Review

The Memory Bell by Kat Flannery

Book Review Graphic

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime 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 Memory Bell by Kat Flannery was an interesting book but not my favorite that I have read lately.  This book is a slow starter, so you need to give it a few chapters before you give up on the book.  I didn’t think that this book was super suspenseful, but it did have enough that kept me reading until I finished the book.  I know part of the reason that I had a hard time reading this book is that I didn’t connect with any of the characters in this story.  The only character that I have any feelings about would be Grace.  She always got on my nerves because of the choices that she kept making.    The author did a great job of making the family drama come to life as I was reading.  I love when authors are able to make their characters seem like they are real-life people.  I figured out who the killer was pretty early into the book, which is why I wasn’t the biggest fan of this book.  If you love books in this genre but don’t like when they are super suspenseful, then this book will be a great match for you.

About The Book

Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Published by: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: July 1, 2021
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 1684337089 (ISBN-13:978-1684337088

Grace Penner’s safe haven crumbles when a body is found outside of town.

Gifted the memory bell, a family heirloom, from her grandfather’s will, Grace’s excitement is soon squashed when the bell gets broken right after she receives it. While gluing the pieces back in place, she discovers three are still missing.

Determined to find them, she is halted when the new detective, Bennet James, investigates her family. Grace is intent on showing the detective her family isn’t capable of murder, but as the investigation deepens, and pieces of the bell show up with ominous notes, Grace soon realizes the Penners are not what they seem. Amidst the tightly knit family; dark secrets, deception, and possibly even murder unfold.

Will Grace be able to save the family she loves more than anything without losing herself forever?

Praise for The Memory Bell:

“A naïve small-town girl and a disillusioned big-city cop, drawn together by an unsolved crime that is itself only the tip of the iceberg, The Memory Bell serves up the perfect steamy summer read.”
–Jenny Jaeckel, author of House of Rougeaux

“The story moves beyond a small town whodunit to probe the underlying bonds of history that connect a family.”
-Midwest Book Review

“Wonderful, engaging, and fast-paced! Flannery knows what she’s doing!”
-Jonas Saul, author of the Sarah Roberts series

About The Author

Kat Flannery’s love of history shows in her novels. She is an avid reader of historical, suspense, paranormal, and romance. A member of many writing Kat enjoys promoting other authors on her blog. When she’s not busy writing, or marketing Kat volunteers her time to other aspiring authors. She has been a keynote speaker, lecturer and guest author inspiring readers and writers at every event she attends. Kat’s been published in numerous periodicals throughout her career, and continues to write for blogs and online magazines. A bestselling author, Kat’s books are available all over the world. The BRANDED TRILOGY is Kat’s award-winning series. With seven books published, Kat continues to plot what story will be next. Creativity is in all aspects of Kat’s career. She does Social Media and Marketing for her own career and businesses, writing ads, and other content.

Catch Up With Kat Flannery:
http://www.KatFlannery.com/Books-1
Goodreads
BookBub – @KatFlannery
Instagram – @katflannery_
Twitter – @KatFlannery1
Facebook – @kat.flannery.5

Buy A Copy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add To Your TBR List

Let’s Be Friends

Enter To Win

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Kat Flannery. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card (U.S. ONLY). The giveaway runs September 1 through October 3, 2021. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read An Excerpt

(more…)

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

Gone by S.H. Love

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.

Gone by S.H. Love was a great book.  I was hooked right from the start of this book because although this is a genre that I read and listen to all the time, this plot was different from anything else that I have read.  I also really enjoyed the narrator’s voice, and I would love to listen to other books he reads in the future.  I listened to this entire book in one sitting because I had to know what was going on and what was going to happen next.  Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I would realize I was wrong and go back to trying to figure out what was happening.  This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I was listening to it, and I loved that.  I also didn’t see the ending coming, and it is always a good thing when I am reading books in this genre.  This book was just long enough to keep me interested but not so long that you get bored of the story before the end.  If you are looking for your next great read, I would pick up a copy of this audiobook.

About The Book

Author: S.H. Love

Narrator: Gary Anderson

Length: 7 hours 17 minutes

Publisher: Jason Tanamor⎮2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Release date: July 27, 2021

Synopsis: What would you do if you woke up and found your spouse missing?

When Rory Richards wakes up from a failed suicide attempt, he learns that his wife, Maggie, has vanished without a trace. All Rory can remember about the previous night is that the two had the fight of a lifetime.

The dispute causes him to storm out of the house and steal prescription pills from his neighbors in an attempt to overdose. After that, everything is a blur.

Now, he must retrace his steps to find out what happened to her.

Was she kidnapped?

Did she disappear on purpose?

What happened to Maggie?

Gone is a gripping psychological thriller that is filled with suspense.

Recommended if you like Gillian Flynn, Mary Kubica, J.D. Barker, and Paula Hawkins.

About The Author

S.H. Love is the pseudonym of a critically acclaimed author of fiction. Love writes psychological thrillers and horror stories and is influenced by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.

About The Narrator

Gary Anderson is a seasoned stage actor with 20 years experience. Currently, he narrates the true crime podcast, “still…” available on Apple Podcasts or wherever podcasts are available.

Website

Buy A Copy

Amazon

Add To Your TBR List

Let’s Be Friends

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

The Ninth Session by Deborah Serani

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime 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 Ninth Session by Deborah Serani was a great audiobook.  I loved the narrator of this story and how the audiobook was recorded.  I loved that after each session and was writing her notes you could hear someone writing, so it was like I was listening to a real show or movie and just not paying attention to what was happening on the screen.  I love when audiobooks include things like someone writing because it helps me get even more into what is happening in the story.  I also thought that the narrator’s voice fits this story and the characters in the story. I loved that the plot of this book was something that I hadn’t come across before that this is always a hard thing for me to find.  Because I usually read books in this genre, it is hard to find a unique plot, and this book was so different from anything else that I have read or listened to.  This book did have a good amount of suspense that made me want to listen to this book without stopping.  Just when I thought I had this book figured out, something else would happen, and I would realize that I had it all wrong.  If you love suspense novels, I know you will love this book as much as I did.

About The Book

Genre: Suspense Thriller
Published by: TouchPoint Press
Publication Date: September 26th 2019
Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that brings a unique mix of psychotherapy and sign language and Coda culture. Just when you think you have it figured out, think again!

Dr. Alicia Reese takes on a new patient. Lucas Ferro suffers with crippling anxiety, and as sessions progress, he begins to share the reasons why he’s struggling. As Ferro’s narrative becomes more menacing, Reese finds herself wedged between the cold hard frame of professional ethics and the integrity of personal truth. And, finally, when Ferro reveals his secrets, Reese learns how far she’s willing to go, willing to risk and willing to lose to do the right thing.

About The Author

Deborah Serani, Psy.D. is psychologist in practice 30 years. She is also a senior professor at Adelphi University and has been published in academic journals on the subjects of depression and trauma. Dr. Serani is a go-to expert for psychological issues. Her interviews can be found at ABC News, CNN, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Reader’s Digest, The Washington Post and USA Today, and affiliate radio station programs at CBS and NPR, just to name a few. She is also a TEDx speaker and has lectured nationally and internationally. Dr. Serani has worked as a technical advisor for the NBC television show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – where a recurring character, Judge D. Serani, was named for her. Dr. Serani is an award-winning author, writing about psychological topics in many genres.

Catch Up With Deborah:
http://www.DrDeborahSerani.com
Goodreads
BookBub
Twitter – @DeborahSerani
Facebook – @Dr. Deborah Serani

Buy A Copy

Amazon | Audible

Add To Your TBR List

Let’s Be Friends

Enter To Win

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Deborah Serani. There will be ONE winner who will receive (1) Audible promo code for The Ninth Session (U.S. addresses only). The giveaway runs from August 9 through August 30, 2021. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

The Journalist by David Gardner

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime 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 Journalist by David Gardner was an entertaining read.  I love I pick up books on a whim because, more than not, I fall in love with the books.  I don’t think I would have picked this book up if it weren’t because this isn’t a genre of books that I am drawn to.  This author did a great job of hooking me right from the first page.  I spent a chunk of time laughing as I read, and I loved that about this book.  You never knew what was going to happen next, and I loved that about this book.  I also enjoyed that this book wasn’t super dark because lately, I have wanted to read fun books.  With all the crazy things happening right now, I have been more drawn to books that are funny and easy to get lost in.  I read this book pretty quickly, and I was sad when it was over.  If you are looking for a fun book to read this fall, I would recommend this one because I know you will love it as much as I do.

About The Book

Book Details:

Genre: Humorous Paranormal Thriller
Published by: Encircle Publications, LLC
Publication Date: February 10th 2021
Number of Pages: 322
ISBN: 164599144X (ISBN13: 9781645991441)

If Jeff can’t save his ghostly ancestors from disappearing, so will he.

Writing for a cheesy Boston tabloid, Jeff Beekle fabricates a whimsical tale about a mob-built CIA prison for ghosts.

Which turns out to be true.

Now both the mob and the CIA have Jeff in their sights.

Even worse, Jeff discovers that his great-grandmother is an inmate and that she and the other spectral residents are being groomed as CIA spies. (And why not? They’re invisible, draw no salary, and won’t hop into bed with enemy agents.)

To his horror, Jeff learns that ancestors held too long in earthly captivity will vanish as if never born, taking with them all their descendants, which includes him.

Can Jeff outwit the mob and the CIA, free his ghostly ancestors, destroy the prison and save himself?

About The Author

David Gardner grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, served in Army Special Forces and earned a Ph.D. in French from the University of Wisconsin. He has taught college, worked as a reporter and sold women’s shoes.

He coauthored three programming books for Prentice Hall, wrote dozens of travel articles as well as too many mind-numbing computer manuals before happily turning to fiction.

He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Nancy, also a writer. He hikes, bikes, messes with astrophotography and plays the keyboard with no discernible talent whatsoever.

Catch Up With David Gardener:
DavidGardnerAuthor.com
Goodreads
Instagram – @davidagardner07
Twitter – @dgardner_author
Facebook – @david.gardner.33483

Buy A Copy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add To Your TBR List

Let’s Be Friends

Watch Book Trailer

Enter To Win

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for David Gardner. There will be THREE (3) winners for this tour. Each winner will ONE (1) signed print edition of The Journalist by David Gardner (US Mailing Addresses Only). The giveaway begins on August 1 and runs through September 2, 2021. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read An Excerpt

(more…)Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

A Cure For Deceit by Margie Miklas

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.

A Cure For Deceit by Margie Miklas was a fantastic book.  I enjoyed everything about this audiobook.  I don’t know that I can even come up with anything bad because I loved this book that much.  I also really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook.  I felt like her voice fit the characters in this book.  I wouldn’t recommend this book to you if you get grossed out by medical things because this book is full of that.  I loved that about this book because medical stuff has always interested me.  This book combined the two things that I love in books a great medical story and suspense that kept me listening.  I can’t wait to read other books by this author in the future because if her other books are anything like this one, I know I will love them.  The author did a great job explaining things that were happening, but she didn’t include so many details that you get bogged down.  The author also made the characters come to life as I was listening as well.  This book made me wonder if things like this happen in the real world.  I love when an author makes me stop and think about things that happen in the book and wonder if they have ever occurred in the real world.  If you love a good medical thriller, then I am sure you will love this book.

About The Book

Author: Margie Miklas

Narrator: Blair Seibert

Length: 7 hours 16 minutes

Publisher: Margie Miklas⎮2021

Genre: Medical Thriller

Release date: Apr. 28, 2021

Synopsis: What happens when a top surgeon begins to crack under the strain of his personal life and patients start to die? A sudden spike in patient deaths drives an impassioned ICU nurse to launch a clandestine investigation, targeting a powerful cardiac surgeon whose corrupt connections could destroy her career. 

Allison Jamison, an experienced intensive care nurse, becomes suspicious when a recent wave of major surgical complications results in unnecessary patient deaths. She enlists the professional expertise of her friend, Detective Mark Derning, whose interests include more than an investigative role. When her probe targets Dr. Gary Tamarino, the powerful, narcissistic chief of cardiothoracic surgery at San Francisco Bay Hospital, she encounters a staggering level of deceit and revenge while delving deep into his far-reaching web of corruption. 

Abuse of power, manipulation, callousness, and desperation drive the dark side of a man who also saves lives on a daily basis. Will he destroy her career before she can do anything to stop him?

About The Author

An award-winning author, Margie Miklas writes medical thrillers and travel memoirs about Italy. Creator and owner of the travel blog, Margie in Italy, and a contributing writer for an Italian-American newspaper, she is a member of the Florida Writers Association and makes her home in Florida.

In her medical thrillers, Margie’s years of experience as a critical care nurse provide the foundation for the realistic storylines inside a hospital. Her characteristic conversational, storytelling approach in her travel memoirs makes readers feel as if they are traveling beside her.

Margie has won numerous awards, including two from the Florida Writers Association, Readers Favorite, and Book Excellence awards. A Cure for Deceit won the Silver Award in the thriller genre in the 2020 Royal Palm Literary Competition from the Florida Writers Association, along with the Bronze Award in the 2020 Reader’s Favorite Competition in the thriller category.

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

About The Narrator

Blair is a full-time voice actor living in Los Angeles, CA with 20+ previous years’ experience as a green building architect. That experience draws her to books that offer the listener new knowledge about things of interest to her: relationships, women’s issues, medicine, psychology, and environmental issues, while also being entertained.  

Blair recently completed a ten-hour non-fiction book for Penguin Random House called “New Women In The Old West”. Genres she narrates are: romance, Rom-Com, cozy mystery and non-fiction.

When Blair is not narrating, she’s gardening, cooking, recycling, biking or quilting (the skill she learned during the COVID shutdown). She’s passionate about books and is typically listening to one fiction and one non-fiction at a time while also reading a non-fiction book.  

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

Buy A Copy

Amazon⎮Audible⎮iTunes

Let’s Be Friends

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

The Academy Saga II: Cadet-In-Training by CJ Daly

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 Academy Saga II: Cadet-In-Training by CJ Daly was an exciting read.  Parts of this book made me think of the Divergent series of books.  This is the second book in the Academy Saga series, and you need to read the books in order because each of the books builds on the previous one.  There is a third book in this series, and I went out to buy it because I have to know what happens next in this series.  I would get so wrapped up in what was happening in this book that I would stay up way too late reading because I never wanted to put it down.  You will be lost if you don’t read them in order.  Kate got on my nerves because of the stupid things that she did and how she acted.  This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I was reading it, and I loved that about it.  This author did a great job of making all of the characters come to life as I was reading.  If you are looking for a different type of book to read this year, I would check out this series because I am sure that you will love it.  If you enjoyed the Divergent series, I think you would also enjoy this story.

About The Book

Book Title:  The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  441 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher:  BrandyLight Ink
Release date:   July 2020
Format available for review:  ebook (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF)
Tour dates: July 12 to August 6
Content Rating:  PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.

Another Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.

Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.

Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.

And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all, catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.

The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.

When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the Academy’s agenda alone?

About The Author

CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.

After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.

A few years later, “The Academy Saga” was born. It instantly earned a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodread

Buy A Copy

Amazon
B&N ~ Walmart

Add To Your TBR List

Let’s Be Friends

Enter To Win

THE ACADEMY SAGA Book Tour Giveaway

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret