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Review: Cinco De Murder

6/29/2018

5 Comments

 
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CINCO DE MURDER
A Taste of Texas Mystery, #3
by
Rebecca Adler
Genre:  Texas Cozy Mystery Date of Publication: April 3, 2018 Publisher: Berkley
Number of Pages: 304 Scroll down for the giveaway!
Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan serves up more Lone Star justice in this spicy mystery from the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole. It's fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklórico dances for Saturday's big parade, while Uncle Eddie is adding his own spicy event to the fiesta menu: Broken Boot's First Annual Charity Chili Cook-off. But Uncle Eddie's hopes of impressing the town council go up in smoke when cantankerous chili cook Lucky Straw is found dead in his tent. And when Josie's beloved uncle is accused of fatal negligence, she, Lenny, and the steadfast Detective Lightfoot must uncover who ended the ambitious chilihead's life--before another cook kicks the bucket.
PRAISE FOR CINCO DE MURDER:
"I enjoyed every minute of this high fa looting Texas escapade. The authentic Texas sayings had me rolling on the floor. I'm a Texan and boy did I relate to the towns and chili cook-off so well."
--Texas Book-aholic
"I enjoy the Texas flair and touch while all the food talk just makes me hungry. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery that features an adorable dog and a culinary touch then this is the book/series for you."~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
CLICK TO PURCHASE: Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Kobo
Rebecca Adler grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. Drawn to the Big Apple by the sweet smell of wishful thinking, she studied acting on Broadway until a dark-eyed cowboy flung her over his saddle and hightailed it to the Southwest.
She's currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing the Taste of Texas culinary mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime: Here Today, Gone Tamale; The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole; and Cinco de Murder. Set in far West Texas, her humorous stories are filled with delicious suspense and scrumptious Tex-Mex recipes. Her alter ego, Gina Lee Nelson, writes contemporary romance with a sweet, Southern-fried flavor. 
A former president of North Texas Romance Writers, Rebecca is currently a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she spends a great deal of time on her other favorite pastime, directing high school theatre. 
Twitter â•‘ Facebook
Website â•‘ Goodreads
â•‘ Amazon Author Page â•‘
-------------------------------------
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
Grand Prize: Signed Copies of the Full Taste of Texas Series + $10 Amazon Gift Card Two Runners-Up: Signed Copies of Cinco de Murder
JUNE 20-29, 2018
(U.S. Only) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
6/20/18
Author Interview
Chapter Break Book Blog
6/20/18
Guest Post
Hall Ways Blog
6/21/18
Review
Missus Gonzo
6/22/18
Top 5 List
The Page Unbound
6/23/18
Excerpt
Texas Book Lover
6/24/18
Review
Forgotten Winds
6/25/18
Bonus Review
Reading by Moonlight
6/26/18
Character Guest Post
Dressed to Read
6/27/18
Review
The Librarian Talks
6/28/18
Guest Post + Bonus Review
That's What She's Reading
6/29/18
Review
Book Fidelity
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I am such a big fan of cozy mysteries - and I quite enjoyed Cinco de Murder so much because it brought the mystery a bit closer to home (i.e. Texas). I am also a completist when it comes to series books, so I made sure to read the first two books in the series, Here Today, Gone Tamale, and The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole. 

These books are absolutely great - so entertaining! Our protagonist, Josie Callahan, is such a great character; she's sweet, ballsy, inquisitive, and just plain funny. Her whole family reads just like an "average" (meaning, not so average lol) Texas family would really be. And her dog, Lenny, is so funny in his own right. 

In Cinco de Murder, we find Uncle Eddie getting a chili cook-off approved to be hosted in the town. The cook-off attracts contestants from all over, and one in particular, Lucky Straw, appears to be not well-liked by all those around him. Lo and behold, our Josie comes across Straw's body (what luck our Josie has!). Josie, along with Detective Quinton Lightfoot, get pulled along for the mystery of who killed the chili chef.

Along with the mystery, something that I truly enjoy due to my love of romance books, is the developing attraction between Josie and Detective Lightfoot. It's something that started brewing since book one, and it's something that I truly enjoyed seeing grow between them. On the flipside, I also think it's fun to read about how Josie's ex boyfriend, Ryan, doesn't seem to be over Josie - though Jose doesn't seem to see that (I kinda love when the reader knows something the protagonist doesn't!). 

Adler's writing flows so smoothly, and it is so entertaining to read. Since book one, I liked Josie instantaneously along with her family trailing right behind her. Adler helps you care about her characters and it reads less like random characters and more like people you know. I am all for it! I recommend this book (and the whole series actually) to all lovers of cozy mysteries, and especially to those who think they can't possibly get into a cozy mystery. These books will convert you for sure!

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5 Comments

Blog Tour: Harmon General

6/23/2018

0 Comments

 
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HARMON GENERAL
Misfits and Millionaires #2
by
KIMBERLY FISH
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII / Spies
Publisher: Fish Tales, LLC
Date of Publication: June 16, 2018
Number of Pages: 330
Scroll down for giveaway!
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In 1943, Lane Mercer and Emmie Tesco had nothing in common. Well, nothing stronger than a town neither of them chose and careers they couldn’t advertise as agents within the Office of Strategic Services. During the days of Longview, Texas’s Friendly Trek Homecoming Parade, Lane was gearing up for the grand opening of a bookshop that also disguised an espionage safe house, and Emmie was chasing a criminal with evil intent through the US Army’s new medical facility, Harmon General Hospital, treating diseased and amputated soldiers. Emmie ropes Lane into international threats at Harmon General, making it increasingly hard for the two spies to navigate the Junior Service League, church life, or anything else that might be considered normal for a town sizzling with oil boom wealth. A friend from Lane’s past arrives and pushes against the fiction she’s created to distance her spy history from the wedding bells ringing her future. Emmie flirts with the idea of finding a life outside of the OSS but justifies the danger as a way to make amends for those she’s betrayed. Connecting the two women, to their surprise, is a rogue agent who targets them for crimes he believes they created. For better, or worse, they have to put aside their differences to share responsibility for stopping       “The Grasshopper” before he blows apart the Big Inch Pipeline project and
Harmon General Hospital. The hope of malaria treatments for US soldiers depends on it, and justice of the heart demands it.
PRAISE FOR HARMON GENERAL:
"The war that changed the world brought the world to East Texas through Harmon General, a significant US Army hospital that treated thousands of wounded soldiers in Longview. In Harmon General, we meet again Lane Mercer, a World War II heroine, and we enjoy again how the drama of her secret service to the nation and her complicated personal relationships pull us into the vast impact of the world war." -- Dale Lunsford, Ph.D., President, LeTourneau University

“Harmon General is a brilliant story for historical fiction readers! Set in World War II, the female spies, Army hospital setting, and drama amongst the Longview townsfolk kept me riveted and engaged until the very end.” 
​- Jody T. Morse

CLICK TO PURCHASE
║AMAZON ║ BARNES AND NOBLE ║

SPECIAL PROMOTION: FREE BOOK!

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For the first five days of the Lone Star Book Blog Tours promotion of Harmon General, the Kindle e-book of The Big Inch is FREE!! That’s right, from June 22-27, the e-book that started the whole Misfits and Millionaires adventure costs nada! Click to download your copy!
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A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR:

Kimberly Fish started writing professionally with the birth of her second child and the purchase of a home computer. Having found this dubious outlet, she then entered and won The Writer’s League of Texas manuscript contest which fed her on-going fascination with story crafting.
She has since published in magazines, newspapers, and online formats and in January 2017, released the first novel in the Misfits and Millionaires series set during the World War II years in Longview, Texas—The Big Inch. Her second book, Comfort Plans, was published later that same year. She lives with her family in East Texas.​

WEBSITE - INSTAGRAM - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOODREADS - 
​AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Visit Kimberly Fish ’ s YouTube channel to see book reviews and behind the scene peeks at places that have inspired the novels! From kissing couples to fabulous fedoras, Kimberly Fish's Pinterest Board shows her inspiration behind Harmon General!

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
TWO SIGNED COPIES OF HARMON GENERAL
​ JUNE 22-JULY 1, 2018 (U.S. Only)

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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As their kiss turned heated, the phone rang. She was close enough to the desk to pick up the receiver and leave it off the hook for the next hour or so, but those three short rings followed by a pause and three more short rings followed by a pause, could only mean that Theo was calling. She couldn’t ignore the OSS if she wanted to keep the shop open. Pitiful cash reports and a renovation that had exceeded budget were reason enough to accept the government’s interference. 
Stepping away from Zeke’s embrace, Lane breathed in a fortifying gasp of air. She held a finger up and said, “Just one quick second. I have to get this call.”
“Are you kidding? Let it ring.”
​
    “I can’t.” She reached for the phone, knowing Theo would wait through four cycles. He’d programmed the operator to keep for the pattern, anticipating that Lane might be in a sales situation. “Between the Lines bookshop, on Fredonia in Longview.”

“I’m looking for a copy of Mrs. Washington’s cookbook. Do you carry it?”
She squeezed her eyes shut so she couldn’t see the disbelief on Zeke’s face. “Yes, I have one copy of Mrs. Washington’s cookbook.”
The operator paused. “Please hold.”
A perilously long fifteen seconds endured.
 “Lane?” The Bostonian accent was clipped like he was calling from a public location.
She watched Zeke swig the last of his beer, toss the bottle into the trash, and march into the storefront. The clatter of a box as it toppled to the floor followed. She was sure he’d find something else to kick before her conversation ended. Squeezing her eyes shut, she fought through the conflicting feelings that battered her brain. 
Reality reminded her she owed a debt to Theo that was bigger than any joy Zeke promised. 
Defeated, she turned her back, tucking the phone close to her chin, and answered Theo. “You have the worst timing.”

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A Note from Your Blogger

6/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Good morning readers!

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a chat, and there are some changes coming to my blog soon that I think I should share with you.

This blog has always been my outlet in my want to talk about what I’m reading. Well, now, I’ve decided that I want to include my want to talk about artsy, creative things. I have a very time-consuming full time job that is neither arts-creative, nor involves me reading books, so I definitely need this blog to help me process those sides of me. 

This blog will still primarily be a book blog because if I am anything, I am a book lover. However, now you will find some artsy posts where I show you the things I’m working on. Hopefully this will not dissuade you from continuing to follow this blog. 

In case my artsy stuff is intriguing to you, I do have an Etsy shop (that will also be going through an overhaul). You can see what I have for sale at https://www.bookfidelity.etsy.com.  

Hopefully you will join me as I continue to explore new books and let my creative juices flow. Thank you for joining me for the journey so far <3

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Book Blitz: The Hart of Darkness

6/12/2018

0 Comments

 
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Hart of Darkness (The Hart Series, Book 1)

By S.B. Alexander
Romantic Suspense
Releasing June 12, 2018
 
Synopsis
The road to love is paved in the dark. 
Former gang member Dillon Hart abandoned the streets to join the US Merchant Marines. He feels his life is finally on track until he returns home to discover that his sixteen-year-old sister is missing. With his younger brother in jail and his older brother living a life of crime, it’s up to Dillon to find Grace. After four years of searching, a phone call from a morgue gives him a lead that he can’t pass up. Enlisting the help of a cutthroat reporter may be his only hope.
Crime reporter Maggie Marx has just the right mix of grit and sex appeal to get anything she wants, even the darkest stories on the street. Growing up in a gang, she had her fair share of setbacks and obstacles. When Dillon Hart seeks her help, she’s more than ready to take down the street's biggest enemy. Her actions could help her exact revenge or land her in the belly of the beast.
As Dillon and Maggie team up to search for Dillon’s sister, they aren’t prepared to find what lies ahead. One family is torn apart. Another is brought together. Hearts are shredded, secrets are uncovered, and love takes on a whole new meaning.
Intended for audiences 18+ Strong language and sexual content.

About the Author

S.B. Alexander is a bestselling romance author of the Maxwell Series. Her books are filled with stories that tug at your heart, and are filled with romance, drama, action and suspense. As much as she loves to write, she also loves to read. Some of her favorite authors growing up were Stephen King and Edgar Allen Poe. She stills enjoy reading Stephen King. In fact, she loves most genres, although in the past three years she has gravitated toward the romance genre, which is when she started her journey to write her first book. Her motto: write what you love to read. 
 
Aside from writing, she’s a huge sports fan, in particular, baseball. Since she hails from New England, she is a diehard Red Sox fan. She’s also a navy veteran and former math teacher, loves white powdered donuts, and handbags. Her husband calls her the bag lady. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing golf and hanging out with friends and family.
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sbalexander.authorpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SBAlex_author
Website: http://sbalexander.com/
 
AMAZON: http://sbalexander.com/wwskAZ
B&N: http://sbalexander.com/4tfwbn
GOODREADS: http://sbalexander.com/hodgoodreads
​

The author is giving away a $100 Amazon GC
​to one lucky reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt
 
I parked two blocks from a sea of red and blue flashing lights. I grabbed my bag, hopped out of my car, and ran up to the crowd that had gathered around.

I sidled up to an older lady. “What’s going on?”

She didn’t even look my way. Instead, she lifted up on her tiptoes to see over others’ heads. “Word is the cops are in a standoff with some gang.”

My internal radar was firing on all cylinders. “What gang?”

She clutched the robe she was wearing. “Not sure.”

I plowed through the throng to get a better view. Some protested as I wiggled my way up to a man in blue, whose name read Miladin on his uniform shirt. I knew some cops but not him.

Police cruisers and unmarked cars littered the street on the other side of the police barricade.

I flashed my reporter credentials. “I’m here to see Detective Ted Hughes.” I scanned the men in blue and some in plain clothes. Ted was tall, lanky, and sometimes hard to miss with his thick mustache that was similar to the actor Tom Selleck’s. I did another once-over and spotted Rick. He wasn’t as tall as Ted, but he was husky, compliments of the gym he lived at during his off-duty hours.

Officer Miladin narrowed his dark eyes. “Civilians are not allowed past this barrier.”

“I work for the paper, so let me through.” I knew working as a reporter held no clout to get me into an active police scene, but most cops knew I was close to Ted.

Officer Miladin stabbed a finger at another police barrier along the sidewalk in front of the brick homes that lined the street. “The media is over there.”

I didn’t budge from my spot. “You’re new. Aren’t you?”

Miladin’s voice dropped an octave. “I said over there.”

I huffed and decided it wasn’t worth arguing. Ted would only kick me out anyway.

I spotted Deidre, a news reporter for CBNT, a local station in the city. If anyone had a lead, it would be Deidre. She was relentless in her hunt to get the big story. I was about to make my way over to her, when a shot rang out through the humid night.

People screamed and scattered.

The cops took cover behind their vehicles.

I managed to duck behind one of many cars parked along the curb. The lady in the robe joined me, breathing heavily, while the crowd scattered to take cover.

Then silence ensued.

I slowly peeked through the car window, when the lady in the robe nudged me.

She pointed a red-painted nail toward the driveway of the house across from us. “Look.”

A girl with bold red hair darted from the back of the house, setting off the motion sensor.

Miladin, who had abandoned his position, edged along the base of the house and down the driveway. He said something into his radio, when the redhead climbed the chain-link fence.  

Considering the girl was running, I suspected the cops didn’t have the house completely surrounded. Or if they did, then their attention wasn’t on the girl.
​
The crowd seemed to be holding its breath.
 
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Review: In Bed with the Beast

6/5/2018

0 Comments

 
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In Bed with the Beast
by Tara Sivec

​Synopsis

In Bed with the Beast 
is the second book in the Naughty Princess Club series from USA Today best-selling author Tara Sivec. Readers return to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity - and romance - that three women fall into once they decide to strut their stuff and bring on their own happily ever after.

A tale as old as time: she needs a place to stay, he's a grump with a secret and an extra room...can love find a way? 
Living in her overprotective dad's basement, shy Belle lives her life through books. Being a part of the Naughty Princess Club is the first adventure she's ever had, plus she desperately needs the money to save one of her favorite places - the local library. 
But when her new friends and new business gets her kicked out of her dad's house, Belle is rescued by the surly Vincent "Beast" Adams who invites her to be his house guest until she gets back on her feet. Despite his attitude problem and long list of rules, Belle finds herself warming to the muscled man with a penchant for growling and starts seeing a gentle side to him that wasn't there before. 
Yet there's a room that Beast keeps locked and Belle keeps getting hints that Beast is hiding something...can a nerdy librarian tame the beast or will their romance be over before it has a chance to?

Review

I am a complete sucker for a fairy tale retelling - especially a Beauty and the Beast retelling *swoons*

This retelling was definitely different than the others as the ladies in this series are looking to finance their futures by creating a stripping business. Belle has yet to strip, however, as she is the shy one of the group who has yet to explore her sexuality. 

Enter Beast. He's a bouncer at a strip club (owned by Cinderella's "prince charming"?). He's grumpy, but has a kind heart. Belle is interested in the Beast, but he seems determined to keep his emotional distance from her. 

This story has my favorite tropes:  forced proximity (Belle ends up living with the Beast), shy girl falling for the "bad guy", and the whole "teach me how to be sexy" thing. I just love those tropes - they are like candy to me. 

I cringed at times in the beginning when the trio of ladies talk about their stripping business, but that quickly faded when I appreciated them owning it. Why can't they want to be strippers? And, even though Beast doesn't appreciate it at times, I thought it was great that Cinderella's fella didn't mind her stripping (I never thought I'd say that sentence. Ever.). Sure, the book is light and funny and silly at times, but there is real empowerment here. I'm a true believer that a woman can use her body as she chooses as long as it is her choice, and there is no harm being done to another person. 

And on that note - I recommend this read to fellow lovers of fairy tale retellings...with a twist. 

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