Showcase- Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey and Anna Bennett #historicalromance #Christmas anthology

Yes I know it's not even Halloween but is it really ever to early for a scrumptious Christmas romance. NO! And I've got a sweet treat not one or two but three fantastic historical romance authors each give fans a Christmas novella.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 9781250797445
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: 09-28-2021
Length: 352pp
Buy It: Amazon/B&N/IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

From the Scottish highlands, to the bustle and tussle of London, to a hotel on the outskirts of town, three unforgettable authors bring the joy of Christmas romance in Kissing Under the Mistletoe.

Showcase- The State Of Israel vs The Jews by by SYLVAIN CYPEL Translated by WILLIAM RODARMOR

Today on the blog I'm showcasing another imported treasure from my fave indie Other Press, The State of Israel vs The Jews. From an award-winning journalist, a perceptive study of how Israel’s actions, which run counter to the traditional historical values of Judaism, are putting Jewish people worldwide in an increasingly untenable position.
I hope when you read more about this book you'll be itching for your own copy, I know I am.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1-63542-097-5
Publisher: Other Press
Release Date: 09-28-2021
Length: 384pp
Buy It: Publisher/ Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

More than a decade ago, the historian Tony Judt considered whether the behavior of Israel was becoming not only “bad for Israel itself” but also, on a wider scale, “bad for the Jews.” Under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, this issue has grown ever more urgent. In The State of Israel vs. the Jews, veteran journalist Sylvain Cypel addresses it in depth, exploring Israel’s rightward shift on the international scene and with regard to the diaspora.

Cypel reviews the little-known details of the military occupation of Palestinian territory, the mindset of ethnic superiority that reigns throughout an Israeli “colonial camp” that is largely in the majority, and the adoption of new laws, the most serious of which establishes two-tier citizenship between Jews and non-Jews. He shows how Israel has aligned itself with authoritarian regimes and adopted the practices of a security state, including the use of technologies such as the software that enabled the tracking and, ultimately, the assassination of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Lastly, The State of Israel vs. the Jews examines the impact of Israel’s evolution in recent years on the two main communities of the Jewish diaspora, in France and the United States, considering how and why public figures in each differ in their approaches.

Sophia Rose Reviews- Right Behind Her by Melinda Leigh

Today on the blog I welcome Sophia Rose back to review the Brilliance Audio version of Right Behind Her, #4 in Melinda Leigh's Bree Taggert Romantic Suspense series. Read all about why Sophia Rose gave this thriller a 5* review.
Enjoy!

Right Behind Her by Melinda Leigh

Narrator: Christina Traister

#4 Bree Taggert

Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Brilliance Audio

Published:  9.14.21

ASIN:  B084RNNCF8

Time:  10 hours

Rating: 5 stars

Narrator: 4.5 stars

Format:  MP3

Source:  Brilliance Audio

Sellers:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

The discovery of human remains unearths another nightmare from Sheriff Bree Taggert’s past in a bone-chilling thriller by #1 Amazon Charts and 'Wall Street Journa'l best-selling author Melinda Leigh.

Twenty-seven years ago, Sheriff Bree Taggert’s father killed her mother, then himself. Now Bree and her younger brother, Adam, find human bones on the grounds of their abandoned family farm. The remains are those of a man and a woman, both murdered in the same horrible way.

When the investigation determines the murders occurred thirty years ago, Bree’s dead father becomes a suspect, forcing Bree to revisit the brutal night she’s spent most of her life trying to forget. The only other suspect is an unlikely squatter on the Taggert farm who claims to know secrets about Bree’s past. When he mysteriously disappears and Bree’s niece is kidnapped, the cold case heats up.

Bree has stoked the rage of a murderer who’ll do anything to keep his identity - and motives - a secret. To protect everyone she loves, Bree must confront a killer.

Showcase- I Was a French Muslim, Memories of an Algerian Freedom Fighter by MOKHTAR MOKHTEFI Translated by ELAINE MOKHTEFI

Today I bring another Other Press new release this one from Algerian born Mokhtar Mokhtefi and this his memoirs was published post mortem.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1-63542-180-4
Publisher: Other Press
Release Date: 09-21-2021
Length: 448pp
Buy It: Publisher/Amazon/B&N/IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

This engaging memoir provides a vivid account of a childhood under French colonization and a life dedicated to fighting for the freedom and dignity of the Algerian people.

The son of a butcher and the youngest of six siblings, Mokhtar Mokhtefi was born in 1935 and grew up in a village de colonisation roughly one hundred kilometers south of the capital of Algiers. Thanks to the efforts of a supportive teacher, he became the only child in the family to progress to high school, attending a French lycée that deepened his belief in the need for independence. In 1957, at age twenty-two, he joined the National Liberation Army (ALN), the armed wing of the National Liberation Front (FLN), which had been waging war against France since 1954. After completing rigorous training in radio transmissions at a military base in Morocco, he went on to become an officer in the infamous Ministère de l’Armement et des Liaisons Générales (MALG), the precursor of post-independence Algeria’s Military Security (SM).

Mokhtefi’s powerful memoir bears witness to the extraordinary men and women who fought for Algerian independence against a colonial regime that viewed non-Europeans as fundamentally inferior, designating them not as French citizens, but as “French Muslims.” He presents a nuanced, intelligent, and deeply personal perspective on Algeria’s transition to independent statehood, with all its inherent opportunities and pitfalls.

#Giveaway Review - Shadow Music - Interview with author Helaine Mario

Today Shadow Music releases, I hope you've read and enjoyed the previous posts on the novel, but today is a treat you get my review, Helaine's and my interview and Helaine is sponsoring a very generous giveaway (details below). So get ready to get excited!
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1608094509
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Release Date: 09-21-2021
Length: 384 pp
Maggie O'Shea #3
Source: Publisher-Author/Netgalley for review
Buy It: Amazon/B&N/IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

Overcoming loss—finding the courage to move on—trying to stay alive

Late in the Cold War, a young woman escapes from Communist Hungary, vanishing into the night with a priceless painting and a baby girl—setting events in motion from a decades-old secret that will change lives for generations to come.

Many years later, classical pianist Maggie O’Shea is drawn to Cornwall in search of a long-lost Van Gogh and the truth behind her husband’s death. A journal from World War II Paris holds many of the answers, but only two people know where the Van Gogh is hidden now—a courageous nun and a man presumed dead.

Set against the backdrop of the international music and art world, Maggie finds herself on a collision course with three dangerous Russians who threaten all she holds dear—including her life and the life of the man she has come to love.

Past and present converge in this haunting tale of loss, courage, love, and revenge.

Perfect for fans of Sandra Brown and Iris Johansen

While the novels in the Maggie O’Shea Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:

The Lost Concerto
Dark Rhapsody
Shadow Music

GIVEAWAY IS A FULL SET OF
MAGGIE O'SHEA BOOKS
THE LOST CONCERTO, DARK RHAPSODY &
SHADOW MUSIC - US ONLY
PLEASE USE RAFFLECOPTER FORM TO ENTER
GOOD LUCK!

September Harlequin Special Edition Showcase

 

It's been a crazy year and it's been awhile since I showcased my beloved HQN Special Edition novels but I hope to keep that tradition going. 
Enjoy September's offerings!

Sophia Rose Reviews: Misunderstandings and Ardent Love by Susan Adriani

Today my friend Sophia Rose is reviewing a historical romance, another variation of Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Enjoy!

Misunderstandings and Ardent Love by Susan Adriani

Historical Romance

Publisher:  Quills & Quartos

Published:  8.23.21

ASIN:  B098KPNB4H

Pages:  474

Rating: 4 stars

Format: Trade Paperback

Source:  Quills & Quartos

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

“I have never been able to forget you...I am yours, in body and soul, for as long as I am able to draw breath.”

AFTER MONTHS OF BROODING DESPAIR while Bingley prepares to wed Jane Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy realises he has no choice but to put his heart at risk and try to win the only woman he will ever love.

ELIZABETH BENNET WOULD MORE THAN WELCOME his return to Longbourn. Yet despite such mutually ardent feelings, her most beloved sister and Darcy’s own uncle hold quite the opposite points of view.

TORN BETWEEN PERSONAL LOYALTIES and responsibilities, the couple must balance finding a discreet solution for a family scandal in London and dealing with new outrageous actions by Mr and Mrs Wickham, all while facing a Jane Bennet who cannot forgive Darcy his interference in her love story.

Can the two overcome misunderstandings and meddling and find their way to one another at last?

 

Showcase - In The Shadow of the Yali by by SUAT DERVIS Translated by MAUREEN FREELY

Today I'm showcasing yet another fabulous new release from fave indie, Other Press. In the Shadow of the Yali is a recently discovered 1940's novel by feminist and activist Turkish author Suat Dervis.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13:  978-1-59051-041-4
Publisher: Other Press
Release Date: 09-13-201`
Length: 336pp
Buy It: Publisher/Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

NAMED A MOST-ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE MILLIONS

Set in a changing Istanbul, this rediscovered 1940s classic from a pioneering Turkish author tells the story of a forbidden love and its consequences.

Raised by her grandmother in one of the famed yalıs, elegant yet crumbling, that line the Bosphorus, Celile occupies a unique space between the old world of the Ottoman Empire and the new world of the Republic. She drifts through ten years of marriage, reserved even with her husband, never tempted to stray from the safe path of respectability. And then one night, intoxicated by a soulful tango, she is suddenly seized with a mad passion for another man, whose reckless pursuit of her should offend but doesn’t. Torn between two men who want to possess her, Celile attempts to live a life true to herself, always keenly aware of the limits placed on her as a woman.

In the Shadow of the Yalı marks the highly anticipated English-language debut of feminist writer and activist Suat Derviş. Her sensitive, strikingly modern portrayal of a love affair, with its frank emphasis on the influence of money, provides a fascinating contrast to classic tales of infidelity such as Anna Karenina and Madame Bovary.

#Giveaway Showcase: Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills a Partners in Crime virtual tour

Today is my stop on the Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills tour sit back read all about it and don't forget to enter the Giveaway at the end.
Enjoy!

Trace of Doubt

by DiAnn Mills

September 1-30, 2021 Tour

Synopsis:

Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.

Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.

FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.

But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.

Praise for Trace of Doubt:

"Well-researched... with some surprising twists along the way. In Trace of Doubt, Mills weaves together a tale of faith, intrigue, and suspense that her fans are sure to enjoy." – STEVEN JAMES, award-winning author of SYNAPSE and EVERY WICKED MAN

“Trace of Doubt is a suspense reader’s best friend. From page one until the end, the action is intense and the storyline keeps you guessing.” – EVA MARIE EVERSON, bestselling author of FIVE BRIDES and DUST

“DiAnn Mills serves up a perfect blend of action, grit, and heart... Trace of Doubt takes romantic suspense to a whole new level.” – JAMES R. HANNIBAL, award-winning author of THE PARIS BETRAYAL

“Filled with high stakes, high emotion, and high intrigue.” – JLYNN H. BLACKBURN, award-winning author of UNKNOWN THREATand ONE FINAL BREATH

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Published by: Tyndale House Publishers
Publication Date: September 7th 2021
Number of Pages: 432
ISBN: 1496451856 (ISBN13: 9781496451859)
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook.com | Tyndale | Books-A-Million | Murder By The Book | Goodreads

Review- Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Today I'm reviewing, Her Perfect Life, the latest stand alone of one of my favorite female thriller authors, Hank Phillippi Ryan. It kept me up late more than one night and all of you who love a good mystery will love it too.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1250258885
Publisher: Forge Books
Release Date: 09-14-2021
Length: 336 pp
Source: Netgalley/Publisher for review
Buy It: Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

The next thrilling standalone novel by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.
Her own.
Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?
Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.
How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?

Clearing out my backlist-Review of Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street by Karen White

Today I'm digging deep into my backlist going back two years to October of 2019 and back to one of my favorite series and authors and reviewing The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street, #6 in Karen's Tradd Street series. Who knows why it took me so long to finally read this but I finally did. What I do know is that it will NOT take me that long to read #7.
Enjoy!

Shadow Music by Helaine Mario Teaser

In a little over a week Helaine Mario's Shadow Music third in her books featuring Maggie O'Shea releases from Oceanview Publishing so I thought it would be fun to have a little teaser post to get you all ready for it. Be sure and check back on release day because Helaine is sponsoring a FABULOUS giveaway.
Enjoy the teaser!

A Dark Week

 Most of you know that we lost our oldest daughter Vicky to cancer last December. I did okay on the 6th month anniversary of her death but last week she would have turned 56 and it's been a very dark week for me. So it's been hard to be on the computer on social media sites for a while but I'm coming out of it slowly the sunshine and cooler weather letting me venture outside more is helping. But I just wanted to let you know why I've been AWOL this past week.

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pics of her with you

Review Mindful Eating-Interview with author Nathalie Seaton

Today I'm reviewing a book that I am actively using in my every day eating habits and hope to be using them for the rest of my life. It's about looking at eating in a new way.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1952213267
Publisher: JK Publishing 
Release Date: 06-15-2021
Length: 190 pp
Source: Author for review
Buy It: Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

Are you seeking out a healthy way to help yourself overcome eating issues or an eating disorder?

Are you already familiar with the concept of mindful eating, but you want to find a book that you can use as your bible on the subject?

Maybe you have tried eating mindfully before, but know that without the relevant and vital information you need, any attempts to change your diet will likely be futile.

Or perhaps you have never even heard of mindful eating, but you are desperate to make a change for the better and are willing to try anything?

Have no fear! Mindful Eating is the perfect book for you, packed with essential tips and tricks about how you can begin changing your diet for the better, and subsequently improve your life in the process.

And the best part? If you follow the guidance in this book, then you can still eat whatever you want!

Mindfulness is a practice that allows you to gain control over your eating habits and make changes for the better. Mindful eating allows you to seek methods that tackle eating problems head on, and release their power over you.

Gone will be the days of stressfully counting calories, restricting what you can eat, and creating a bad relationship with food.

Reading this book will not only change the way that you eat, but it will also change your life. Can you really afford to miss out and such life-altering information?

In this book, learn more about this and so many more benefits that come from mindful eating.


Inside Mindful Eating discover:

● How to to find the middle ground between restrictive eating and eating mindlessly

● How you can eat any food you want if you are a mindful eater (absolutely no foods are off-limits)

● How to Find Joy in Every Bite

● How to cope with your personal and emotional problems without overeating

● How to identify overeating triggers and how to deal with them

● Practical tips to help you with your weight loss efforts

● How to eat Mindfully during holidays, special events, or when going out

● How to overcome binge eating, emotional eating, and other eating disorders in a healthy way

● How to deal with your cravings

And much, much more!

Isn't it time you took back control of what you put into your body?

Grab a copy of Mindful Eating, and change your life for the better today!

Faraway a Novel by Lo Yi-Chin. Translated by Jeremy Tiang

Today I'm showcasing Faraway, a novel by Taiwanese author Lo Yi-Chin, a Columbia University Press new release.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 9780231193955
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Release Date: 09-07-2021
Length: 328pp
Buy It: Publisher/Amazon/B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

In Taiwanese writer Lo Yi-Chin’s Faraway, a fictionalized version of the author finds himself stranded in mainland China attempting to bring his comatose father home. Lo’s father had fled decades ago, abandoning his first family to start a new life in Taiwan. After travel between the two countries becomes politically possible, he returns to visit the son he left behind, only to suffer a stroke. The middle-aged protagonist ventures to China, where he embarks on a protracted struggle with the byzantine hospital regulations while dealing with relatives he barely knows. Meanwhile, back in Taiwan, his wife is about to give birth to their second child. Isolated in a foreign country, Lo mulls over his life, dwelling on his difficult relationship with his father and how becoming a father himself has changed him.

Faraway is a powerful meditation on the nature of family and the many ways blood can both unite and divide us. Lo’s depiction of family dynamics and fraught politics contains a keen sense of irony and sensitivity to everyday absurdity. He offers a deft portrayal of the rift between China and Taiwan through an intimate view of a father-son relationship that bridges this divide. One of the most celebrated writers in Taiwan, Lo has been greatly influential throughout the Chinese-speaking world, but his work has not previously been translated into English. Jeremy Tiang’s translation captures Lo’s distinctive voice, mordant wit, and nuanced portrayal of Taiwanese culture.

Showcase-Blog Tour: A Plague Among Us by Deb Pines a Partners in Crime Virtual Tour

Today I'm excited to bring you another fantastic tour offering by Partners In Crime, A timely Tale, A Plague Among Us by Deb Pines.
Enjoy!

A Plague Among Us

A Chautauqua Murder Mystery

by Deb Pines

September 1-30, 2021 Tour

Synopsis:

When Al Martin, the editor of a satiric newspaper in Chautauqua, N.Y., reportedly dies of COVID-19, the local consensus is: good riddance.

A sister suspects foul play. She wonders why Al was cremated in a hurry.

The police stay out of it.

So it takes reporter and relentless snoop Mimi Goldman to try to find which of Al's haters— including an estranged wife, three bitter siblings, a secretive caregiver, old enemies and the many targets of Al's poison-pen sarcasm—might be a ruthless killer.

The novel, No. 8 in a series called “an Agatha Christie for the text-message age,” once again offers page-turning suspense. Wit. And the unforgettable setting of Chautauqua, a quirky, churchy, lakeside, Victorian cottage-filled summer arts community that launched an adult-education movement Teddy Roosevelt called “the most American thing in America.”

Kirkus Reviews calls A Plague Among Us “an intriguing and engaging crime tale” and “enjoyable novel” with “captivating characters.”

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery
Published by: KDP
Publication Date: July 1, 2021
Number of Pages: 280
ISBN: 979-8525017368
Series: Mimi Goldman Chautauqua Mysteries, Book 8 | Each book can be read as a Stand-Alone Mystery
Purchase Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Luna Finds Love Everywhere by Dr. Shainna Ali Illustrations by Caterina Oliveira

Today on the blog I'm reviewing Luna Finds Love Everywhere, a self-love book for young children.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1646041923
Publisher: Bloom Books for Young Readers
Release Date: 08-17-2021
Length: 32 pages
For ages 3-5 years
Source: Publicist for review

Buy It:  Amazon/B&N/IndieBound

Overview:

Celebrate the joy of learning to love yourself with Luna and friends!

Meet Luna, a little girl who loves playing outside, helping her family, and learning new things. As Luna goes through her regular daily routine, she realizes how much love there is to appreciate around her and within herself too. She learns kindness, sharing, and even what to do when things don’t go her way. With simple prompts and activities scattered throughout the story, children will be able to explore the principles of self-love into their own lives. Kids will have a blast learning along with Luna as they discover the importance of loving each other and oneself!

Sophia Rose Reviews: A Good Day For Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

Today Sophia Rose is reviewing A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones. 
Enjoy!

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

#2 Sunshine Vicram

Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press

Published:  7.27.21

ASIN:  B08BYBD278

Pages:  416

Rating: 4.5

Format: eARC

Source:  Net Galley

Sellers:  Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Kobo

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

From the New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones comes the second novel in her laugh-out-loud Sunshine Vicram mystery series, A Good Day for Chardonnay.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff—and even fuller-time coffee guzzler—Sunshine Vicram, didn’t get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that’s about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny’s got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he’s not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She’s seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn’t know when to quit, Sunny’s life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.