Month: July 2020

Folly At The Fair by Kari Bovee

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Folly At The Fair by Kari Bovee was an interesting book but not one of my favorites.  I had a tough time getting interested in this book.  I found that I would put it down and then force myself to pick it up again.  I am not sure why I had such a hard time with this book.  The one thing I can tell you is that I hated Frank right from the start, and my thoughts didn’t change by the time that I finished the book.  I didn’t find that this book was super suspenseful, but I did enjoy the mystery parts of this book.  I wouldn’t recommend this book to you if swearing in books bothers you.  It doesn’t bother me, but it might be bothersome, so I wanted to make people aware of that.  I did like that this book was about a person that I have heard so much about.  I know that the things that happened in this book didn’t happen but I loved that the main character was someone that I had heard of.  If you are a fan of historical fiction books I would give this book a shot. 

About The Book

Book Title: Folley at the Fair (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 322 pages
Genre:  Historical Mystery
Publisher:  Bosque Publishing
Release date:   June 2020
Content Rating:  R for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.

Book Description:

She never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll become one… Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to keep her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is innocent. Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive. Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the killer? Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley Mystery historical fiction series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s fast-paced whodunit.

About The Author

When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts. An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category. Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

​Connect with the author:  Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram
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Charlock’s Secret by Leah Moyes

 

Leah Moyes is from the sunny state of Arizona. She is a wife and a mother, a former teacher, and a coach with a background in Archaeology. She loves popcorn and seafood (though not together) and is slowly checking off her very long bucket list.  





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Desperate to hide, Kat flees. Now, trapped in time, her survival and return are threatened by her tortured heart.
Ensnared by hopelessness and grief, twenty-four-year-old Kat Shelton accepts a position as the curator of an old English estate with the sole purpose of running away from her memories and to bury life’s pain.
 
What she finds on her journey is much more than she bargained for—an arrogant employer, patronizing staff, and a chaotic system to name a few. Then to top it all off, an unforeseen tumble down the antiquated cellar steps brings her to a sudden halt.
 
Waking up in the year 1878, and mistaken for the children’s new governess, Kat scrambles to navigate nineteenth-century British lifestyle and culture. An impossible feat if it weren’t for the help of the Gilford girls and their charming and handsome brother, Merritt.

 

 
Will Kat find the strength, love and forgiveness she yearns for in the past? Or will her path bring her back to the reality she fears?
 
Snippet:
“Your turn is over.” Merritt pointed out candidly. “My turn.”
“But, now that you’re older Merritt, you can fix it!”
He completely ignored me. “Truth or dare, Miss Shelton?”
Steamed, I was not about to share my most painful memory now. “Dare!” I cried.
His expression was priceless. “Now, what does that mean exactly?” His mouth twisted innocently.
I laughed aloud. “You dare me to do something crazy, impractical, or what you might consider uncouth.”
“I cannot comply.”
“You agreed! Remember!”
“Yes, but I thought you would choose to divulge an indiscretion like me, not engage in an illogical act.”
“I chose dare, so let’s have it, Mister.”
“All right, let me think.” He pushed forward on the oars, and the boat glided once again. It seemed to help in his devilish plan. “Does it have to happen promptly, or can it be deferred to a later hour?” His question preceded a sly grin. I knew he was up to something but felt sorry I put him on the spot with his truth.
“Since you shared a deep dark secret . . .” I smiled. “I will let you choose the time and place of my dare, but it has to be today.” I felt overly confident. I knew Merritt advocated the duty of a gentleman and would ask nothing too risky of me, so I felt somewhat victorious.

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Cover Reveal: Unexpected Expectations by Lauren Helms

We’ve waited for months for this moment and now it’s time to share the first cover in the third season of the loved, 425 Madison Ave series. Check out the gorgeous cover for Unexpected Expectations by Lauren Helms, a must-read rags to riches romance!

Kevin

With everyone around me settling down, I’m happy to continue living my life single and carefree.

That is unless I can convince the concierge, Lucy Wilson at 425 Madison to finally take me up on that offer to go out on a date.

She’s beautiful, friendly, and her compassion for each and every one of the residents is admirable. Something tells me that she doesn’t see herself that way at all though.

This is why I’ve made it my mission to break her out of her overly cautious shell starting with a lucky penny and a $10 raffle ticket.

It was all supposed to be a little fun but when a large dose of lucky graces us, everything suddenly becomes unexpected.

Lucy

He thinks I don’t see him, but I do. Oh yes, I’ve been aware of the all too good looking Kevin Harper for quite some time now.

The thing is, I’m not sure that we have enough in common and I sure don’t have the free time for a social life between my job and school. Dating? That’s pretty far down on the list of things I’d like to check off – not by choice.

That is until Kevin convinces me that a little fun is good for the soul.

What started as a $10 raffle ticket turned into a vacation in Vegas and a whole lot of expectations that neither of us saw coming.

I always believed in fairy tales, but I wonder if what we have is too good to be true. I can only hope that it’s true what they say…

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

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Don’t miss Boyfriend Maintenance and Flawless Foundations, both by Lauren Helms, featured in the first two seasons!

Read Boyfriend Maintenance, Jake & Emmy’s story on Amazon today!
Read Flawless Foundations, Levi & Becca’s story on Amazon today!

About Lauren Helms

Lauren Helms has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. Lauren decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best–video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and joined NaNoWrimo and a month later, she had her first draft.

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About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Rounding out the summer with some hot city nights and coasting into fall with more cool characters at this famous high-rise, 425 Madison is returning for a third season!

With some familiar faces and some brand new residents – you’ll be sure to find an author you love and a trope to ignite your taste buds after all 425 Madison IS the perfect place to fall in love!

We’ve got an amazing line of up must-read romance authors including, Lauren Helms, Allie York

J Marie, Kay Gordon, Marcie Shumway, Aubree Valentine, S.L. Sterling, and Fiona Tulle

Prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Season One and Two feature stories from some of your favorite romance authors: Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Allie York, Aubree Valentine, Kay Gordon, Lauren Helms, Sylvia Kane, Katy Ames, KC Enders, Marci Shumway, and C. Lesbirel. All these authors came together, each with a standalone romance for you to enjoy. Covering all of your favorite tropes each tale offers you something new, something different.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals, and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

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Catch up on the first two seasons, available exclusively in Kindle Unlimited!

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret

Paranormal Privateers by Andy Zack

Book Review Graphic

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Audiobookworm in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Paranormal Privateers by Andy Zack was an interesting book but was also super long.  I would listen to this book for a couple of hours and then I would have to walk away and come back with it.  This is the third book in the series and I would recommend listening to the whole series in order or you might get confused.  I did find it easier to keep track of who was talking and how the characters are related.  I enjoyed this book but not as much as the second book but it enjoyed it way more than I did the first book.  I think part of my problem is the fact that I am listening to the whole series in about a month so I am just tired of the series right now.   I am going to go back and listen to this book in the future so I can see if I feel the same way after some time has passed.   With that being said this book did a great job of distracting me from all of the craziness that is happening in the world right now.  If you love comedy or are looking for a new series of books I would give this one a shot.

About The Book

Author: Andy Zach

Narrator: Phil Blechman

Length: 10 hours 50 minutes

Publisher: Jule Inc.⎮2019

Genre: Science Fiction; Humor

Series: Life After Chronicles, Book 3

Release date:  Jan. 17, 2019

Zombies charge first, ask questions later.

Middle-aged, overweight, and undead, Diane Newby leads the paranormal privateers against criminals and corruption. Sailing to trouble spots too sensitive for the US government, with zombie strength and regeneration they beat bullies into submission. Aided by zombie turkeys, corgis, and bulls, vicious criminal geniuses fall before them. If Diane gets overwhelmed by foes, her lovely zombie bodyguards and romantic zombie husband come to the rescue.

Out of the blue, new foes appear. Or are they friends? Or both? The frenemies neutralize zombies and orchestrate world peace. They disrupt the economy and produce fabulous wealth. Even the greatest criminals and governments can’t stop them from dominating the world.

Can humanity afford the price of peace? All must surrender freedom to a not-so-benign dictatorship. Diane and the paranormal privateers must do the unthinkable to save humanity. But is it enough?

In an explosive and unconventional ending to Andy Zach’s Life After Life Chronicles, you will learn what happens when the paranormal privateers meet the world’s greatest fear. And you will laugh all the way.

About The Author

Andy Zach was born Anastasius Zacharias, in Greece. His parents were both zombies. Growing up, he loved animals of all kinds. After moving to the United States as a child, in high school, he won a science fair by bringing toads back from suspended animation. Before turning to fiction, Andy published his Ph.D. thesis “Methods of Revivification for Various Species of the Kingdom Animalia” in the prestigious JAPM, Journal of Paranormal Medicine. Andy, in addition to being the foremost expert on paranormal animals, enjoys breeding phoenixes. He lives in Illinois with his five phoenixes.

With his first book, “Zombie Turkeys” Andy blazed new ground in paranormal humor. The second book in his Life After Life Chronicles, “My Undead Mother-in-law” expands the zombie plague from turkeys to humans, with hilarious results. You can find both volumes on Amazon Kindle, Createspace print, and Audible audiobook editions.

Not content to keep in zombies earthbound, Andy puts them afloat in his third book, “Paranormal Privateers”. Just when you thought every funny zombie trope had been explored, new humorous horizons open up. You can get “Paranormal Privateers” in Kindle and print formats. The audiobook is available now on Audible.

Having conquered paranormal animal humor in his first series, Andy Zach launches into middle school superhero genre with Secret Supers. Four disabled seventh graders all get superpowers. Who knew a disability could be so useful for hiding a superpower? But the four friends, Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey confront problems that can’t be solved by superpowers.

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About The Narrator

Phil Blechman

Phil Blechman is a mystical voice wizard from the New Yorkian borough of Queens. His narration and audio production work is supplemented by professions in sports journalism, theatrical writing and direction.

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Michael Stafford

Michael Stafford received his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in 2017 from ACU. He has been performing professionally since 2013. He has performed in regional and educational theaters across Texas for over a decade. “Oops!” is Michael’s first audiobook. He greatly enjoyed the recording process and collaborating with Andy Zach. Michael would like to thank his wife and daughter for their continuous support and love.

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The Deceptive Twin by L.R. Jackson

When Jasen realized the wife he had fallen out of love with started to change, he never imagined his love would be tangled in lies and deceit. Find out if the price of forgiveness is more than Jasen is willing to pay in L.R. Jackson’s THE DECEPTIVE TWIN. Fans of Shanora Williams, Meghan March, and Kennedy Ryan will devour this forbidden romance.

 

 

Morgan
All she was supposed to do was step into her twin’s perfect life for a little while and take an opportunity to be the fun one for once. To know what it felt like to really live. The last thing she ever meant to do was fall for her sister’s husband. How can something that is so wrong feel so right?
Jasen
His wife had become almost like a roommate over the past few years. The distance between them had been insurmountable. Until recently. Something about her is … different. She’s warmer, softer somehow. Jasen is shocked to find himself falling in love with his gorgeous wife all over again. But… is she really his wife?

When tragedy strikes, Morgan is forced to choose between continuing the lie and owning up to her deception. Doing the right thing could mean losing the only man she’s ever loved, but can a relationship built on betrayal ever truly last? More importantly, will Jasen even want her when he learns the truth—or will the price of forgiveness simply be more than he’s willing to pay?

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Exclusive Excerpt

Copyright 2020 @ L.R. Jackson

I stop in my tracks as I hear the front door slam. This is it. The plan is in motion. My heart beats faster, and my palms become sweaty as I try my best to remain calm in the denim jean skirt and midriff top that Monroe forced me to change into. I’m sure this is regular attire for her, but it isn’t something I would wear, and I feel very exposed at the moment. Jasen walks in with his briefcase, and immediately, my lungs stop working. He drops the briefcase down in front of him and watches me with the sexiest dark brown eyes I’ve ever seen. This is not the teenaged Jasen I remember. He’s bigger. Sexier. His muscles strain against the blue collared shirt he’s wearing. His sleeves are rolled up, revealing thick biceps. He looks like walking lust and temptation. He turns and opens a cabinet. “How was Philly?”
“Good,” I answer as my body heats from nervousness. And other things.
He closes the cabinet and turns around to face me. He narrows his eyes as he tears the wrapper off the granola bar in his hand. “You’re awfully quiet. Is something wrong?” he asks before taking a bite.
“No, everything’s fine,” I reply.
“How’s your sister?”
“She’s doing great.”
“So, you two are good? You’re speaking again now?”
“Yup.”
“Good, now you can stop talking about how much you hate her.”
“What?” I ask softly.
I’m not sure if I heard him correctly; did he just say that Monroe hated me?
He stops chewing. “Oh, come on, you say it all the time, Monroe. How Morgan was the favorite, and how Grandma Rose always defended her no matter how wrong she was.”
So, I had heard him correctly. I’m instantly angered. Monroe hated me. She betrayed me, so I should be the one hating her, not the other way around. Had I known about this sooner, I would have never agreed to help her. I snap out of it and answer his question. “We worked out our differences. Everything is good now.”
He takes the last bite as he watches me. He swallows and tosses the wrapper in the nearby trash bin as he walks closer. My body stiffens when he stops right in front of me.
Uh-oh!
He’s entirely too close. His lips are mere inches from mine, and I can smell the mixture of peanut butter and chocolate on his breath. I can also smell his cologne. And it’s intoxicating. He places his hand around my waist and gently pulls me to him. “Did you think about my suggestion? Are you willing to try?” he asks.
“Yes,” I answer as my eyes fixate on his.
“So, you’ll go?” he continues.
“Yes,” I answer again, mesmerized by his baritone voice.
“Good. I think it will be good for us,” he responds.
He leans in and kisses me, rendering me powerless. My eyes close and my mouth opens as I allow his tongue to enter. Sparks ignite every nerve ending. His hands make their way under my skirt, and he tugs at my thong, pulling it down. It fall to my ankles, and he lifts me up and on top of the countertop. I’m lost in the moment. It’s been so long since I’ve touched a man, and my body is all too welcoming of Jasen’s hands. My skirt is lifted around my waist, his fingers are between my legs, and he’s kissing my neck softly. “I’ve missed touching you. I want you so bad, Monroe… right here, right now.”
My eyes fly open at the mention of my sister’s name, and I clasp my legs together just as his finger reaches my clit.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“I can’t,” I answer.

 

About L.R. Jackson

L.R. Jackson was born and raised on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. She’s a fun and spontaneous Gemini who has an addiction for wings and a passion for food. By day, she works in Corporate America, and by night, she dreams of Alpha Males and Romance.

Writing has been a passion of hers since she was a little girl. She always wanted to share her stories with the world but life got in the way and her dream of writing was put on hold while she graduated from college and became a Mom. But now, over 25 years later, she can proudly say that she’s fulfilled her dream of becoming a published author.
When she’s not playing chauffeur to her teenage daughter, she can be found reading, cooking, traveling, and of course writing.

She has a huge appreciation for her readers and loves to hear from them.

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The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain was an amazing book.  If you have read any of my other reviews you know how I feel about WWII books but this is the first book I have read about the aftermath of the war.  It never crossed my mind how hard it would be for people and kids to adjust after the war.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed her writing.  She is an author that I know I will read more books by her in the future.  I also think I am going to see if I can’t find other books like this one because of how much I enjoyed this one.  I fell in love with these characters right from the start of the book and I was sad when I was done with this book because I missed these characters.  This book left me feeling sad because of everything these poor people went through and then move to the US and crazy things happen here.  If you are looking for a different WWII book to read I would recommend this one to you and I am sure you will love it as much as I did.

About The Book

Book Title:  The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain
Category:  Adult fiction 18 yrs +,  264 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Sparkpress
Release date:   August 4, 2020
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M because there are references to extra-marital affairs. There is no explicit sex in the book.

With the cloud of the Holocaust still looming over them, twin sisters Bronka and Johanna Lubinski and their parents arrive in the US from a Displaced Persons Camp. In the years after World War II, they experience the difficulties of adjusting to American culture as well as the burgeoning fear of the Cold War. Years later, the discovery of a former Nazi hiding in their community brings the Holocaust out of the shadows. As the girls get older, they start to wonder about their parents’ pasts, and they begin to demand answers. But it soon becomes clear that those memories will be more difficult and painful to uncover than they could have anticipated. Poignant and haunting, The Takeaway Men explores the impact of immigration, identity, prejudice, secrets, and lies on parents and children in mid-twentieth-century America.

About The Author

Meryl Ain’s articles and essays have appeared in Huffington Post, The New York Jewish Week, The New York Times, Newsday and other publications. The Takeaway Men is her debut novel. In 2014, she co-authored the award-winning book, The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last, and in 2016, wrote a companion workbook, My Living Memories Project Journal. She is a sought-after speaker and has been interviewed on television, radio, and podcasts. She is a career educator and is proud to be both a teacher and student of history. She has also worked as a school administrator. The Takeaway Men is the result of her life-long quest to learn more about the Holocaust, a thirst that was first triggered by reading The Diary of Anne Frank in the sixth grade. While teaching high school history, she introduced her students to the study of the Holocaust. At the same time, she also developed an enduring fascination with teaching about and researching the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case. An interview with Robert Meeropol, the younger son of the Rosenbergs, is featured in her book, The Living Memories Project. The book also includes an interview with Holocaust survivor, Boris Chartan, the founder of the Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, New York. Meryl holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D. from Hofstra University. She lives in New York with her husband, Stewart. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.

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