Tag Archives: Mystery

#BookReview: The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder | Murder Mystery Prize Pack #Giveaway

14 Apr

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder

The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1RRdypX

In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

 

My thoughts:

“A murder scene is no place for a proper lady.”

With a nod to Sherlock and Watson, McMillan’s bachelor girls Merinda and Jem reject the social expectations of the time and set their caps on professional careers. In an effort to launch their detective business, the intrepid sleuths scour the city in search of a murderer. Along the way, they find themselves in one adventure after another and encounter drama, danger, and romance.

The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder is cleverly crafted and told from multiple points of view that change at will. For me, this was a bit jarring at times and took some getting used to, as did the occasional use of footnotes. I appreciated the wit and humor, but was hoping for more depth to the story and its characters. Ray DeLuca was the character I enjoyed most, and I delighted in his and Jem’s story. While it was not quite what I was expecting, The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder is an imaginative and entertaining tale.

 

Meet best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem, who launch their own Sherlock Holmes-esque consulting detective business in 1910 Toronto in Rachel McMillan’s The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever–if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

Rachel is celebrating the release of The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder with a Murder Mystery Prize Pack giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on April 28!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 4/28. The winner will be announced at The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Rachel and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

 

Rachel McMillan

Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

 

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder.  

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#Giveaway: Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

26 Mar

Sister Dear

Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

Add Sister Dear to your Goodreads Want To Read list!

All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever?

Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.

But Allie’s return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie’s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole status, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family.

As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret one that holds the key to Allie’s freedom.

 

Sister Dear Giveaway- Pinterest

To celebrate the upcoming release (April 19) of Sister Dear, Laura McNeill is giving away 3 signed copies!  Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!  The giveaway (US/CA only) ends April 10th.

 

Laura McNeill

Laura McNeill is the author of CENTER OF GRAVITY. When she is not running, reading or drinking coffee- she is hard at work on her next book. Look for SISTER DEAR on 4/19/16.

Connect with Laura:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

Sister Dear Giveaway (1)

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#BookReview: Annabel Lee by Mike Nappa

23 Mar

Annabel Lee

Annabel Lee by Mike Nappa

Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden.
The secret’s name is Annabel Lee.

She doesn’t know why her enigmatic uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He’s left her with a few German words, a barely controlled guard dog, and a single command: “Don’t open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me.”

Miles away in Atlanta, private investigator Trudi Coffey is visited by a mysterious older man calling himself Dr. Smith. He’s been trailing a man for a decade–a man she met through her ex-partner Samuel Hill–and the trail has led him to her office. The last thing Trudi wants to do is to contact Samuel. But it will take both of them to unravel this mystery–before it’s too late.

 

My thoughts:

Annabel Lee is a thrilling and chilling story! From the very beginning, I was enthralled and eagerly turned the pages to find out what would happen next. This gripping suspense boasts unique and memorable characters, a fast-paced story line, and twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.  Annabel Lee was my first Mike Nappa novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. I can’t wait to continue the Coffey and Hill series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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Review: Murder at the Courthouse

19 Oct

Murder at the Courthouse

Murder at the Courthouse by A.H. Gabhart

Purchase a copy:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping

After a few years as a police officer in Chicago, Michael Keane has no trouble relaxing into the far less stressful job of deputy sheriff in his small hometown. After all, nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky. Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. Everyone in town is a little uneasy. Still, no one is terribly worried–after all the man was a stranger–until one of their own is murdered right on Main Street.

As Michael works to solve the case it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs.

 

My thoughts:

Murder at the Courthouse is an entertaining whodunit! Ann Gabhart has a gift for capturing the essence of small town life, and she has certainly done so in this tantalizing tale. I was delighted by the colorful characters and the twists and turns of the story line. Although I had my suspicions about the culprit, Gabhart kept me guessing and didn’t confirm my thoughts until the very end. I’m excited about this talented author’s foray into the cozy mystery genre and look forward to continuing the Hidden Springs Mystery series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Ann H. Gabhart

A. H. Gabhart is Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of many novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Love Comes Home, several popular Shaker novels such as The Outsider, The Believer, and The Innocent, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. Ann grew up in a small rural town in Kentucky much like Hidden Springs, but Ann is happy to report nobody was ever murdered on her hometown’s courthouse steps. Ann and her husband still live on a farm near that same little town in Kentucky.

Learn more at http://www.annhgabhart.com.

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Review: Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

23 Jul

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor- Buzzing About Books

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1HuCCkT

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents’ cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history.

 

My thoughts:

“Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.”

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is an atmospheric tale that sweeps the reader away to another time and place!  I was immediately captivated by the beauty of the setting and enchanted by the manor, cottage, and gardens. This multi-generational narrative boasts elements of drama, suspense, and romance and a compelling story line that kept me turning the pages. While I found the multiple points of view to be a bit cumbersome at times, I enjoyed the characters and their journeys.  Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is a unique story that won’t soon be forgotten!

I received a complimentary copy of Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an unbiased review. I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my thoughts.

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdobson

 

Melanie Dobson

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

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Friday Freebies

10 Apr

Everything's Coming Up Rosy

Everything’s Coming Up Rosy: A novella
by Anita Higman

Amazon

When Rosy McBride is left at the altar on her wedding day, she’s devastated. She heads back to her hometown of Galveston, thinking she’s going to collapse from sorrow. But her family has another plan: set her up with an old friend, Larson. As he reveals his feelings, Rosy pulls back, but he is determined to help her find her way again—in love, in life, and in all that matters most.

 

Three Little Words

Three Little Words: A novella
by Melissa Tagg

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ava Kingsley and Seth Walker might be the most unlikely friends ever. The only thing these two polar opposites have in common is a knack for wordsmithing. Back in college, they were known for their written sparring in the campus newspaper’s popular “He Says/She Says” column.

At their ten-year college reunion, they pick up right where they left off. Except this time their squabbling leads to a surprising turn: friendship and a year-long exchange of emails. So when Ava approaches a crossroads in her athletics department career in Minnesota, Seth is quick to offer the open apartment above the restaurant he’s been remodeling in Maple Valley, Iowa.

Ava doesn’t know where her career will lead her next, but she’s starting to suspect she might see Seth as more than a pen pal. Which would be exciting…except for the fact that he only sees her as a friend.

As Maple Valley grows on her, Ava wonders if there might be something here for her even though Seth is unavailable. And maybe, just maybe, after all the words the two of them have exchanged over the years, they’ll finally be able to say the three that matter most.

My thoughts:

Three Little Words is simply delightful and a wonderful introduction to the Walker family! I loved Seth Walker and Ava Kingsley. They are adorable characters and I really enjoyed their great chemistry and witty banter. I was reluctant for this e-only novella to end, and am eager to return to Maple Valley as the Walker Family Series continues!

 

Deadly Neighbors

Deadly Neighbors by Cynthia Hickey

Amazon

When Marsha Calloway’s daughter is accused of a crime she didn’t commit, Marsha is determined to find the real culprit. She enlists the help of her Cadillac driving mama, the man who ditched Marsha at her high-school graduation but kept her heart, and a bumbling police officer. Folks around River Valley are having things disappear while they are sleeping with their eyes open. Seems everyone has a dream and not enough funds. Someone is determined to kill for that dream. Will River Valley’s cast of colorful characters live to see another day? Can Marsha find out who the thief is before she becomes one of the sleep walkers?

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Blog Tour + Review: Wind in the Wires

26 Jan

Wind in the Wires

Wind in the Wires by Janet Chester Bly

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

A cowgirl searches for love and family. An old man seeks justice for two cold case murders. Their journey together exposes lies and betrayal. Will the truth be too hard for either to bear?

It’s 1991. Reba Cahill loves ranching with Grandma Pearl in north central Idaho. But there’s a lot of work and only two of them. Reba decides she needs a husband to help her run the ranch. But she finds few prospects in the small town of Road’s End.  

But Reba is also missing something else: her mother. Deserted by her at three-years-old and never knowing her dad, she feels a sense of longing and loss. And bitterness.

When elderly, quirky Road’s End citizen Maidie Fortress dies, Uncle Seth presents Reba Cahill with an expensive piece of jewelry that turns Reba’s world upside down and leads her down unexpected paths and toward unsuspected admirers. Will the facts also ruin all hope for romance?  

Thoughts:

Wind in the Wires is the first book in a new series by Janet Chester Bly.  This Trails of Reba Cahill novel is Janet’s solo debut, as the books she has written in the past were co-authored with her late husband Stephen Bly.  Janet also co-authored with her three sons to finish Stephen’s last novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot.

Wind in the Wires takes the reader back to 1991 in the small town of Road’s End, Idaho.  The author’s imagery is vivid and I easily envisioned the rural countryside.  While the characterization is strong, the cast of characters is vast and I found myself struggling to become invested in the characters.  The plot also presented a few challenges.  There were times when the story was engaging and other times when I felt a bit lost and my interest waned.  As the story progressed, I enjoyed the elements of suspense as family secrets were uncovered and surprises were revealed.  As the story concludes, questions linger and set the stage for the novel to follow. 

Despite my personal struggles, I have no doubt there are many who will enjoy this unique story! 

My sincere thanks to the author for the complimentary copy of this book.  All thoughts expressed in this review are my own. 

Click here to read the first chapter of Wind in the Wires.

 

About the Author:

Janet-w-leather-scarf-1-200x300Janet Chester Bly is a city girl with a country heart. She doesn’t corral horses or mow her own lawn. “I’m no womba woman,” she says. But she followed her husband award-winning western author Stephen Bly to the Idaho mountain top village of Winchester to write books and minister to a small church. When she lost him, she stayed. She manages the online Bly Books bookstore, rakes lots of Ponderosa pine needles and cones, and survives the long winter snows.

Janet Chester Bly is the widow of award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Together they authored and co-authored 120 fiction and nonfiction books. She and her three sons finished Stephen’s last novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, a Selah Award Finalist. The family’s story is told on her website blog: http://www.blybooks.com/. Wind in the Wires is Janet’s first solo adult novel, a contemporary western mystery, a road adventure with a touch of romance. It’s Cowgirl Lit. Reader’s Guide for Group Discussion included. 

Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

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