.

Thoughts:

Erika Chase brings readers the latest tale from the Ashton Corners Book Club, in her book, Law and Author. This is a great cozy series for readers who love the written word, as the author starts each chapter with a literary quote. It's a nice touch and it shows the care put into each part of the book. This one has a long lost granddaughter. A murder. Wedding Plans. Lots of personal tidbits about the heroine and her love interest and tons of things to keep the reader interested. Another great book in the series!

What I liked:

Erika Chase is a writer after my own heart. I love the quotes that precede each chapter of her books. It clues the reader in a little bit about what's to come and it shows Chases' love for literature. I find myself almost as interested to see what the quote will be as I am about what clues are going to come out in each chapter. I think that says a lot about how the author plots her stories and her influences. A great idea that a lot readers will appreciate.

This book finds the Ashton Corners Book Club in a bit of a mess. Bob Miller, a club member, is being re-united with his grand-daughter, Darla. But not everything about her visit seems on the up and up and when murder comes calling, Darla has some 'splaining' to do. The premise of the book was interesting and I couldn't help but wonder, why all of the sudden this chick would appear. Bob having been estranged from his daughter for many years and never having met said grand-daughter before, was awfully trusting. Readers probably won't be too shocked when Darla turns out to be suspect in a murder. I liked the cat and mouse kind of play with Darla's story. It was like she couldn't tell the truth in spite of herself. Fun to read and ponder over for sure.

Erika Chase always gives the reader a great mystery and this one was no exception. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading. Trying to put the clues together in my head, right along with the characters. There was a moment when I considered the possible motive, but threw it out. So when the big reveal came it was one of those boink yourself on the head moments... LOL! The killer wasn't who I expected nor was Darla's story and motivation. It was a great surprise. Those are the best kind of mysteries aren't they?

Lizzie and the book club members were once again on the trail of a killer, but we also got to see a lot of the wedding preparations going on. There were some great moments between Mark and Lizzie and it was nice to see their relationship blooming. They are a couple that never seems to grow stagnant. They are always changing and evolving. The way a great relationship should be. I liked the personal growth of the characters and the stories of the other book club members almost as much as the mystery. It's like visiting good friends with this series and I always love going back to it.

What I Didn't Like:

I felt like Bob and Molly were a little bit naive here. This could have been any girl, posing as Bob's long lost grand-daughter. It just seemed like they would have taken anyone in. It just didn't seem too plausible to me. I would have liked a little bit of skepticism about what she was up to and the like. Probably just a pet peeve of mine and certainly not a deal breaker.

Bottom Line:

This is another engaging book from Erika Chase. Not only do readers get a good mystery, but the personal moments of the story were also poignant and fulfilling. I wanted to hear more about Mark and Lizzie and I got that in this one. I wanted to learn more about other members of the book club and I got that too. Just an all around good addition to the series!

Law and Author is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Erika Chase is the Agatha Award-nominated author of the Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery series, including Book Fair and Foul, Cover Story, Read and Buried, and A Killer Read.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Law and Author by Erika Chase.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 24th.

1. Please leave a comment. Read any other Erika Chase books? What did you think?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Down in the Valley

Down in the Valley (Green Valley - Book 1) by Jane Shoup

Publication Date: 08/25/2015
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Zebra
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 1420137093
ISBN-13: 978-1420137095

(Received for an honest review Kensington Zebra)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Jane Shoup on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads

Synopsis:

Saint or Sinner?
 
Miss Emeline Wright risked everything to escape the monster who stole her innocence, her dignity, her pride. Now no one in her little home town nestled in the West Virginia hills must ever know what she was forced to do while a captive in the city. Her only chance is to make a go of her uncle’s failing farm, but how can a woman alone, in rough country, survive?
 
With unfailing courage and an open heart, Em wins over the townspeople who’ve judged her so harshly, taking in a motley crew of misfits who show up, one by one, to lend a hand. But it’s the quiet strength and unfailing love of a single man that will show her how to trust again as they  build a  home to last forever…

Thoughts:

Jane Shoup brings readers the first book in her Green Valley series, Down in the Valley. This book is set in West Virginia during the 1800's. Readers who enjoy books with lots of characters and storylines will find this one right up their alley. Shoup is not only able to tell a compelling story of a woman who has suffered finding a place for herself and love, but she is able to enlighten the reader about the rights of women during this time in history. A heartwarming tale of second chances and helping others. Potentially, a very good series. 

What I Liked:

I don't live too far from West Virginia and I tend to like historical novels that are set in that area. West Virginia and Kentucky have a lot in common, especially during the era that Down in the Valley depicts. I thought Shoup did a wonderful job of showing the ruggedness of the area and it's beauty. But she was also able to capture the sometimes forgotten picture of poverty and desperation. The town Shoup writes about was not destitute or anything like that, but there were a lot of people in need of a helping hand for one reason or another and I think that was a realistic portrayal of the times. Well done on that aspect of the book.

I liked the fact that Shoup was able to shed some light on the rights of women during the 1800's. A woman alone trying to fend for herself was rare. It was difficult on many levels because the men had a great deal of power, while women did not even have the right to vote. Men were supposed to earn the money and provide for the women and turning the tables on those ideals was just not done. I liked the fact that Emeline was independent and strong, especially considering her past. I thought she was a great example of the human condition and I enjoyed watching her grow as a character in such a tough environment. 

Emeline's relationship with Tommy was quiet and tender and had the makings for a really solid love story. The idea that Tommy along with several other misfits, if you will, came to help Emeline on the farm, gave their romance a chance to bloom. I found Tommy to be a little on the shy side, but he held strong convictions and wasn't afraid to voice them when he needed to. I thought the main characters complimented each other well. Readers who are looking for a romance that is wholesome and sweet will certainly like these two together.

What I Didn't Like:

Although there were several things I did like about the book, there were many things that overshadowed the potential in this one. There were tons of characters in this book. Far too many to make it easy to follow. It created a lot of confusion and it was hard as a reader to figure out who was important to the story and who wasn't. It think it would have served the writer better to have had a smaller cast that could have been more thoroughly developed. I want to know more than just the name of a character who is being introduced. I want to know why I should care who they are. Why I should want to remember them as the story continues and I felt that was missing here.

Errors in grammar are not one of those things that bug me. Spelling errors however, stick out like a sore thumb. There were some errors in both areas with this book but the most glaring issue for me was the terminology and modern language. This was a book set in the 1800's and I felt like Shoup took a lot of poetic license in how she expressed herself and how her characters talked and in some cases acted. 

Bottom Line:

There is a lot of potential here. The plot itself was engaging and there were some ideas that were definitely worth pursuing. I liked the actual love story part of the book but felt it was somewhat confusing to sort it all out. Too many characters and a bit to much modern language. I think the author brought readers a compelling story, with a great heroine, but perhaps needed to reign in how many people the reader needed to keep up with. I will certainly give the next book in the series a nod and see how things progress. One to watch... it could be amazing given a few minor changes.

Down in the Valley is available NOW from your favorite bookseller. 

I'm giving this one 3 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Jane Shoup is a native of Southern Indiana and a 20‐year resident of North Carolina. Her novel Pedestals won the Eppie Award for best action thriller in 2006. Currently, her day job is in real estate, although she writes every moment she possibly can. Shoup says writing is like slipping into another world—which is precisely what she aims to make possible for her readers. You can visit her at www. janeshoup.com.

Review: Jinn and Juice

Jinn and Juice (The Jinni - Book 1) by Nicole Peeler

Publication Date: 04/07/2015
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Imprint: Orbit Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0316407356
ISBN-13: 978-0316407359

(Received for an honest review from Orbit)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Nicole Peeler on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from Jinn and Juice, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Meet Lyla: Jinn, belly dancer, and the hottest new urban fantasy heroine in town.

To escape an arranged marriage, a jinni granted Lyla her wish: to live a thousand years as a jinni herself.

Now, her servitude is ending, but there are a few obstacles in Lyla's path to freedom. A Magi intent on binding her again, a jinni bent on vengeance, and not to mention the nightmare from her past that threatens to make her curse permanent -- and claim her very soul.

Jinn and Juice is the first in a new series by fantasy writer, Nicole Peeler set in a world of immortal curses, vengeful jinni and belly dancing. 

Thoughts:

The author of the Jane True series, Nicole Peeler, brings readers the first book in a new urban fantasy series. Jinn and Juice is the first book in the Jinni series and promises to turn what readers know about this author on it's ear. Having read a few books and seen a few Jinni's in movies and television over the years, I can say that readers are in for something different with this series. This Jinni doesn't blink her eyes and nod her head. A great new read from a well respected author in the genre!

What I Liked:

This book was totally refreshing. I loved the Jane True books, but I've got to say Lyla, the heroine in Jinn and Juice was really intriguing. I loved the whole Jinni premise of the series and couldn't wait to dive in and see what Nicole Peeler's take on this subject would be. Lyla the heroine is a very old Jinni. She has been under the curse for almost a thousand years and is on the verge of becoming human again. Unfortunately, she has to hide out until the coast is clear and her servitude is over. As luck would have it, she gets bound with only a week to go. That's when the action starts and it doesn't slow down for a second. Readers are hurled into a very new and different landscape. The world building here was intense and very full. Peeler really went out on a limb with this one and I think it pays off for the most part.

I expected Lyla to be kind of wise beyond her years. The sage heroine who has been through a lot and ready to be completely unbound. Not exactly, what readers get with her character. She has a kind of 'devil may care' attitude. She's all about belly dancing and burlesque. She didn't come across as particularly worldly wise, but she was still a treat to read about. She liked to have fun and lets face it you need a character like that in most urban fantasy titles to lighten the mood a little bit. Peeler gives readers a Jinni with a penchant for adventure. Nice touch!

I admit that I wanted to know more about Lyla. Her backstory was  a little vague, as was most of the other character's stories, but I think we can chalk that up to this being a series. I expect we will find out more and more as the series continues about her and that may be the best way. The way the world of the Jinni's and the Magi worked was interesting and full of surprises. The relationship between Lyla and Oz is captivating, but a little on the weird side, as she is basically his servant. But the dynamic between them nothing if not intriguing. 

What I Didn't Like:

I really wanted to like this one and I did on a lot of levels, but my issues with it all stem from one thing. There were just toooooo many supernatural characters. You had just about every paranormal character you could possibly think of in this book and new ones that Peeler created herself. Too many names, too many descriptions. Way too much to try to keep up with. I could see the potential in having so many but I think it took too much away from the actual story. I think the back stories were vague on the characters partly because there were just too many in every possible way. Yes, it is possible to have too much of a good thing and I think that's what happened here. Doesn't mean it can't be fixed in subsequent books in the series. 

Bottom Line:

This one needed a bit of work. I liked Lyla, but she was not what I expected. The Jinni premise was spot on, but there were so many other supernatural characters it all but got lost in the mix. I can see where Peeler was going with this and I hope she reigns it in a little with the next book because there is a lot of potential here. But you better be ready to take notes when you read this one if you want to keep'em all straight. Almost gave me a headache... LOL!

Jinn and Juice is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Nicole Peeler writes urban fantasy and is an associate professor at Seton Hill University, where she co-directs their MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. Having recently finished her award-winning Jane True series, she is looking forward to the publication of Jinn and Juice, the first book in a series about a cursed jinni living in Pittsburgh. Nicole also lives in Pittsburgh, although she's neither cursed nor a jinni.