Review and Giveaway: Gilt Trip

Gilt Trip (Scrapbooking Mysteries - Book 11) by Laura Childs

Publication Date: 10/01/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime 
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425252922
ISBN-13: 978-0425252925

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Laura Childs on the WEB: Website, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Keepsake Crimes (2003), Photo Finished (2004), Bound by Murder (2004), Motif for Murder (2006), Frill Kill (2007), Death Swatch (2008), Tragic Magic (2009), Fiber & Brimstone (2010), Skeleton Letters (2011), Postcards from the Dead (2012), Gilt Trip (2013)

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

Excerpt from Gilt Trip, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Louisiana businessman Jerry Earl Leland served only a fraction of his five-year sentence for white-collar crime, thanks to some political connections and a few greased palms. But he won’t have long to enjoy his freedom…

After Jerry Earl’s early release, his wife, Margo—a much-married Garden District doyenne—throws an extravagant Get Out of Jail Free Party, complete with a Zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. The guest list includes many prominent New Orleans socialites, as well as scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava Gruiex.  But sometime during the swirl of partying and drinking, Jerry Earl is brutally murdered—then stuffed inside a clothes dryer. 

Carmela has earned a reputation around town for solving murders, and when the grieving widow turns to her for help, she can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry…

Thoughts:

You don't have to be a scrapbooking fan to fall in love with Laura Childs' Scrapbooking mystery series. Just out, Gilt Trip is the eleventh book in a series that is only getting better with time. Childs enchants readers with her knowledge of New Orleans and it's eerie appeal. The heroine for this series, Carmela Bertrand was recently named as Best Amateur Sleuth by the Romantic Times Book Review and it's easy to see why, in this mapcap mystery that begins with a "Get Out of Jail Free" party and ends in murder. Childs attention to detail and well developed characters make this a must read for cozy fans!

I read a lot of books. I read a lot of mysteries. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, so when I say a particular author is not one of my favorites, but my favorite, that's saying something. Laura Childs is definitively my favorite cozy writer. Having written three cozy mystery series': The Scrapbooking Mysteries, The Tea Shoppe mysteries and the Cackleberry Club mysteries, Childs is not a stranger to the cozy sub-genre. Her books are well researched and full of the nuances and phrasing that makes each setting come alive. 

The Scrapbooking mysteries are set in the Big Easy. New Orleans is just one of those cities that people can easily attribute to murder and mayhem. There is an atmosphere of tradition and taboos, including voodoo and vampires, but Childs takes a different direction with her series and focuses on murder. I like the fact that Childs makes each book feel like a history lesson and an entertaining read. As readers we get to learn more an more of alluring history of the city and Louisiana in general, while relishing a good whodunit. Childs is one of the best at creating a setting that draws the reader in and won't let go.

Carmela Bertrand is one smart cookie. Not only does she own and run her own scrapbooking shop which generally has a strong part in each book, but she also has a part in just about every mystery that happens in the city. She has found several dead bodies and citizens have come to rely on her to help them figure out what happened when murder is at hand. It is easy to see why Carmela appeals to so many readers. She is sophisticated and elegant, but she can get down and dirty. I love the way she goes about figuring it all out. She has knack for making connections that aren't always obvious and that makes her a great sleuth. Childs does an excellent job with this character every time out.

In Gilt Trip Carmela and her sidekick Ava are attending a party celebrating the early release from jail of Louisiana business man, who has quite a few enemies. When he turns up dead, tumbling around in the dryer, Carmela is on the case. I love the fact that Childs always makes sure that not only Ava has a central part in the story, but the police as well. It does't hurt that Carmela has some pretty strong feeling for Babock, who happens to be on the force. I thought the mystery aspect of the book was well planned and written and had a lot of good suspects. I didn't figure this one out until the very end. I suspected the correct killer once, but Childs was easily able to dissuade me. I love it when I get stumped!

Readers will enjoy finding out about Carmela's life and her deepening feelings for Babcock. They will enjoy the wonderful friendship she and Ava have. Ava is sassy and perky as usual and Carmela is as always, the voice of reason. I think learning about her life outside of sleuthing is just as interesting as the murder details. This is probably one of my favorites of this particular series by Childs. It has depth and draws on areas other than just New Orleans. Even the secondary characters like the victim and his wife were well developed and had a lot of dimensions to them. I thought the plot was excellent and believable. Finding the dead guy in the dryer was certainly a surprise, but that just shows that Childs still has a lot more stories to tell from Carmela and her friends. 

In short, this is the best cozy I've read this year! Can't get a much higher recommendation than that.

Gilt Trip is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! It's a shame I don't give 10's!

About the Author:

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and the Scrapbooking Mysteries. She is a consummate tea drinker, scrapbooker, and dog lover, and travels frequently to China and Japan with Dr. Bob, her professor husband. In her past life she was a Clio Award–winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm.

Giveaway Details:

The author is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of her book, Gilt Trip.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 8th.

1. Please leave a comment describing your own scrapbooking adventures or things you would like to try.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Perfectly Matched

Perfectly Matched (Blue Willow Brides - Book 3) by Maggie Brendan

Publication Date: 10/01/2013
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Imprint: Revell Books
Genre: Christian/Inspirational Historical Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0800734645
ISBN-13: 978-0800734640

(Received for an honest review from Revell Books)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook, IndieBound

Maggie Brendan on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Deeply Devoted (2011), Twice Promised (2012), Perfectly Matched (2013)

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

Excerpt from Perfectly Matched, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Anna Olsen knows it's time to leave her sister's increasingly crowded house and start a life of her own. Following her sisters' examples, she becomes a mail-order bride, and after a short correspondence with clock maker and jeweler Edward Parker, she moves to Denver to become his wife. Almost immediately it's painfully apparent that Anna and Edward are very different. Anna is a free spirit who would rather be painting and enjoying the company of friends than cleaning house. Edward is a consummate perfectionist who, on their wedding day, hands Anna a list of chores that need to be done around the house daily.

Can this mismatched couple see past their differences to a harmonious future? Or will their disparate passions create obstacles neither is willing to surmount?

Maggie Brendan closes her Blue Willow Brides series with a heartwarming tale of true love despite misunderstanding, showing readers that God's timing is always perfect.

Thoughts:

Maggie Brendan's third and final installment in The Blue Willow Brides series, Perfectly Matched, again takes up the idea of mail order brides in the old west. Set in Denver, Colorado in 1888, readers are treated to a storyline that centers around the marriage of an impressionable young woman, who is anything but organized to man whose life is completely ordered and precise. The obstacles between the hero and heroine take up a great portion of the book, as they learn to embrace their differences and accept each other for who they are. Brendan also explores the mistreatment of animals as the heroine starts to set up her own animal shelter. Both aspects of this book combine to make it a unique and interesting addition to the series. 

The Blue Willow Brides series has followed the lives of three sisters, all of whom, have become mail order brides. I have always thought that mail order brides was a interesting premise for a novel, having read, Sarah, Plain and Tall when I was younger. Brendan has taken this idea and really ran with it. I like the fact that Brendan chose to put the marriage of Edward and Anna in the beginning of Perfectly Matched because there is a kind of finality to that, since both are Christians. They are going to have to figure out a way for this to work. Brendan shows readers all of the difficulties involved in this kind of union. The couples barely know each other, they have only corresponded by mail and in those days, that was not a speedy process. They are going into the marriage blind. Unfortunately, I still think that happens today. I liked the fact that Brendan gives readers the historical significance of mail order marriages, as well as, the emotional significance. 

Anna was certainly a free-spirited young woman. She was not accustomed to running a household and had her own ideas about how it should be done. She would rather have spent her time on other passions as opposed to cleaning house. I loved the way she respected animals and wanted to stop the mistreatment she encounters. Her dream of setting up an animal shelter is one that resonated with me, because I am an animal lover myself. I think readers who love animals will really identify with this character and her struggles. Anna was very different from Edward. She was more spontaneous and had a zeal for life that was missing with Edward. She was a wonderful character and Brendan did an excellent job of showing how she begins to learn compromise and how to accept Edward for who he is.

Edward, Edward, Edward... There is so much to say about this character. I admit to having a hard time getting into him as the hero of the book. He is a clockmaker and jeweler. His life is order and somewhat obsessive compulsive. He wants things to have a place and everything has to be in it's place. He wants his household run a certain way without exception. He is the complete opposite of Anna. He doesn't like the animals because of the hair and messes they make and he doesn't understand a lot of Anna's ways. But the redeeming quality about Edward is that he is determined to make this marriage a success. Even though they are so fundamentally different he wants to show Anna every kindness he can. He may not like her ideas about the animal shelter but he doesn't hinder her and eventually he comes around. I liked the fact that both characters had their flaws and Brendan was able to show readers an underlying theme of compromise and making a marriage work despite the obstacles that come up.

Overall I think Brendan's attempt to show that marriage is more than just giving it a try was very successful. It is a commitment that both people make to each other and to God. I think in today's society we give up way to easily. I'm not saying that there are not times when circumstances make it impossible for couples to stay together, but for the most part, people are going into marriage with the idea that if it doesn't work out, they'll just move on to the next one. Brendan is showing a couple who are so very different yet they are able to compromise and come together to make their marriage work. I liked the fact that eventually these two find common ground and a deep love for each other. 

This one may not have been my favorite in the series, but I liked it a lot. There were two different themes at work her and Brendan approaches both of them with gusto. The relationship between Anna and Edward is paramount to the story, but the animal shelter theme is also important to the book as well. Though this book was technically a romance there is a lot more going on here. Some readers will enjoy that, while others will not. All in all I would say this was a successful ending to a very enjoyable series about mail order brides and finding love against the odds.

Available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller, from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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

About the Author:

Maggie Brendan is the bestselling author of several books, including the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series. She was a 2013 finalist for the Published Maggie Award of Excellence, a 2013 finalist for the Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Award, a 2012 finalist for Inspirational Reader's Choice award, and a recipient of the 2004 ACW Persistence Award in Atlanta. She is a member of the ACFW; Author's Guild; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope, and Love; and Georgia Romance Writers. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, researching for her novels, and spending time with her family. You can follow her at her website www.MaggieBrendan.com, her blog www.SouthernBelleWriter.blogspot.com, and on Facebook and Twitter @MaggieBrendan.

Giveaway Details:

I just happened to luck into finding a great website that gives away Christian and Inspiration books from some of the big Christian fiction publishers like Revell Books and Bethany House. The site is called The Book Club Network. You have to be a member to participate in the giveaways but it is well worth your time to check it out. It is free, you just have to go through a registration process. They are giving away 5 copies of Perfectly Matched directly from the publisher right now and several other really great giveaways. So go check it out!

Guest Post and Giveaway: Pamela Sherwood

Please join me in welcoming author, Pamela Sherwood to Debbie's Book Bag today. Pamela is here promoting her book, A Song at Twilight, a historical romance set in the Victorian era. Enjoy the guest post and see the giveaway details at the end for your chance to win a copy of A Song at Twilight.

What makes you want to write about Victorian England?

The sheer panorama of it, for a start! I first came to historical romance through the Regencies of Georgette Heyer and Jane Aiken Hodge, and years later, when I seriously started thinking of writing a romance myself, I thought for sure that it would have a Regency setting. After all, I’d spent a number of years in graduate school, studying the Victorian era and writing a thesis on Victorian poetry. So I couldn’t have anything more left to say about it, could it?

Well, as it turned out, I did have quite a few things left to say! I still love the Regency and find it a fascinating time, but it passes so quickly. The true Regency period (1811-1820) is an eyeblink in history, not even a full decade. By contrast, the Victorian Age spans more than 60 years, from 1837 to 1901, during which changes beyond imagining took place. Choose any decade of Victoria’s reign and you’ll find something interesting happening, whether in politics, religion, science, art, technology. Inventions that we take for granted today--the telephone, electric lighting, trains and cars, even canned food--all came into being during the Victorian era, and were greeted with responses that ranged from awe to horror. Victorians tend to be regarded as less exciting and less glamorous somehow than their Regency precursors--but they knew how to work. And ultimately, they changed the world.

As a writer, I love tapping into that excitement and that sense of sweeping, monumental change. My favorite decades of the Victorian Era would have to be the 1880s and 1890s, mainly because of the shifting dynamic between men and women. While men still dominated most aspects of society, women were beginning to assert themselves more forcefully. They had achieved the right to study at Oxford and Cambridge, though they weren’t awarded degrees until the 1920s; they were campaigning for the vote (another goal not realized until the 1920s); and they could seek employment outside the home, the schools, and the shops. Legal reforms made it possible for them to retain property bequeathed to them or which they earned in their own right, and they could petition for and receive custody of their children if their marriages broke down. And since I have always preferred romances in which the hero and heroine were on a more equal footing, I gravitate naturally to the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods.


What comes first a good storyline or a good character?

For me, I would have to say character. A book can have a brilliant plot, more intricate than a Rube Goldberg device, and a beautifully realized setting, but neither is going to mean much if the characters fail to come alive.  Whether you’re the writer or the reader, you have to care about or at least be interested in the people inhabiting this fictional world.

My debut novel, Waltz with a Stranger, was influenced by several things, including the transatlantic marriage market and an early Tennyson poem, “The Sisters,” but ultimately it was the story of Aurelia reclaiming her true self after an accident that shattered her sense of self-worth and finding a forever love with a man who sees more than her scars. The sequel, A Song at Twilight, is set in the glamorous Victorian music world, but it’s mostly the story of Sophie and Robin, two people who loved and lost each other four year earlier, finding the courage to fight for their relationship when they’re given a second chance. As a writer, I need to be passionately invested in my characters’ journeys, bringing them through the storm to a safe harbor.

Granted, a strong storyline always helps. And there are some instances in which the plot comes first. A brainstorming writer might suddenly think, “Oh, I want to do a Cinderella story,” or “I want to do a contemporary version of Sense and Sensibility,” or “How would this trope play in such-and-such a setting?” In situations like that, you have a template that imposes a certain structure on the work--although you can take as many liberties within that structure as you like. And with the characters--to make them unique and wholly yours, rather than overfamiliar archetypes or pale imitations of the originals.

Thank you for hosting me today!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Pamela Sherwood grew up in a family of teachers and taught college-level literature and writing courses for several years before turning to writing full time. She holds a doctorate in English literature, specializing in the Romantic and Victorian periods, eras that continue to fascinate her and provide her with countless opportunities for virtual time travel. She lives in Southern California where she continues to write the kind of books she loves to read.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of A Song at Twilight by Pamela Sherwood.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 7th.

1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite kind of music and why you like it.

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Casa For The Holidays - Guest Post and 4-Book Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming four authors from Sourcebooks Casablanca to Debbie's Book Bag today. Juliana Stone, Carolyn Brown, Grace Burrowes and Terry Spear. These ladies are here promoting their four Christmas novels and giving you a chance to win a 4-book giveaway, with one copy of each title! Enjoy the guest post and make sure you look at the schedule and follow along with the other blogs participating. Giveaway details at the end of the post!

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? It’s just about that time to at least start thinking about presents… right? Maybe! On this stop on the Casa for the Holidays virtual tour, the Sourcebooks Holiday Authors are sharing some of their craziest Christmas shopping trips! 

Carolyn Brown

Since Christmas was Sister’s favorite holiday we had some wild times at blue light specials where she got down on her hands and knees and crawled through people’s legs to get a roll of wrapping paper for only a quarter or where we stood in line for hours and hours to buy things we didn’t need at the Black Friday sales but hey they were on sale and we might need them later. We did everything together from mammograms to bitchin’ about our husbands and we’d already done both that December when we were decided to finish off the day by doing some Christmas shopping. I was over in the clearance sale part of the store when I heard someone yell, “Sis…ter, where are you?”

That meant she’d found a sale for sure. Maybe she’d found a half of half sale so I hurried in the direction of the voice that yelled again, “Sis…ter, where are you?”
So there I was rushing through the aisles hunting for Sister when I saw this little old lady with a gray bun

on top of her head, using a cart for a walker. Another little old lady with a hair-do that looked like she’d just stuck her hand in an electrical socket rounded the end of the aisle and the first one said, “Sister, I thought you’d forgot me and gone home without me.”

My sister came up behind me and we didn’t even need words to know that we were looking at ourselves when we got to be eighty years old. Me with my gray bun and her with her kinky hair-do. Sister passed this past summer and she didn’t make it to the age those sweet old ladies were…I’ll miss those crazy times with her this year.

Grace Burrowes

I’m not somebody whose ailments respond to retail therapy. In fact, my idea of hell is to spend time at a shopping mall, particularly during the holidays. And yet, I’m a Mom, and that meant for a number of years, I was Santa Claus, at least to my daughter. 

When you have an only child, Christmas can loom like a minefield. Everybody else gathers with “family” at the holidays, while you…. hope the day care mom doesn’t need too much time off, hope you can afford some presents for the kid beyond socks and undies, hope you don’t need to buy another cord of wood for the wood stove. The season of hope, indeed.

Some of my Christmas memories aren’t so very cheery as a result of these worries, and yet, we

managed. Every year, the tree went up; every year, we had fun decorating it, and even hanging some lights outside the house. Every year, we made a few batches of cookies.

And every year, I put off shopping for presents, hoping for inspiration, a pot of gold, something to make the annual present procurement ordeal both endurable and successful. 

The best year was when my daughter turned eight, and fell in love for the first time. The object of her devotion was a guy, and he solved my every holiday problem. I don’t run across this fellow often any more (seventeen years have gone by), but when I do, my associations are all positive.

Who solved all my holiday problems those many years ago? 

Garfield. 

That fat, cranky orange cat for some reason caught my daughter’s fancy. I did all my shopping at one store, an emporium that carried Garfield mugs, towels, pillows, banks, pencils, banks, T-shirts, socks, pajamas and stuffed animals. I bought the Garfield videos (two copies of Garfield’s Christmas), and we watched them back to back on Christmas Day. 

That was the first, last, and only easy Christmas I can recall, but I will always be grateful to Garfield for giving me the boon of one holiday season, free of shopping malls, reconnaissance missions, and gift-giving anxieties. 

And best of all, I’m pretty sure my daughter still has her Garfield bank. 

Terry Spear 

When I was younger and we lived in Florida, it was the only place where it just didn't feel like Christmas. Too hot and muggy. But every year we would go to Orlando (we lived in Merritt Island and my dad was with the space program) and we would shop there, the closest nice malls. Parking was horrendous and so

everyone put something on their car antenna so they could find their car from all the rest. Only everyone got oranges. So you would see a sea of oranges stuck to car antennas. And no one could find their cars!

Juliana Stone 

I’m pretty much a creature of habit and one of my favorite things to do in November is take a trip across the border (I’m in Canada) with several girlfriends for a weekend of shopping, eating, drinking and more shopping. Christmas is our excuse and it’s one we use every, single year!

This year we’re going the weekend before Black Friday because honestly, I don’t want to be anywhere near a mall that weekend. I love to shop, but I sure hate crowds!  

My girlfriends are great and generally our shopping

trip isn’t that eventful.  We stay at a nice hotel, head out to a different mall each day, buy copious amounts of wine and by Sunday we’re usually ready to head home, tired and maybe a little hungover.

A few years back we stayed at a hotel out in the middle of nowhere and there was a small roadhouse beside it. I’m not sure how, but sometime in the early hours a bunch of us ended up over there, in our pajamas, swigging beer and playing pool with a bunch of local boys.  I have no idea what we were thinking, but man, we had a lot of laughs and I’m sure those guys thought us Canadian women were a bit crazy.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

To enter to win a prize pack of all 4 of these Christmas authors’ novels, tell us in the comments if you plan out your holiday shopping… or if you wait until the last minute! And don't forget to fill out the FORM. This contest is open internationally and the deadline to enter is Midnight EST, November 6th.

To find out more about these authors, please visit their websites!


Carolyn Brown Website: http://carolynlbrown.com/ 
Grace Burrowes Website: http://graceburrowes.com/ 
Terry Spear Website: http://www.terryspear.com/ 
Juliana Stone Website: http://www.julianastone.com/ 

FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE “CASA FOR THE HOLIDAYS” VIRTUAL TOUR!

October-December 2013
Fun Holiday-Themed Posts from Carolyn, Grace, Terry and Juliana,
And Chances to WIN Books at Each Stop!

October

Oct. 8 
Booked and Loaded

Oct. 16
Ramblings From This Chick 

Oct. 23
Debbie's Book Bag

Oct. 29
The Reading Café 


November 

Nov. 4 
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

Nov. 6
Smexy Books

Nov. 12
Cocktails and Books

Nov. 14
The Bookish Babe

Nov. 20
Night Owl Reviews 

Nov. 22
Fresh Fiction


December 

Dec. 4
USA Today HEA

Dec. 5
Under the Covers

Dec. 10
Romancing the Book

Dec. 11
Anna's Book Blog

Dec. 16
What's on the Bookshelf

Dec. 17
That's What I'm Talking About

Review and Giveaway: Captive

Captive: The Forbidden Side of Nightshade by A.D. Robertson

Publication Date: 10/22/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Dutton
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0525954112
ISBN-13: 978-0525954118

(Received for an honest review from Dutton)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

A.D. Robertson on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

WARNING: This book is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

Excerpt from Captive, courtesy of Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

The first adult novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Nightshade series,Captive delivers a steamy, forbidden romance between sworn enemies drawn together by an irrepressible desire.

Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.

But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan’s infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers’ ages-old reign.

Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels,Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.

Thoughts:

A.D. Robertson is the pen-name for highly acclaimed author Andrea Cremer. The Forbidden Side of Nightshade is a spin-off series that will feature three adult themed books from the Nightshade world, made famous in Cremer's young adult Nightshade series. This is a novel that adult fans of the series will love. It features the world they have grown to love in the YA series, while adding to the back story and bringing to the forefront new and amazing characters. Robertson instills this novel with dark sensuality and takes the reader on a journey into the lives of two very different captives.

I have to admit, when I found out this book was coming out, I was extremely excited. I don't read a lot of YA fiction but once in awhile something intriguing comes along and that's how I felt about the Nightshade series. Andrea Cremer created a world of dark magic witches and wolf guardians, as well as, a human element in the Searches that was captivating and gripping. That world is still evolving and is richly developed in this spin-off series. Captive is a book that will resonate with adult fans of the Nightshade series, while also creating a whole new audience for this expressive and sensual world.

Tristan has lived in the Irish castle of Tierney for his entire life. Sheltered, secluded and protected. It is a life of privilege and wealth, but it is essentially a prison. Bosque Mar keeps a tight reign on Tristan and anyone he comes in contact with. His blood line is too precious to risk in the age old war between the Searchers and the Keepers, but more importantly an ancient prophecy has foretold that the world of Keepers will one day be destroyed. Tristan's destiny lies in the prophecy and with a young human Searcher named Sarah. The premise of the book alone is pretty amazing. Robertson takes the tales and prophecies from Nightshade and gives them a more detailed explanation. We find out how the prophecy will affect Tristan and Sarah as well as the characters in the YA novels and that was really exciting. 

I liked the fact that Robertson does not shy away from the adult nature of this romance. Tristan and Sarah meet in a very unusual way, if you call finding a naked woman chained to your bed out of the ordinary. From the first time they meet each other there is something palpable between them. A tension or a spark that given time becomes a smoldering longing that neither can deny. I loved the romance between them. It was based on respect and trust and the things that make this kind of love amazing. Tristan is just as much a captive as Sarah is and it takes the both of them to set each other free in more ways than one. 

The characterizations were deep and full of surprises. I did't expect to like Tristan because I thought it would be arrogant and self-centered but that's not how Robertson wrote him at all. Sarah is strong and determined and very skillful with weapons and warfare. While Tristan is refined and educated. Opposites certainly attract and the romance has that forbidden quality because Tristan and Sarah are basically mortal enemies. Robertson made them come alive through poignant dialogue and sizzling scenes that fit the story and were not thrown in for show. 

I really enjoyed this novel and I'm looking forward to seeing what else readers will get to discover about the Nightshade world. This book can be read as a stand alone easy enough, but I think reading the YA series will help the reader understand why certain things are important. Both are excellent series' written by a very talented author. Captive is strong in premise and in characterization. It is definitely an adult novel and not suitable for young readers. But let's face it. It's nice to read a good book, that isn't meant for a teen audience once in a while. Adults tend to crave adult themes and situations and I thought having this companion series was a wonderful idea. It gives satisfaction to those desires, while still being set in a very seductive and creative world. An excellent start to what looks to be an exciting and vibrant spin off series.

Captive is available TODAY from your favorite bookseller. 

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

About the Author:

A. D. ROBERTSON is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author. Prior to becoming a full-time novelist, Robertson was a professor of early modern history at Macalester College, giving her a background that informs her books’ compelling blend of mythology,
history, and lore. She grew up in northern Wisconsin and now lives in New York City.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Captive by A.D. Robertson.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
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Review and Giveaway: Buried in Bargains

Buried in Bargains (Good Buy Girls - Book 3) by Josie Belle

Publication Date: 10/01/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group 
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 272
ISBN-10: 0425252302
ISBN-13: 978-0425252307

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Josie Belle (aka. Jenn McKinlay) on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest

Books in the series:

50% Off Murder (2012), A Deal to Die for (2012), Buried in Bargains (2013)

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

Excerpt from Buried in Bargains, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Maggie Gerber and those discount divas, the Good Buy Girls, are gearing up for their first big holiday thrift shop sale. But one of the Girls—Joanne Claramotta, pregnant with her first child—is acting less than festive. It could be hormones. Or it could be Diane Jenkins, the young knockout her husband, Michael, hired as his new deli assistant.

Calming Joanne’s nerves proves impossible when Maggie finds Michael unconscious on his deli floor—and with Diane next to him, strangled to death with her apron strings. Then Maggie discovers something even more disturbing.

There’s no record of Diane having been hired. In fact, she has no history at all. It’s as if she never even existed. Now Maggie fears that unwrapping Michael’s secrets could really kill her holiday spirit.

Thoughts:

The Good Buy Girls are back in the third installment of the series, Buried in Bargains. Author Josie Belle (aka. Jenn McKinlay) has created a series that is refreshing in the cozy sub-genre. It isn't a culinary mystery series this time, but a shopping series. In this economy who doesn't need tips on finding a good bargain? Belle enchants readers with the cozy town of St. Stanley and the ladies of the Good Buy Girls group. Readers will be scratching their heads with this mystery. Who is she and where did she come from? A great addition to the series!

First of all Jenn McKinlay has a lot of irons in the fire. She is the author of not one, but five different cozy mystery series'. Now that's impressive. As Josie Belle, McKinlay writes about one of most women's favorite pass times, shopping. I loved the whole theme of the series and Buried in Bargains is set during the Christmas season, when bargains really matter. So I thought that was a great plot point. I liked the fact that the author also put that great hot chocolate in a jar gift in the back of the book as well. Cute and a lot of fun to make and give as a gift, and quite economical too boot. 

When one of the Good Buy Girls isn't in a festive mood. Everyone believes it's hormones, but more than likely it's the sexy new assistant her husband has hired to work at their family deli. At first that looked like a pretty cut and dried plot. The wife gets framed for either the murder of the husband or the assistant. Well it turns out it was the assistant, but that's just the beginning of this story. The assistant wasn't really an assistant. In fact she doesn't really exist, at least as far as anyone can figure out. She has no past, but she is dead. I liked the whole plot there were several interesting aspects to it. The wife being pregnant. How the girl was associated with the husband. Who was she and where did she come from? It will definitely keep you guessing.

Maggie once again steals the show. She is a wonderful amateur sleuth. She has that subtle charm that helps her get information out of people with ease. She has ins with the local police as she once dated the Sheriff in high school. But most importantly she has good friends and townspeople to back her up. I love her store, My Sister's Closet and the ideas she has for selling her gently used clothing. I liked the hunt for gift wrap and the jovial friendship that is apparent with the Good Buy Girls. There is a lot to love about Maggie and I think readers will find her captivating and very easy to identify with.

I loved the growing attraction between Maggie and the Sheriff and how Belle is letting it work itself out as the series goes along. It's not easy to be an amateur sleuth when you love interest is the head of the police department. I fear there will be struggles a head for these two, but the beginnings of their relationship is fun to read and anticipate. Readers get a good dose of romance, a well thought out mystery and a great theme with Buried in Bargains. 

I am looking forward to seeing what the Good Buy Girls get into next. The preview in the back of this book for the next book in the series, was excellent. It's got my curiosity up, don't forget to check it out when you finish the book.

Buried in Bargains is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

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

About the Author:

Josie Belle is a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Library Lover's mysteries and the Cupcake Bakery mysteries.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Buried in Bargains by Josie Belle.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 4th.

1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite place to find bargains.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review and Giveaway: The Chocolate Moose Motive

The Chocolate Moose Motive (Chocoholic Mystery - Book 12) by JoAnna Carl

Publication Date: 10/01/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 256
ISBN-10: 0451414802
ISBN-13: 978-0451414809

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

JoAnna Carl on the WEB: Website, Goodreads

Books in the series:

The Chocolate Cat Caper (2002), The Chocolate Bear Burglary (2002), The Chocolate Frog Frame-Up (2003), The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle (2004), The Chocolate Mouse Trap (2005), The Chocolate Bridal Bash (2006), The Chocolate Jewel Case (2007), The Chocolate Snowman Murders (2008), The Chocolate Cupid Killers (2009), The Chocolate Pirate Plot (2010), The Chocolate Castle Clue (2011), The Chocolate Moose Motive (2012 HC)

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

Excerpt from The Chocolate Moose Motive, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

When Lee hires a free-spirited employee with a tie-dyed, troubled past, she discovers that even the counterculture can conceal a killer....
 
As much as the chocolate concoctions at TenHuis Chocolade can tantalize people’s tongues, Lee’s newest hire is more likely to make them wag. Forsythia “Sissy” Smith is the granddaughter of Warner Pier’s resident hippie, but the fact that Sissy is a third-generation flower child is the least of Lee’s concerns. The previous winter, Sissy’s husband, Buzz, was found dead, and even though her alibi was airtight, the gossips are still pointing their fingers at her.
 
Then the chief gossip is found dead, with Sissy on the scene. Was she lured there? Or is she the killer? Lee has a sneaking suspicion that someone is out to keep a dark secret from coming to light. And they would have no problem killing a certain clever chocolatier who might uncover the truth....

Thoughts:

Readers return to Warner Pier in the twelfth book in The Chocoholic mystery series by JoAnna Carl. The Chocolate Moose Motive continues the adventures of Lee Woodyard and the crew from TenHuis Chocolate. Fans of the series will enjoy the quaint Michigan setting and returning to characters that have become old friends. The long lived series is full of interesting chocolate facts and trivia and some excellent recipes, but the main ingredient is always murder!

One of the things that I like about this series and The Chocolate Moose Motive in particular is the characters. Carl has created a town that will make readers nostalgic and having them missing their own hometowns. Warner Pier is like most small towns, full of interesting and sometimes eccentric people and always ripe for gossip. I liked the fact that Carl introduced two new characters in Sissy and her grandmother Wildflower in this book. I hope we see them again in future installments. Carl often mentions intriguing people that she doesn't always go on to incorporate more fully into her stories. There are so many that I hope get their own story someday. 

Readers will enjoy returning to their old favorites, Lee and Joe and Aunt Netty of course, but it was nice to see Sissy in this novel. She is a young woman who the whole town suspects of murder, even though it was proved she didn't kill her husband. I liked the fact that Lee takes a chance on Sissy and tries to help her. I liked Sissy's hippie influences and die-dyed attire. She brought a new kind of interest to the series. She is just a young woman who seems to have gotten on the wrong side of the town gossip. In a small town that can be very awkward. 

As usual, Lee is more curious than any cat you've ever seen. When she overhears Sissy and her father in law arguing she does a little snooping and finds out Sissy's story. She then hires her to work at TenHuis Chocolate. I liked the fact that Lee was able to figure out what most of the town didn't want to believe, Sissy was innocent. Lee is one of those heroines you don't find too often in cozies. She doesn't have an overly inflated attitude about her sleuthing. She doesn't think she is better than the police, nor does she come across as super nosy. Carl writes her as a very curious lady, who happens to find a clue here and there and puts two and two together with the best of them. 

I think the author put a little too much emphasis on Lee's speaking issues and not quite enough on the main ingredient other than murder, chocolate. I loved all the facts about chocolate and the fudge recipe in the back of the book is too die for, but I felt like there was not as much info as we usually get with Carl's chocoholic books. I guess as a reader I'm just used to Carl writing a bit more detail when it comes to the family business. I haven't read too many cozies where the protagonists day job is a chocolatier and that's one of the reasons I love this one. 

The mystery was a little predictable and I figured out whodunit quite awhile before the big reveal. That's not always a bad thing, as most of the it's all about the journey. In this one, each clue that Lee found reinforced my idea of who it was and that was kind of nice for a change. It didn't keep me second guessing like a lot of them do. I thought the suspect was believable as the murderer, but the motive was a little sketchy and wasn't as well fleshed out as I would have liked.

Overall this was good book, not the best in the series, but certainly not the worst. 

The Chocolate Moose Motive is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

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

About the Author:

JoAnna Carl is the pseudonym for a multipublished mystery writer. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, editor, and columnist. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and also studied in the OU Professional Writing Program. She lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan, where the Chocoholic Mystery series is set.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Chocolate Moose Motive by JoAnna Carl.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, November 4th.

1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite kind of chocolate.
2. Please fill out the FORM.