#GIVEAWAY Review: The Fish King and the Two Wise Ghosts Written and Illustrated by Francis H Powell + Exclusive Author Interview

Today it's my immense pleasure to share with you this fantastic feature of The Fish King and the Two Wise Ghosts, including my review and an exclusive author interview. Plus Francis H Powell has a fabulous #Giveaway for those who read and comment on the post. Details below.
Enjoy!

#Giveaway is for a postcard created 

by the author/artist for up to 10 commenters

Please use Rafflecopter form to enter

Good Luck!

Sophia Rose Reviews: Murder at Queens Landing by Andrea Penrose

 

Today Sophia Rose Reviews Murder at Queens Landing #4 in Andrea Penrose's Wrexford and Sloane series. Stop by and see why she gave this historical mystery a 4.5 star review.
Enjoy!

Murder at Queen’s Landing by Andrea Penrose
#4 Wrexford and Sloane
Historical Mystery
Publisher:  Kensington
Published:  9.29.20
Pages:  304
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: ebook
Source: Bought

Sellers: Amazon

GoodReads  

 

GoodReads Blurb:

The murder of a shipping clerk . . . the strange disappearance of trusted friends . . . rumors of corruption within the powerful East India Company . . . all add up to a dark mystery entangling Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford in a dangerous web of secrets and lies that will call into question how much they really know about the people they hold dear—and about each other . . .

When Lady Cordelia, a brilliant mathematician, and her brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London, rumors swirl concerning fraudulent bank loans and a secret consortium engaged in an illicit—and highly profitable—trading scheme that threatens the entire British economy. The incriminating evidence mounts, but for Charlotte and Wrexford, it’s a question of loyalty and friendship. And so they begin a new investigation to clear the siblings’ names, uncover their whereabouts, and unravel the truth behind the whispers.

As they delve into the murky world of banking and international arbitrage, Charlotte and Wrexford also struggle to navigate their increasingly complex feelings for each other. But the clock is ticking—a cunning mastermind has emerged . . . along with some unexpected allies—and Charlotte and Wrexford must race to prevent disasters both economic and personal as they are forced into a dangerous match of wits in an attempt to beat the enemy at his own game.

#MacmillanAudio Review of Identity by Nora Roberts

Today I'm reviewing the #MacmillanAudio version of Nora Roberts latest standalone Identity
Enjoy!

ASIN: B0BH9BBTZM
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release Date: 05-23-2023
Length: 15 hours & 4 minutes
Source: Publisher for review
Buy It: Audible

GOODREADS

Overview:

"Narrator January LaVoy brings a richly layered performance to a story.... She expertly handles the large cast of multigenerational characters" —AudioFile on Hideaway

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author's terrifying new thriller about one man's ice-cold malice, and one woman's fight to reclaim her life.

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn't flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn't forgotten the one who got away.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

Book Blast- The Disappearance of Emily by Elizabeth Pantley a Partners in Crime virtual tour

The Disappearance of Emily

by Elizabeth Pantley

May 23, 2023 Book Blast

Synopsis:

A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious missing mother. A suspicious package. An unexplained death. A community of strange, quirky people. A sassy cat and a hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch. Come visit Destiny Falls and escape to a great time.

…Hayden’s life was normal until she fell through a mirror and was thrust into an alternate, magical place. Destiny Falls is not on any map and is home to a family she never knew she had. The town is enchanted and charming, and the amazing mansion she lives in changes to meet the needs of the people who live there, including her! Every day she discovers a new enchantment.

But something is amiss. Hayden gets an ominous warning from a strange woman, who promises to tell her the town secrets and give her a package – if she’ll meet her at the mysterious ferry that lacks a published destination. The ferry visit is cancelled, but the package is delivered. Once it arrives, someone turns up dead. Then the suspicious episodes start, too many to call them coincidences. She and her family are targeted and in danger.

Who or what is causing the chaos? All signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother - way back when Hayden was just two days old. Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away? Can she learn more about the secrets kept for her lifetime? With the help of her sassy sidekick cat, and a host of new family and friends, Hayden finds herself surrounded with support as she solves the mystery of the death and learns secrets about herself.

Review: The Wolves Come at Night + Exclusive Author Interview with JT Ellison

Today I'm reviewing The Wolves Come at Night by JT Ellison #9 in and a long awaited reawakening of her Taylor Jackson series. Plus JT shares some whys and wherefores and some exclusive novel information in our exclusive interview. The novel releases tomorrow May 23rd!!
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1948967532
Publisher: Two Tales Press
Release Date: 05-24-2023
Length: 384pp
Source: Author for review
Buy It: Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

GOODREADS

Overview:

A detective on the brink.
An assassin out for revenge.
A desperate mother racing against the clock.

While the high-profile murder of a young country singer turns Nashville inside out, danger lurks in the woods beyond the city's border. There was a witness to the terrible crime, a college student who stumbled onto the scene. When the girl goes missing, the police don't know if she's run for cover or been taken...or if something more sinister is happening.

The truth will shatter Taylor's career and bring her face to face with a deadly assassin who wants nothing more than to finish what they started.

Taylor Jackson is back. And you've never seen her quite like this.

"Powered by unexpected twists, intriguing characters, a high-stakes plot, and the ultimate enemies-to-friends story, THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT is a true thrill ride. I loved it."
-Jayne Ann Krentz, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Showcase: South A Novel by Mario Fortunato

Today I'm showcasing South A Novel by Mario Fortunato another fab new release from my favorite indie Other Press.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13:  978-1-63542-204-7
Publisher: OtherPress
Release Date: 05-16-2023
Length: 384pp
Buy It: Publisher/ Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

GOODREADS

Overview:

Through the loves and losses of a middle-class family from Calabria, this heady, atmospheric saga retraces the history of twentieth-century Italy.

As a young man in the Seventies, Valentino leaves home in search of a better life. With age, he begins to feel an intense regret, a longing for the world and the people he left behind, which he might not be able to recover, even after returning.
Set in Magna Graecia, the sun-drenched land where ancient Greeks stopped in their travels and happily settled, now full of ruins, South takes us back to a time when notaries and lawyers were undiscussed authorities in small towns. Meet the Notaio, his lover Magda, a Polish countess and a spy, and delve into their love story in Naples; meet the Farmacista, owner of the first chemist’s shop in town, his wife Lea, and their children; follow the paths where these lives cross, and Tamara, Mara for short, marries into the Notaio’s family; get to know charming Uncle Giorgio, an extravagant loner, owner of two small Gauguins, and Gioacchino, the house ghost.
Servants, drivers, peasants fully devoted and bound to their masters enliven this tale of love and loss, war and peace, politics and power, told in an elegant, affecting prose that transports us through time and space.

Showcase: Mothers and Dogs Stories by Fabio Morabito Translated by Curtis Bauer

Today I'm showcasing, Mothers and Dogs, Stories by Fabio Morabito, another fabulous offering my favorite Indie, OtherPress.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1635420821
Publisher: OtherPress
Release Date: 05-16-2023
Length: 192pp
Buy It: Publisher/ Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

GOODREADS

Overview

Drawing from everyday life in Mexico and abroad, these subtle, unsettling stories probe the boundaries between sanity and madness, life and death, safety and danger.

The first story collection from prize-winning author Fabio Morábito available in English, Mothers and Dogs features fifteen tales that show the emotional extremes in seemingly trivial details and quotidian situations: two brothers worry more about a dog locked in an apartment who hasn’t been fed than they do about their dying mother; when the lights go out on a racetrack, a man’s evening jog turns into a savage battle between runners; a daughter learns to draft business letters as an homage to her mother.
As he deftly explores feelings of loneliness and despair endemic in modern society, Morábito weaves threads of unexpected humor and lightness.

Sophia Rose Reviews: Her Sisterly Love by Lucy Marin Narrated by Harry Frost

 

Today Sophia Rose reviews - Her Sisterly Love a historical romance by Lucy Marin
Enjoy!

Her Sisterly Love by Lucy Marin
Narrated by Harry Frost
Historical Romance
Publisher:  Quills and Quartos
Published:  2.1.22
Time: 4 hours and 21 minutes
Rating: 4 stars
Narrator Rating: 5 stars
Format: audio
Source: Narrator
Narrated by Harry Frost
Historical Romance
Publisher:  Quills and Quartos
Published:  2.1.22
Time: 4 hours and 21 minutes
Rating: 4 stars
Narrator Rating: 5 stars

Format: audio

Source: Narrator

Sellers:  Amazon

GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:
He could not deny that he loved her with the sort of feeling and certainty that novelists and romantics dreamt of - not that he had ever considered himself romantic.

At the tender age of 12, Elizabeth Bennet vowed to protect her younger sisters from her parents’ neglect, brought on by their increasingly combative marriage. Jane is her partner in this endeavour - until her attention is diverted by the arrival of a handsome new neighbor, Mr Bingley. With him is his friend, Mr. Darcy, who Elizabeth first dismisses as taciturn and rude. But as she gets to know him, other feelings arise - ones destined to end in heartbreak. because of her promise to remain with her sisters. 

Soon after arriving at Netherfield, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself intrigued by one of the local, young ladies. There is something about Elizabeth Bennet’s kindliness that draws him to her. And, as he learns more about her, his admiration grows. First determined to forget her, he soon wants more than anything to win her heart, and her hand in marriage. But, will the very thing that draws him to her be the thing that forever keeps them apart?

Showcase: The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes

Today I'm showcasing The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes a new release by Park Row Books, a Harlequin imprint. I was so intrigued by the book and one of my favorite genres is Magic Realism so I just downloaded it - be sure and come back when I review it too!
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 9780369735249
Publisher: Park Row Books
Release Date: 05-16-2023
Length: 368pp
Buy It from the Publisher

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

From the New York Times bestselling author, J.C. Cervantes, THE ENCHANTED HACIENDA introduces us to the magical Estrada family.

"This is a contemporary coming-of-age story, with a sprinkling of magic, that’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year." —Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author, in Elle Magazine

“The warmth and humor of The Enchanted Hacienda immediately cast a spell over me.”
—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

When Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home—the enchanted Hacienda Estrada.

The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, interpret dreams—but not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family’s magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it’s not magic she’s missing, but belief in herself. When she finally embraces her unique gifts and opens her heart to a handsome stranger, she discovers she’s far more powerful than she imagined.

With unforeseen twists, romance, and a heavy sprinkle of magic, The Enchanted Hacienda is a captivating coming-of-age debut exploring identity, unconditional family love, and uncovering the magic within us all.

May 2023 Offerings from Canary Street Press formerly known as Harlequin Trade Publishing

More news from HQN the publisher that makes the world go round, In October of 2022 HQN renamed its Flagship Trade Publishing as Canary Street Press, same great titles just a different name. So here are a couple of May's offerings.
Enjoy

Take a Sneak Peek at June releases from Oceanview Publishing

 

Today I'm giving you a sneak peek at the June offerings at my favorite mystery/thriller/suspense indie press, Oceanview Publishing.
Enjoy!

#GIVEAWAY - Author Interview: Gillespie Field Groove by Corey Lynn Fayman a Partners in Crime virtual tour

Today is my stop on The Gillespie Field Groove by Corey Lynn Fayman blog tour featuring an exclusive chat with the author.
Enjoy!

Gillespie Field Groove

by Corey Fayman

May 8 - June 2, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

An obscure rock'n'roll roadie dies under mysterious circumstances. A prized Jimi Hendrix guitar has gone missing. Can Rolly Waters save his new client from the ruthless collectors looking for it?

When nurse and fledgling pilot Lucinda Rhodes hires guitar-playing private detective Rolly Waters to track down a Stratocaster guitar owned by her deceased father, Rolly is thrilled to take on her case, especially when he learns the guitar’s original owner may have been Jimi Hendrix. But Gerry Rhodes’s reckless personal history leads to more questions than Rolly and Lucinda have bargained for, as an aging rock’n’roll impresario, his trophy wife, a Russian gangster and the FBI get involved. When a forty-year-old shooting accident reveals a surprising connection to a pop star’s hit record, Rolly sees darker forces at work. And his and Lucinda’s lives hang in the balance.

Praise for Gillespie Field Groove:

"Gillespie Field Groove hits all the right notes. Music fans and general mystery readers alike will enjoy this story’s irresistible beat."
~ blueinkreview.com

"Exciting, compelling, suspenseful, and reflective of the realities of the music industry and San Diego culture, Gillespie Field Groove is a thrilling mystery novel in which a man seeks to right the wrongs committed by greedy executives."
~ forewordreviews.com

"GILLESPIE FIELD GROOVE is a gripping mystery and a captivating ride through rock and roll history and San Diego’s music scene. It’s so authentic you can practically hear the fuzz and crunch of Jimi’s Stratocaster coming off the page."
~ Matthew Quirk, New York Times bestselling author of RED WARNING and THE NIGHT AGENT (now a Netflix series)

"Rolly Waters is back with a ripped-from-the headlines thriller custom made for music-lovers. Hired to hunt down a missing Fender Strat that may have belonged to Jimi Hendrix, Waters uncovers a series of intertwined mysteries with more twists than a crate full of guitar cables. Gillespie Field Groove is an uptempo page turner that shines a spotlight on the music industry’s darkest corners."
~ S.W. Lauden, author of BAD CITIZEN CORPORATION and THAT’LL BE THE DAY:A POWER POP HEIST

"Carefully crafted characters. Twists and revelations. Music and murder. A PI who plays guitar or a guitar player who dallies in detecting? Even Rolly Waters isn’t sure. Whichever it is, Corey Lynn Fayman’s latest gives you a real insight into what it means to be both. Like Don Quixote wielding a guitar instead of a sword. Awesome."
~ Pamela Cowan, author of COLD KILL

"GILLESPIE FIELD GROOVE is like an easter egg hunt filled with suspense and intrigue that also gives readers a straightforward look into the life of a working musician. I love this series."
~ Marc Intravaia, guitarist, RICHIE FURAY BAND; BACK TO THE GARDEN

Book Details:

Genre: Private Detective Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Published by: Konstellation Press
Publication Date: March 2023
Number of Pages: 276
ISBN: 0998748285 (ISBN-13: 978-0998748283)
Series: A Rolly Waters Mystery, 5th
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Sophia Rose Reviews: Being Mrs. Darcy by Lucy Marin

 

Today Sophia Rose is sharing her audio review of Being Mrs. Darcy by Lucy Marin what she calls a  respectful nod to Jane Austen's most famous classic. Stop by and see what she thought.
Also Sophia Rose is on vacation so it may take her a little extra time to respond to comments.
Enjoy!

Being Mrs. Darcy by Lucy Marin, Narrated by Harry Frost

Historical Romance

Publisher:  Quills and Quartos

Published:  9.1.20

Time:  17 hours 45 minutes

Rating: 4.5 stars

Narrator Rating: 5 stars

Format: Audio

Source:  Narrator

Seller: Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

One distressing night in Ramsgate, Elizabeth Bennet impulsively offers Georgiana Darcy aid. Scandalous rumors soon surround the ladies and Fitzwilliam Darcy, forcing Elizabeth and Darcy, strangers to each other, to marry. Darcy despises everything about his marriage to the daughter of an insignificant country gentleman with vulgar relations. Georgiana, humiliated after a near-elopement with George Wickham and full of Darcy pride, hates her new sister. Their family look upon Elizabeth with suspicion and do little to hide their sentiments. Separated from those who love her, Elizabeth is desperate to prove herself to her new family despite their disdain. Just as she loses all hope, Darcy learns to want her good opinion. He will have to face his prejudices and uncover the depths Georgiana’s misdeeds to earn it, and Elizabeth will have to learn to trust him if she is to ever to find happiness being Mrs Darcy.

Showcase: The Last Word by Katy Birchall

Today I'm showcasing, The Last Word by Katy Birchall, her latest rom-com is a enemies to lovers tale.
Enjoy! 

ISBN-13:  978-1250882752
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: 05-02-2023
Length: 384pp
Buy It: Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

The Hating Game meets Beach Read in Katy Birchall's enemies-to-lovers romcom The Last Word, about a young journalist who puts her career (and her heart) on the line when her former work nemesis is hired in her newsroom.

Harper Jenkins is at the top of her game. A brilliant, determined journalist with a well-known knack for getting tight-lipped Hollywood stars to open up to her, Harper loves her job as Celebrity Editor at a newspaper’s glossy weekend magazine and has the best contacts in the business.

But when her awful boss hires talented reporter Ryan to be the new Features Editor, Harper is furious. Because the two have met before: a decade ago, they were interns at the same publication, where they fell into a whirlwind romance…until Ryan betrayed Harper, and they never spoke again.

Thrown together in a busy newsroom, their dynamic is a disaster from the start. They can’t agree on anything and bicker constantly―Ryan can’t bear how chaotic and messy Harper is; Harper finds Ryan’s condescending nature infuriating. They clash over who’s writing what article, and fight over who’s going to which event.

Yet as they’re forced to spend more and more time together, Harper realizes she may have misjudged Ryan and can’t help but feel a spark growing between them. Long buried feelings start to resurface and, when they’re thrown together on a romantic press trip abroad, their chemistry comes to a head.

But all is fair in love and magazines, and with the news that layoffs across the department are imminent, Harper is left to wonder: who will get the last word?

Sophia Rose Reviews: Regency Therapy by Lisa Catmull The Regency Therapy Book Tour sponsored by AustenProse PR

Today is Sophia Rose's stop on The Regency Therapy by Lisa Catmull Book Tour sponsored by AustenProse PR
Enjoy!

Showcase: An Honorable Exit by by ÉRIC VUILLARD Translated by MARK POLIZZOTTI

Today I'm showcasing An Honorable Exit Eric Vuillard's examination of what precipitated the first Indochina War
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-1-63542-352-5
Publisher: Other Press
Release Date: 04-25-2025
Length: 160pp
Buy It: Publisher/ Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview

From the award-winning author of The Order of the Day, a piercing account of the lesser-known conflict preceding the Vietnam War that dealt a fatal blow to French colonialism.

How can a modern army lose to an army of peasants?

Delving into the last gasps of the First Indochina War (1946–1954), which saw the communist Việt Minh take control of North Vietnam, Éric Vuillard vividly illustrates the attitudes that both enabled French colonialist abuses and ultimately led to their defeat and withdrawal. From the Michelin rubber plantation, where horrific working conditions sparked an epidemic of suicides, to the battlefield, a sense of superiority over the “yellow men” pervaded European and American forces. And, as with so many conflicts throughout history, there were key actors with a motivation deeper than nationalism or political ideology—greed.
An Honorable Exit not only brings to life scenes from the war, but also looks beyond the visceral reality on the ground to the colder calculations of those who seek to benefit from conflict, whether shrewd bankers, who can turn a military win or loss into financial gain, or intelligence operatives like the CIA, who aim to influence governments across the globe.

#Simon&SchusterAudio Review of Lassiter by JR Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood #21

J. R. Ward is a master storyteller and she's not afraid to take risks in her tales as you'll learn from my Simon and Shuster Audio review of Lassiter, book #21 in my all time favorite series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Buckle your seat belts and enjoy!

ASIN:  B0B4YWGXYJ
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
Release Date: 04-11-2023
Length: 15 hours & 17 minutes
Source: Audible purchase
Buy It: Audible/Chirpbooks

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

The next book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward.

In the next epic installment in J. R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series, a fallen angel finds love with a mysterious female—who could be his destiny...or the embodiment of his utter destruction.