The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns @author_AnaJohns @harlequinbooks @tlcbooktours #bookreview #thewomaninthewhitekimono

Happy almost weekend!

Thrilled to share with you my review for this beautiful story that transported me to 1950s Japan! Thank you so much Lisa for my invitation to the tour!👘

My Thoughts

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Ana Johns swept me away with her words and her stunning storytelling. Two women, two countries, thousands of miles and decades of years apart, but there is something that binds them. Japan 1957 Naoko finds herself caught between love, culture, and family obligations. Naoko is 17 and her parents have arranged a marriage for her, a marriage that will help her family’s business out immensely. The problem is Naoko is in love with another man, an American soldier. Not only does this not go over well with her family, but it does not go over well with most of Japan who still sees America as the enemy in this post WWII era. But Naoko is determined to follow her heart, but how much will she lose in the process? The US, present day Tori is taking care of her ailing father when she discovers a letter full of secrets. After her dad passes away she sells his beloved Cadillac and takes a journey to Japan to find out the truth.

Beautifully told, I was completely mesmerized by Miss Johns’ writing. I know I’ve mentioned this before in a review but I find the eastern culture fascinating and I am always excited to read about this part of the world. I truly had no idea there was so much hatred towards America in Japan after WWII, but why wouldn’t there be? I could only imagine how challenging this relationship was for Naoko, although I think she was a little naïve as to what all was implied. I found her to be a bit of a contradiction she was strong and feisty, but had the innocence of a child. What she went through was horrific, and it is incredible that I have read so many books that take place in so many different parts of the world where women are subjected to similar situations. The sad thing is I’d venture to guess things like this are still going on today in certain parts of the world. While I found Naoko’s story more compelling than Tori’s, tori’s story might have been the more important one. I like how the storylines were brought together, but it sure did not end how I was hoping it would. Although there is probably more truth in tragedy.

The story seamlessly bounces between time and perspective. You will never get lost because the chapters are clearly labeled as to time and place. I really dlove the time the book spent in Japan it was so interesting. And can I just say something about these capsule hotels, I cannot imagine sleeping in one of these capsules that is only 4 feet tall? Stacked on top of each other? I’m certain I am coming across naïve or spoiled, but it just sounds very uncomfortable. Doesn’t really have anything to do with the book, Tori just stayed in one of these hotels. If I were her I would’ve stayed in one of those traditional homes turned into a hotel with steaming baths with essential oil’s, just saying. LOL all this is just to say the book was so well researched and I felt as though I was transported to Japan. Simply put this is a beautiful story full of so much culture, history, and love.

*** Big thanks to Harlequin/ Park Rowe for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Oceans and decades apart, two women are inextricably bound by the secrets between them.

Japan, 1957. Seventeen-year-old Naoko Nakamura’s prearranged marriage to the son of her father’s business associate would secure her family’s status in their traditional Japanese community, but Naoko has fallen for another man—an American sailor, a gaijin—and to marry him would bring great shame upon her entire family. When it’s learned Naoko carries the sailor’s child, she’s cast out in disgrace and forced to make unimaginable choices with consequences that will ripple across generations.

America, present day. Tori Kovac, caring for her dying father, finds a letter containing a shocking revelation—one that calls into question everything she understood about him, her family and herself. Setting out to learn the truth behind the letter, Tori’s journey leads her halfway around the world to a remote seaside village in Japan, where she must confront the demons of the past to pave a way for redemption.

In breathtaking prose and inspired by true stories from a devastating and little-known era in Japanese and American history, The Woman in the White Kimono illuminates a searing portrait of one woman torn between her culture and her heart, and another woman on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

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Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Berit☀️✨

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten @nholten40 @BOTBSPublicity @HarperImpulse #bookreview #DeadInside

TGIF!

Excited for the weekend and excited to share my review for this wonderful debut! Thank you so much Sarah for my invitation to this tour, I enjoyed your character in the story! And thank you Noelle congrats girl!🥳

My Thoughts

ᎴᏗᏒᏦ. ᎴᎥᏕᏖᏬᏒᏰᎥᏁᎶ. ᏰᏒᎥᏝᏝᎥᏗᏁᏖ.

Noelle Holten’s debut was dark, disturbing, and brilliant. This is the first book in the DI Maggie Jamison series but it really centered on Lucy a probation officer. Three men have been murdered, three men that were convicted of domestic abuse, three men whose probation officer was Lucy sherwood. When Lucy’s own abusive husband is killed, she becomes the primary suspect. But could Lucy possibly be a killer? And is murder ever justified?

This was less of a crime investigation and more of a dark character study of abusers and the abused. Noelle worked for 18 years as a probation officer and I thought this really shown through in this book and gave it some major authenticity. Abuse is a dark and difficult subject, but I think it was handled with a careful hand in this story. I thought it was important that the book really showed you that abuse doesn’t discriminate, anyone regardless of their background or Socio economic status is vulnerable. It is easy to say why don’t you just get out, but unless you have been there I don’t think that is a fair statement. Lucy was such a complex character she had so much strength and yet was so vulnerable. Maggie is a character I am really looking forward to getting to know even better in future books.

This was a well told story with a large cast of characters. It took me a while to get all the characters straight. Additionally if you are a book blogger or follow book blogs there are lots of familiar names in this book. This distracted me and took me out of the story quite a few times in the beginning, until it didn’t. And Noelle i’m certain there is a Berit in the next book, right? Murder victim, murderer, best friend of the murderer, I’m not picky! The murder mystery in this book even though it wasn’t as prevalent as I thought it would be it was compelling and I was super surprised by the outcome. Simply put this was a compulsively readable dark tale that will have you coming back for more. Well done Noelle!

*** thank you to Harper Impulse for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Book Description:

‘Kept me hooked … excellent pace and a very satisfying ending’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

‘A brilliant debut – gritty, dark and chilling. Noelle Holten knows her stuff’ Mel Sherratt

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

About the AuthorAuthor Bio:

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the booklove via her blog. 
Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholtenauthor/

Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18489795.Noelle_Holten

Blog: https://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk

Instagram: @crimebookjunkie  

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Berit☀️✨

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper #bookreview #hownottodiealone

Happy Thursday all!

Excited to share with you today my review for this quirky little gem!🤩

My Thoughts

Qυιɾƙყ. Uρʅιϝƚιɳɠ. Uɳιϙυҽ.

Richard Roper has crafted a quirky and uplifting story packed with colorful characters and a unique storyline. The blurb of this book compares it to “Eleanor Oliphant”, Generally I’m not a fan of comparing books but I’d have to say this is an accurate comparison. SO if you loved Eleanor you will also love getting to know Andrew. Andrew is 42, a bit of a loner, and he works for the Ministry of Death. His job includes finding the next of kin for those who die alone, searching their home for valuable possessions that will help pay for their funeral, and then even though it’s not compulsory Andrew attends the funerals for these people who have no one in their lives to say goodbye. Andrew returns home every evening to an empty house, his model trains, and group of eclectic online friends who he met on a model train enthusiast website. However, because of an innocent slip up he made on his job interview his boss Cameron and coworkers believe he returns home every evening to a wife and two kids. When Peggy begins working with Andrew and befriends him and his boss Cameron wants the coworkers to have monthly dinner parties, Andrew is fearful that the truth will come out. Is living with this lie truly living? Will the truth set Andrew free or ruin his life?

Andrew was a lovable vulnerable character that I just wanted to give a big hug. Peggy was great a true breath of fresh air. The friendship that forms between these two was so lovely. Andrew had really got himself into quite the pickle, one white lie that snowballed into something involving spreadsheets. It really was sad to contemplate how these people died alone with seemingly nobody in their lives that cared. And then there was Andrew who had the opportunity to make some choices that would prevent him from being in the same position one day. I think Mr. Roper did an amazing job of showing us how we all have more people in our lives than we think, we just need to know where to look.

This was a feel-good story that made me smile. It’s kind of interesting that a story that features death so prominently could be so uplifting, but this book really was. Simply put this was a quirky tale bursting with heart, hope, and humor!

*** many thanks to GP Putnam’s Sons for my copy ***

About the Book

Smart, darkly funny, and life-affirming, How Not to Die Alone is the bighearted debut novel we all need, for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, it’s a story about love, loneliness, and the importance of taking a chance when we feel we have the most to lose.
Andrew’s been feeling stuck.
For years he’s worked a thankless public health job, searching for the next of kin of those who die alone. Luckily, he goes home to a loving family every night. At least, that’s what his coworkers believe.
Then he meets Peggy.
A misunderstanding has left Andrew trapped in his own white lie and his lonely apartment. When new employee Peggy breezes into the office like a breath of fresh air, she makes Andrew feel truly alive for the first time in decades.
Could there be more to life than this?
But telling Peggy the truth could mean losing everything. For 20 years, Andrew has worked to keep his heart safe, forgetting one important thing: how to live. Maybe it’s time for him to start.

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Berit☀️✨

Invisible Girl by Jill Childs @author_jill @bookouture #bookreview #invisiblegirl

Happy Thursday everyone!

Delighted to share with you today my review for this emotional thought-provoking story! Thanks so much Noelle for my invitation to the tour!🥰

My Thoughts

𝔼𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝. ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘. 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥-𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘.

Jill Childs has written a beautiful emotional heartbreaking story that will make you think. Maddie is educated, an alcoholic, and homeless. Becca is a single mother with a teenage son Alex and a five-year-old daughter Rosie. One Day Becca and Rosie are out and about and run into Maddie, Rosie takes an immediate interest. Ultimately Becca with the urging of her five-year-old Rosie invites Maddie to dinner and a bond forms between Maddie and family. Sarah, Becca‘s best friend and neighbor is a little wary of Maddie and her intentions. What follows is a tale of secrets, lies, grief, and forgiveness.

Maddie was a very likable and relatable character who was really struggling. Grief had completely consumed her and drug her down into despair. This is where I had a little bit of a problem… everyone has hard times in their lives, of course some people have harder times than others, and I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic. But it is how you deal with those hard times that defines who you are. My ex-husband is an alcoholic and it has destroyed his relationship not only with me but his kids, so for very personal reasons I have very little sympathy or patience for people in that situation. Another thing I cannot imagine I would ever under any circumstances bring a homeless person home with me. I do realize people are homeless for many different reasons but I think the prominent reason in the US is mental health issues and I’m not sure I would want that around me or my kids. So while I really loved this book and I loved the kindness and big heart of Rosie and eventually Becca, I’m not sure if it was all together plausible. Sorry I went off on a bit of a tangent there.

The story was told from the perspectives of Maddie, Becca, and Sarah. I always enjoy books that are told from multiple perspectives I just think it gives you such insight to the entire story. All three of these characters were likable and sympathetic. They also all had flaws some a little more obvious than others. Becca was a good person but a little insecure and I wasn’t always thrilled with her parenting decisions when it came to her teenage son Alex. Sarah oh Sarah had some sticky fingers and maybe was a bit jealous of the merging relationship between Maddie and Becca. The little girls Rosie and Sarah‘s daughter Ella were both super adorable and of course added some levity to the book. This story was simultaneously heartwarming and heart breaking. A well told family drama full of secrets and lies. This is a book that I am still pondering, it definitely gave me a lot of food for thought. And the ending was quite lovely and simply satisfying!

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

 A heartbreaking story of family secrets from the USA Today bestselling author of Gracie’s Secret. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.

I know you. I know you in a way you can’t even imagine. I have been searching for you in the years since you wrote that letter – the letter that told me you were looking for me too. But now that I’ve found you, I don’t know if I can say the terrible truth of what I am. It would ruin your perfect life. It would hurt your beautiful daughter.

So, I hesitate – bide my time, for now. This morning, you’re running late and your little girl, tugged by the hand, scurries to keep up with you. She’s clean but a little scrawny. Maybe that’s because you struggle with the bills; maybe she’s just made that way. 

I know what it is to have lost a child. I pray you never learn how that feels. But I can’t wait forever… and when I finally tell you my secret, will it break you like it did me all those years ago?

About The Author

Jill has always loved writing – real and imaginary – and spent 30 years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She’s now made her home in London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does. Although she’s covered everything from earthquakes and floods, riots and wars, she’s found some of the most extraordinary stories right here at home – in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets, just like yours.

If you’ve enjoyed reading one of Jill’s books, please do leave a review.
For latest news, follow Jill on Twitter (author_jill) and Facebook (Jill Childs)

 

Author Social Media Links: 

Website: n/a

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jill.childs.71

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/author_jill

UNIVERSAL Buy  Link:    

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07P9971LCSocial  

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2EKiDUn

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2EJfNyG

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/ETjh30nUpb0

 

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Berit☀️✨

Mine by Courtney Cole @Court_Writes @gallerybooks #bookreview #Mine

Happy Wednesday evening!

Excited to share with you today my review for this book that I could not put down! This was a wild and crazy ride from first page to last and I loved it!🌊

My Thoughts

ᴀʟʟ ᴀʙᴏᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ ᴛʀᴀɪɴ!

Courtney Cole! Yes! Girl! Yes! Hell have no fury like a woman scorned! So what happens when there are two? Well batten down those hatches or in this case those hurricane shutters. This was one wild and crazy storm of emotion! Tessa finds herself home alone in the middle of a hurricane, she is unable to find her iPad so she grabs her husbands. And what does she find? Messages of a suggestive nature from another woman. So what does she do? Messages her back pretending to be her husband and invites The other woman over.👏🏻 it’s not long before Lindsay shows up and that is when the fun begins!

Oh how I love a book about supposedly normal people behaving irrationally, impulsively, illogically, they SNAP! I have to admit in this book Tessa had all my support, I completely understood why she snapped! I mean seriously what would you do in the same situation? Now in general I’d say you should blame your spouse rather than the other person, but he was in New York at the time. What’s a girl to do? So while the wind raged outside the house Tessa raged inside. Tessa was a sympathetic and likable character, you learned a lot about her backstory. I had a lot of respect for her as a woman and as a mother. Lindsay on the other hand, let’s just say my opinion of Lindsay was the same as Tessa’s from beginning to end. The story was told from both women’s perspectives and I thought that gave us such insight into the full story. And what about the husband Ethan? Well I have one word for him… dog! Actually that’s kind of an insult to dogs.

This was a fast-paced addictive read that kept me gripped from first page to last. It was full of tension, Drama, and the perfect amount of crazy! If you like books that take you on a ride on the crazy train then… ALL ABOARD!🚂

*** Big thanks to Gallery for my gifted copy ***

About the Book

The USA Today and New York Times best-selling author of the “raw, powerful, heart-wrenching” (Robyn Harding) Saving Beck delivers a riveting and heart-pounding story of a crumbling marriage rocked by an affair – as betrayal and jealousy begin to consume both wife and mistress, forever intertwining their fates. 
He’s mine. 
That’s what both Tessa and Lindsey believe about Ethan. But after getting caught in an affair months ago, Ethan ended things with Lindsey in an attempt to win back his wife. Lindsey refuses to let go of the relationship so easily and begins stalking Tessa. Tessa, still shattered from Ethan’s infidelity, finally hits her breaking point and snaps, devising a plan to lure Lindsey to her home one weekend when her husband is away. 
Told in alternating perspectives and set over the course of a weekend, Mine explores the emotional complexity of infidelity and its aftermath and what happens when those two scorned women finally meet face-to-face.

*** 1 Star for this blurb! This isn’t really how any of this happened at all, great book bad blurb! I should start rating all the blurbs!😂

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Have a day full of good books!🌼

Berit☀️✨

Cross line by Russ Colchamiro @authorduderuss @rrbooktours1 #bookpromo #crossline #excerpt #giveaway

Welcome to the blog tour for Sci-Fi/ Adventure CROSSLINE, by Russ Colchamiro! I have an excerpt, book trailer, and a fantastic giveaway for you all today! Check it out!

CROSSLINE 

First Published: March 2013

Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy

“A high-flying adventure of a novel, filled with ambitious ideas and a breathtaking conclusion.” — The Leighgendarium

In the SciFi/Fantasy spirit of Firefly, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Stargate, and Escape from New York…

Hotdog pilot Marcus Powell has been selected to test Taurus Enterprises’ Crossline prototype craft and its newly developed warp thrusters, which, if successful, will revolutionize space travel as we know it.

But during his jaunt across the stars, Powell is forced into a parallel universe — including a parallel Earth — where he finds himself at the center of an epic battle he may have been destined for all along.

Meanwhile, back home, reclusive oil tycoon and Taurus CEO Buddy Rheams Jr. — who sent Powell on that very mission — has a mysterious past and a secret agenda, one that could prevent Powell from ever making it back to his wife and little girl.

From author Russ Colchamiro, Crossline is a psychedelic, action-packed romp across time, space, and dimension that asks the question: once you cross the line, can you ever really go back?

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt

The warp engines were ready for the first of six return blasts it would take to get him back to Earth, when a blip came across the screen. Powell shifted toward the incoming message, but his short-range sensor interrupted him. Something in the Saturn rings. Video amplification revealed that among a cluster of particles was an odd-shaped fragment, with sharper, more reflective edges than he would expect. But he supposed that after debris crashed around over millions if not billions of years, who knew what was really out there? He looked again. Probably nothing of consequence. Just some lagging hallucination from the multiple warps.

As suspected. Just ice particles swirling around the planet. Billions of frozen blue ice particles floating in space that—

Powell focused his monitor on the third ring layer. Studying it more carefully, his sensors revealed that the particle cluster wasn’t in the Saturn ring, but among it. The fragment wasn’t ran- dom, a collection of dust, or some anomalous asteroid fragment.

It was another ship. Looking just like Crossline. And headed his way.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

For your chance to win a print copy of this high-flying adventure in either print or digital, AND a $15 Amazon Gift Card, be sure to click the link below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany SF/F backpacking comedy series Finders Keepers: The Definitive Edition, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, and is editor of the SF anthology Love, Murder & Mayhem, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two ninjas, and crazy dog Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself. Russ has also contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, Altered States of the Union, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, They Keep Killing Glenn, Thrilling Adventure Yarns, Camelot 13, and Brave New Girls.

He is now working on the first novel in a new series featuring his hardboiled private eye Angela Hardwicke, and the first of three collaborative novella projects.

Russ Colchamiro| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  

Blog Tour Schedule

May 27^th

Reads & Reels (Excerpt) http://readsandreels.com

She Marie (Excerpt) https://shemarieblogs.com/

Tranquil Dreams (Review) https://klling.wordpress.com/

Didi Oviatt (Excerpt) https://didioviatt.wordpress.com

Tsarina Press (Excerpt)  https://www.tsarinapress.com

May 28^th

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Interview) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

Ity Reads Books (Review) http://www.ityreadsbooks.home.blog

The Book Dragon (Review) thebookdragondotblog.wordpress.com

Breakeven Books (Excerpt) https://breakevenbooks.com

May 29^th

The Faerie Review (Review) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

Audio Killed the Bookmark (Excerpt) https://berittalksbooks.wordpress.com

Reading Nook (Excerpt) http://readingnook84.wordpress.com

May 30^th

That Nerdy Girl (Review) http://thatonenerdygirlblog.wordpress.com

Triquetra Reviews (Excerpt) http://www.triquetrareviews.blogspot.com

Reviews by Nyx (Excerpt) https://nyxblogs.wordpress.com/

May 31^st

Every Book Counts (Review) https://everybookcountsblog.wordpress.com/

Jessica Belmont (Review)  http://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com

Dash Fan Book Reviews (Excerpt) https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/

Sophril Reads (Excerpt) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

The Consulting Writer (Excerpt) https://theconsultingwriter.wordpress.com

Blog Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Excerpt

The warp engines were ready for the first of six return blasts it would take to get him back to Earth, when a blip came across the screen. Powell shifted toward the incoming message, but his short-range sensor interrupted him. Something in the Saturn rings. Video amplification revealed that among a cluster of particles was an odd-shaped fragment, with sharper, more reflective edges than he would expect. But he supposed that after debris crashed around over millions if not billions of years, who knew what was really out there? He looked again. Probably nothing of consequence. Just some lagging hallucination from the multiple warps.

As suspected. Just ice particles swirling around the planet. Billions of frozen blue ice particles floating in space that—

Powell focused his monitor on the third ring layer. Studying it more carefully, his sensors revealed that the particle cluster wasn’t in the Saturn ring, but among it. The fragment wasn’t ran- dom, a collection of dust, or some anomalous asteroid fragment.

It was another ship. Looking just like Crossline. And headed his way.

The Community by Joe Hakim @JoeHakim_ @wildpressed @ @lovebooksgroup #coverreveal #thecommunity #lovebooktours

Happy Wednesday all!

Excited to participate in the cover reveal for this book that looks really intriguing. A genre mash up of science fiction and horror!🖤

The Community

A northern coastal city. A sinister, extra-dimensional intelligence is taking hold…

Joe Hakim draws the reader into the heart of a disenfranchised community impacted by strange forces beyond its control. A group of friends: separated by time, choices, and circumstance are reunited by their shared encounters with an uncanny presence that looms over their lives. The seeds were sewn in their childhoods, now they must try and understand what is happening, before it is too late.

Raw and uncompromising, The Community fuses social commentary with a dose of sci-fi horror, to cast a light on an existence spent in the Void.

Publisher’s note: this book contains strong language and explicit sexual references.

Joe Hakim lives and works in Hull.

He’s performed spoken word at venues and festivals around the UK, including Latitude, Big Chill and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

He was co-host and organiser of Write to Speak, (Hull Truck Theatre 2009 to 2013).

He is currently working with schools in Hull as part of First Story.

In January 2017, Joe travelled to Trinidad with The Roundhouse and Wrecking Ball Press, as part of the Talking Doorsteps project. This culminated in a performance at the BBC’s Contains Strong Language festival in September 2017, which featured young people from Trinidad’s 2 Cents Movement working alongside young people from Hull’s Warren Youth Project and Goodwin Community Centre.

Theatre work includes co-writing and developing Omni-Science with Brick by Brick, performed at Assemble Fest 2017, and Come to Where I’m From, developed in association with Paines Plough and performed at Hull Truck in May 2017.

The album ‘The Science of Disconent’, his second with musician Ashley Reaks, was released in 2018.

Joe toured and performed with LIFE, a Hull-based punk band, performing on the UK leg of the Slaves European tour.

Just One Bite by Jack Heath @jackheathwriter @harlequinbooks #bookreview #justonebite

Happy Tuesday all!

Sure feels like a Monday today! Excited to share with you my review for this delightfully disturbing story that I absolutely devoured!🤩

My Thoughts

sᎥᏟᏦ. ᏆᎳᎥsᏆᎬᎠ. ᎠᎬᏞᎥᏟᎥᎾus.

What the actual…. Jack Heath! This book? What! I seriously have not wrapped my head around what I just finished reading? This book was so sick, so twisted, so unique! This is the second book in the Timothy Blake series and I think I might have missed out on a little by not reading the previous book, but it stood well on its own. Timothy Blake was in the FBI in the previous book and is now working as a body disposer for a well-known gangster. When he happens across a body he was not meant to dispose he cannot help but take a bite. Yes that’s what I said… a bite, but it was just one! So what is a cannibal supposed to do with a body with evidence of his less than savory habbit? Stick it in the freezer… of course. Soon after Timothy discovers this body more and more bodies start stacking up and it looks as though Houston has a serial killer on its hands. And of course Timothy find himself in the middle of the investigation. This book was filled with unique characters, dark humor, and a fair amount of Gore. This is definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you have a stomach for gore and a twisted sense of humor this is a entertaining read, for sure!

I don’t even really know what else to say, I am a bit speechless. I’m not even sure what to think of myself because I liked this book so much? Timothy was simultaneously disturbing and likable. I could only imagine how his love interest Reese would feel when she found out she was dating a cannibal? Can you imagine knowing where those lips had been? Yuck! There are also some puzzles sprinkled into this book, puzzles that were really hard for me to solve? I was stumped! I was also stumped by who and what was going on in the city of Houston. I can’t wait for the next installment in this crazy series, but I’m assuming Timothy Blake will have change locations, just a hunch! Time to MoveOn!

Haven’t paired a book with a song in quite some time, but this one just was begging to be Heard!

😋I eat cannibal

Feed on animal

Your love is so edible to me

I eat cannibals

I eat cannibal

It’s incredible

You bring out the animal in me

I eat cannibals

What can you do

You’re in a stew

Hot pot cook it up

I’m never gonna stop

Fancy a bite

My appetite

Yum yum gee it’s fun

Banging on a different drum

And I eat cannibal

Feed on animal

Your love is so edible to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyiYC4Vy23o

*** Big thanks to harlequin for my invitation to the tour and copy of the book ***

About the Book

Book Summary:

Timothy Blake, ex-consultant for the FBI, now works in body disposal for a local crime lord. One night he stumbles across a body he wasn’t supposed to find and is forced to hide it. When the FBI calls Blake in to investigate a missing university professor, Blake recognizes him as the dead man in his freezer.

Then another man goes missing. And another.

There’s a serial killer in Houston, Texas, and Blake is running out of time to solve the case. His investigation takes him to a sex doll factory, a sprawling landfill in Louisiana and a secret cabin in the woods.

As they hunt the killer together, FBI agent Reese Thistle starts to warm to Blake—but she also gets closer and closer to discovering his terrible secret.

Can Blake uncover the killer without being exposed himself?

JUST ONE BITE

Author: Jack Heath

ISBN: 9781335952844

Publication Date: June 4th, 2019

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

Buy Links:

Harlequin

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Powell’s

Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @JackHeathWriter

Instagram: @JackHeathWriter.

Facebook: @JackHeathWriter

Goodreads

Author Bio: First published as a teenager, Jack Heath is the award-winning author of more than twenty fiction titles for young adult and middle-grade readers.In the course of his research, Jack has toured morgues and prisons, performed as a street magician and travelled through eleven countries, including Russia. His previous day jobs—in which he met many interesting characters—include fry cook, music teacher, TV salesman, call centre worker and bookseller. He plays several musical instruments, and lives on the land of the Ngunnawal people in Gunghalin, Australia.

Edie Browne’s Cottage by the Sea by Jane Linfoot @janelinfoot @rararesources #bookreview #ediescottagebythesea

Happy Tuesday all!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable long weekend (if you had one)! This was one of those books I picked up just to read a few pages and get a feel for the book and I ended up reading it pretty much from cover to cover. It was so good, so uplifting, so inspirational. I just loved it! Thanks so much Rachel for my invitation to the tour!🧁

Edie Browne’s Cottage by the Sea

Those who don’t jump will never fly…

Hurtling through the sky was supposed to be Edie Browne’s flight of independence. But when she falls head over champagne bucket while celebrating her successful landing, her life is changed in an instant. 
 
But starting over has its benefits, and as Edie relearns the basics under the watchful eye of her Aunty Josie and an entire Cornish village of new friends and neighbours, she finds love and joy she never could have imagined in the unlikeliest of places… 

Come home to St Aidan and Periwinkle Cottage for a romance full of love, laughter and friends for life!

My Thoughts

ᴄʜᴀʀᴍɪɴɢ. ᴜᴘʟɪғᴛɪɴɢ. ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ.

What an absolute gem of a book! I picked this book up just to read a few pages, to see what it was all about, and I could not put it down! Edie jumps out of a plane to celebrate her life, goes to a party to celebrate jumping out of the plane, and soon there after a tragic event changes her life forever. In order to rehab from the tragedy Edie Heads to a small village on the Cornish coast to live with her auntie Josie. Josie is dealing with her own tragedy having recently lost her husband and no longer finding herself capable of leaving the house. Both ladies find themselves starting over in slightly different ways. With the support of a village full of lovable quirky characters. Will Edie and Josie heal?

Edie was such a great character, there was something about her that drew me in completely. Loved her big heart, her kind soul, and her resilience! Each chapter started off with a new milestone that Edie had reached, and I enjoyed watching her grow stronger both physically and emotionally. Her simple victories gave me a new appreciation for all the little things in life. I loved the bond that forms between Edie and Josie as they began to know each other better. There was an adorable little boy in the story named Cam that completely captured my heart, and his dad Barney wasn’t too bad either. Of course the story was filled with plenty of laughs: the craft classes, the baking the renovating.

This was a well told romcom filled with lots of humor and fabulous characters! The perfect book to escape with. I absolutely recommend this to lovers of the genre, Edie will steal your heart!

*** Big thanks to Harper Impulse for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edie-Brownes-Cottage-Sea-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B07PPD1JD9/

US – https://www.amazon.com/Edie-Brownes-Cottage-Sea-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B07PPD1JD9/

Author Bio –

Jane Linfoot is a best selling author, who lives in a muddy cottage, up a steep hill in Derbyshire, with her family, their pets, and an astonishing number of spiders. Although she loves seeing cow noses over the garden wall, she’s happy she can walk to a supermarket.

Jane grew up in North Yorkshire where she spent a lot of her childhood avoiding horizontal gales blowing off the sea, and wrote her first book by accident, while working as an architect, and renovating country houses. While she loves to write feelgood books that let readers escape, she’s always surprised to hear her stories make people laugh, admits to (occasionally) crying as she writes, and credits her characters for creating their own story lines.

Jane’s garden would be less brambly if she wasn’t on Facebook and Twitter so often. On days when she wants to be really scared, she rides a tandem.

Her latest books include a series of stand alone novels, based around a seaside wedding shop in Cornwall. Cupcakes and Confetti – The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, Sequins and Snowflakes – Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop, and Bunting and Bouquets – Summer at the Little Wedding Shop, and most recently, The Little Cornish Kitchen. These are all published by Harper Impulse, an imprint of Harper Collins.

Follow Jane on Twitter @janelinfoot, or find her on her Author Page Facebook or her Personal Page Facebook. She’s also on Instagram, and has lots of Pinterest boards relating to her novels.

The Desert Sky Before Us by Anne Valente @wmmorrowbooks @tlcbooktours #bookreview #thedesertskybeforeus

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Hope you had a wonderful relaxing day filled with food, family, and of course books! Delighted to share with you today my review for this descriptive story filled with dinosaurs and hope. Thank you so much Trish for my invitation to this tour.🦕

My Thoughts

Anne Valente Took me along on this road trip of discovery with her descriptive writing. Sisters Billie and Rhiannon set out on a road trip mapped buy their mother who insists they take the trip after her death. Billie has just been released after being incarcerated for the past six years and Rhiannon is still coming to terms with no longer being a racecar driver. Their mother has given them a journal with map coordinates and crude drawings that will lead them on a treasure hunt of sorts. Along the way not only will they find the treasures left behind by their mother, but they will also reveal secrets and become reacquainted with one another.

The writing in this book was so descriptive I felt as though I was right along with the sisters on this road trip through the south west. I have driven on a lot of the same roads that these sisters took and I thought the author did a really good job with bringing this area of the US to the pages. Now I didn’t necessarily know all the dinosaur stuff going on, and I found that very interesting. The beginning of the book was really compelling, I was really intrigued by the sisters and their back stories. I wanted to know why Billie was incarcerated and why Rhiannon no longer drove race cars. As the book progressed I began to care less. I really had a hard time relating to both of these girls, I could not understand their motivations and if I’m being honest they both seemed a bit self-serving. This is what makes this hard for me to review… On one hand I really liked the concept of the book and the descriptive writing. On the other hand I just found these characters a bit hard to like. Generally I can like or even love a book with characters I don’t like. But in this type of book I think I really needed to feel more of a connection to the characters in order to truly love the book. The sisters did get to know each other better throughout the story and I think they really began to repair their relationship, however I didn’t see much in the way of personal growth. Having said this I think this might be a case of this not being the right book for me, I think some people will really relate to these characters and for them this will be an incredibly special book! 7/10

*** Big thanks to William Morrow for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

From award-winning author Anne Valente comes this poignant and unforgettable literary novel of two estranged sisters—one, a former racecar driver and the other a recently-released prisoner—who embark on a road trip together to complete the scavenger hunt their mother designed for them before her death.

When Billie is released from a correctional facility in Decatur, her sister Rhiannon is there to meet her, even though the two haven’t seen each other in months. Painful secrets and numerous unspoken betrayals linger between them—but most agonizing is the sudden passing of their mother, a renowned paleontologist.

Rhiannon and Billie must overcome their differences as they set off on a road trip west, following the breadcrumb-trail of their late mother’s scavenger hunt, a sort of second funeral she planned in her final days. The sisters know the trail will end in Utah at the famous Cleveland-Lloyd Quarry, where their mother spent her career researching dinosaur fossils. But the seemingly endless days on the road the seemingly endless days on the road soon take their toll, forcing Rhiannon and Billie to confront their hostilities and revisit old memories—both good and bad.

As they travel across the heart of America, and as a series of plane crashes in the news make their journey all the more urgent, the two sisters begin to rediscover each other and to uncover their late mother’s veiled second life, taking them on an unexpected emotional journey inward—and forcing them to come to terms with their own choices in life.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Photograph by Josh Finnell

About Anne Valente

Anne Valente’s first short-story collection, By Light We Knew Our Names, won the Dzanc Books Short Story Prize. Her fiction appears in One Story, The Kenyon Review, The Southern Review, and the Chicago Tribune, and her essays appear in The Believerand the Washington Post. Originally from St. Louis, she teaches creative writing and literature at Hamilton College.

Find out more about Anne at her websi

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Have a Beautiful day!🌻

Berit☀️✨