Blog Tour & Review: The Sinister Sitcom Caper by Sally Carpenter

Sandy Fairfax, former teen idol and star of the ‘70s hit TV show “Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth,” is now a middle-aged recovering alcoholic who realizes that making a comeback can be murder. He’s the guest star on “Off-Kelter,” a corny family situation comedy, and the lowest rated TV show of the 1993 fall season. Before rehearsals barely begin one of the actors drops dead at Sandy’s feet. He investigates, enlisting the aid of two of his new cast mates: a dwarf and an animal actor. During his snooping, we meet Sandy’s ex, his parents and his teenage son, all with their own “situations” going on. During rehearsals Sandy also encounters a beautiful choreographer—could this be love? Will Sandy solve the murder before the Friday night taping of “Off-Kelter” or will the elusive killer cancel our hero before the final credits? This book was inspired by the author’s experience working as a tour guide/page at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood.

Amazon/Goodreads

About the Author:

Sally Carpenter is native Hoosier now living in Moorpark, Calif.

She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award and “Star Collector” was produced in New York City.

Carpenter also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt in tae kwon do.

She’s worked as an actress, freelance writer, college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page for a major movie studio. She’s now employed at a community newspaper.

Website/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of The Sinister Sitcom Caper

Review (4 Stars): The thing that I liked about this book was its sense of humor. The story was very entertaining, light-hearted with a crazy cast of characters. Sandy Fairfax, 70’s sitcom teen hearthrob, is making his comeback by doing a guest appearance on the soon to be cancelled TV show, Off-Kelter. On the first day of rehearsal, he finds a misfit group of actors that all seem to be at each others throats instead of trying to learn their lines. In the middle of all this drama, an actress falls over dead and Sandy is the only witness to the crime. Now, he is involved in solving a murder while trying to reinvent his career.

This was a very quick read for me. I liked Sandy who had a great acting career when he was younger but lost it all and is now a recovering alcoholic. He had a lot of character flaws and that is what endeared him to me. He knew he made a bunch of mistakes in his life and now he was trying to make a comeback. This was an entertaining mystery with lots of humor that takes you inside the fascinating world of sitcom television. I liked The Sinister Sitcom Caper and I would love to read more about this character.

February 21, 2014March 8, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Limoncello Yellow by Traci Andrighetti

I recently had the opportunity to read this amazing mystery and I am honored to have Traci here with us today to talk about her fun character, Franki Amato. Take it away, Traci.

Ten Things You Should Know about Limoncello Yellow’s Franki Amato

Instead of the usual “how-I-came-up-with-the-idea-for-my-book” post, I thought I’d share some fun facts from my character development sheet for Francesca “Franki” Amato. Franki is the tough-talking, 29-year-old private investigator protagonist of my debut novel, Limoncello Yellow.

Franki looks like the 1960’s Italian movie actress Claudia Cardinale, but she wears the signature cat-eyeliner of Sophia Loren.
She is 5’10”, 170 pounds and has an oversized butt. She can’t decide whether Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” is her least or most favorite song.
Her motto is, “When life gives you lemons, make Limoncello.” But in extreme cases, she revises it to, ” When life gives you lemons, skip the ‘making Limoncello’ part and just go straight to drinking it.”
Thanks to her meddlesome Sicilian nonna, Franki suffers from Catholic guilt even though she’s not a practicing Catholic and precisely because she’s not a practicing Catholic.
She loves Murder She Wrote, trashy reality shows featuring New Jersey, and any and all variations of Say Yes to the Dress.
Although she’s OCD about the outward appearance of her apartment, inside her cabinets, closets and drawers total chaos reigns.
She has a passion for food, especially Nutella straight from the jar. She rationalizes that the ridiculously caloric chocolate hazelnut spread is basically just the Italian version of chocolate pudding.
When she’s at work at Private Chicks, Inc., Franki often spontaneously worries that she has forgotten to shave the hair that grows on her big toes.
She uses profanity–but mostly in Italian–so that it doesn’t seem as offensive to readers. And because it just plain sounds cool.
Her one intense dislike: mimes. She simply can’t understand why anyone would want to paint himself (or herself) white or monochrome and then pretend to do things like juggle or cry.

Any questions? If so, send them to me at traci@traciandrighetti.com. Franki doesn’t like talking about herself, and she can be kind of confrontational, especially if you ask her about her love life.

About the Author:

Traci Andrighetti is the author of the Franki Amato mystery series. In her previous life, she was an award-winning literary translator and a Lecturer of Italian at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a PhD in Applied Linguistics. But then she got wise and ditched that academic stuff for a life of crime–writing, that is.

If she’s not hard at work on her next novel, Traci is probably watching her favorite Italian soap opera, eating Tex Mex or sampling fruity cocktails, and maybe all at the same time. She lives in Austin with her husband, young son (who desperately wants to be in one of her books) and three treat-addicted dogs.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Francesca “Franki” Amato is a tough-talking rookie cop in Austin, Texas—until an unfortunate 911 call involving her boyfriend, Vince, and a German female wrestler convinces her once and for all that she just isn’t cut out for a life on the police force. So Franki makes the snap decision to move to New Orleans to work at her friend Veronica’s detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. But Franki’s hopes for a more stable life are soon dashed when Private Chicks is hired by the prime suspect in a murder case to find out what really happened to a beautiful young boutique manager who was found strangled to death with a cheap yellow scarf. When she’s not investigating, Franki is hoping to seduce handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, but most of her time is spent dodging date offers from a string of “good Italian boys”—make that not-so-good aging Italian men—that her meddlesome Sicilian grandma has recruited as marriage candidates. As Mardi Gras approaches and the mystery of the murdered shop girl gets more complicated, Franki must decipher the odd ramblings of a Voodoo priestess to solve both the murder and the mystery of her own love life.

Amazon/Goodreads

Jennifer’s Review of Limoncello Yellow

Review (4.5 Stars): I absolutely loved this mystery and I know that you will fall in love with Franki as well. She was sweet, spunky and fun and I couldn’t get enough of her personality. I loved that this story takes place in New Orleans and I felt as though I was right there with Franki while she explored her new surroundings. Makes me want to go visit New Orleans immediately to spend time visiting the French Quarter and the fabulous restaurants. Ms. Andrighetti has created a great character and a delightful new series that will have you laughing out loud. Can’t wait to read more of these wonderful mysteries in the future.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Limoncello Yellow. This giveaway is for US Residents only. (If you have already won a prize on this tour, a new winner will be chosen) To be entered in the drawing by February 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is the best place to visit in New Orleans?

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February 14, 2014February 13, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. by PK Hrezo

Welcome to my tour stop for Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc by PK Hrezo. This is a New Adult Time Travel Adventure Romance and the tour runs Feb. 10-21 with reviews, author interviews and a few guest posts and top tens. It also includes a great giveaway. Be sure to stop by the tour page for all the additional information and list of tour stops.

Book Title: Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc

Author: PK Hrezo

Genre: NA Time Travel Adventure Romance
Recommended Age: 16 and up

Length: 267

Release date: November, 2013

Description:
It’s the year 2069 and even though eighteen-year-old Bianca Butterman is heir to the family biz, she may never see the day her time-craft license becomes official. When a government agent starts nosing around the operation, Butterman Travel, Inc. gets stuck with a full audit—part of a government take-over scheme to shut down all private time travel agencies. Enter former boy band superstar, Tristan Helms, desperate to retrieve a lost item from his past and willing to pay triple fare for a time-trip to get there, and Bianca has to find a way to complete the job and return home before the government gets wind and shuts down the family biz for good.

Welcome to Butterman Travel, Incorporated; a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. We’re a family owned and operated business with one hundred years of experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.

Anxious to attend some special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?

You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply

Use our Web conferencing to contact our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, who will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.

We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Goodreads | Amazon Kindle | B&N

About the Author:

PK Hrezo is a native Floridian whose life could easily be a Jimmy Buffet song. She shares her home with her firefighter husband and their two children. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling, are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.

She blogs regularly at PK HREZO: Fearless Fiction http://pk-hrezo.blogspot.com/

Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

Giveaway:

T-shirt from outofprintclothing.com (US)

$10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

Bettie Bookpage Pixie ornament (US)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jennifer’s Review of Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc.

Review (4 Stars): This was a very interesting book for me and I loved the idea that in the future, time travel is readily available. It was no surprise that it is being federally mandated like everything else and we find that Butterman Travel is currently in the middle of a government audit. I liked Bianca because she was very smart and seemed much older than her eighteen years. She wasn’t impressed when Tristan Helms walked into Butterman Travel but thought it was a great opportunity to finally get her time-craft license. When things started going wrong on their journey, I loved how she was able to think quick on her feet and get them out of trouble.

Tristan seemed to be the typical guy who had too much money and was used to people treating him a certain way because he was a celebrity. He originally expected Bianca to be one of his many fans and seemed to be surprised when she didn’t really care about him or his music. I liked watching their personalities clash at times during their journey and I liked how Tristan seemed to become a more likeable character over the course of the book. I definitely enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

February 10, 2014February 9, 2014

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

A beautiful scarf, passed down through the generations, connects two women who learn that the weight of the world is made bearable by the love we give away….

September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries…and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. Will what she learns devastate her or free her?

September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers…the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. Will a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life?

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t driven to write. I attribute this passion to a creative God and to parents who love books and more particularly to a dad who majored in English and passed on a passion for writing.

I was born in 1961 in San Diego, California, and am the second of three daughters. I spent my very average childhood in just two houses. I attended Point Loma College in San Diego, majoring in education, but I would have been smarter to major in English with a concentration in writing. The advice I give now to anyone wondering what to major in is follow your heart and choose a career you are passionate about.

I didn’t do a lot of writing in the years my husband was on active duty in the Air Force, when we were living overseas, or when we were having children. When my little heirs were finally all in school, though, I became aware of a deep, gnawing desire to write a novel; a desire I managed to ignore for several years.

Finally when I could disregard it no longer, I resigned in 2002 as editor of a small town newspaper, and set out to write my first book, “Why the Sky is Blue.” It took four months to write and ten months to be accepted by a publisher. But I was absolutely thrilled to sign with Harvest House Publishers in 2003. I am now working on my sixth novel for Harvest House and it’s been a wonderful, thrilling ride.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of A Fall of Marigolds

Review (4.5 Stars): This was such a beautiful yet haunting novel about two women who each experience a devastating loss and are connected through time by a vibrant scarf of marigolds. I instantly connected with both characters, Clara and Taryn, and I felt their heart-wrenching experience of loss right along with them. This book goes back and forth between the stories of these two amazing women, which adds to the complexity of this moving novel.

For me, I remember 9/11 as though it was yesterday, as many of us in the medical profession sat horrified by the images that were being played over and over again by various news programs. This book brought back those emotions which brought me to tears at times and I know that this book will stay with me for quite a while. Ms. Meissner did an amazing job creating such well-written characters and an emotionally engaging tale that will strike a chord with many readers.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of A Fall of Marigolds. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by February 15th, answer me this question in the comments:

Do you have an item of clothing that brings back strong memories for you? If so, what?

February 6, 2014February 5, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Death of an Irish Diva by Mollie Cox Bryan

Spring is in the air, but the ladies of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop hardly have time to stop and smell the roses. Not when famed Irish dancer Emily McGlashen is found murdered in her studio just after the St. Patrick’s Day parade–and one of the Crop’s own members is the prime suspect. Vera’s dance studio may have suffered when Emily waltzed into town, but the croppers know she’s not a vengeful murderer. Lucky for her, co-scrapbooker Annie is a freelance reporter eager to vindicate her friend. What she discovers is a puzzling labyrinth of secrets that only add question marks to Emily’s murder. Just when it seems they’ve run out of clues, an antique scrapbook turns up and points the croppers in the right direction–and brings them face to face with a killer more twisted than a Celtic knot. .

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Mollie Cox Bryan writes the Cumberland Creek Mysteries, published by Kensington. The first book, Scrapbook of Secrets, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2012; the next one Scrapped, was published in January 2013. Death of an Irish Diva is the third in the series. Plans for the series include two more novels and two novellas—the first one Scrappy Summer will be available in summer 2014. She writes, gardens, runs, and scrapbooks in Waynesboro, Va. with her husband and two daughters.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Death of an Irish Diva

Review (4 Stars): This is the third book in The Cumberland Creek series and I would definitely suggest reading them in order just so you can be familiar with these lovely characters. In this book, Irish dancer, Emily McGlashen, is found dead in her dance studio and the prime suspect is Annie’s good friend, Vera. As Annie investigates Emily’s murder, she finds that things aren’t adding up and Emily wasn’t who everyone thought she was. Now, Annie needs to find the killer before tragedy strikes again.

Ms. Cox Bryan has created such a great cast of characters with this series and I enjoyed learning more about scrapbooking. The mystery was well-written and kept me on my toes until the very end. I also loved Annie and Vera and I can’t wait to read more about them in future installments of this delightful series.

February 3, 2014February 3, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Love and Other Games

The sexy winter Olympic anthology, Love and Other Games, has a new cover! To celebrate, the authors are giving away a nook.

Love and Other Games is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze

Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.

Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium.

With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Trouble with Gold by Melinda Dozier

US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.

Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she’s not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult. Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

The Girl behind the Gold by Aria Kane

Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans’ hearts.

“Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.

The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want – but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.
Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller

Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player.

Despite Brenna Jessup’s abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she’s hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn’t want apologies — he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it — and her — in the process.

What readers are saying:

“It’s like a rom-com marathon with lots of sexy included. Who knew the Winter Olympics were so hot?” ~Book Nookie Reviews

“Four short stories full of lust, love and laughter. Each story was enjoyable to read and hard to put down.” ~Author Katie L. Thompson

“I fell in love with each one of these stories (and guys).” ~White Zin Bookends

Pick up this hot winter romance on your Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.

The authors are giving away a nook and other prizes to celebrate.

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Jennifer’s Review of Love and Other Games

Review (4 Stars): I really enjoyed each of these stories about athletes finding love while competing in the Winter Olympic games. These hot sexy romances will keep you warm even on the coldest of nights. All the stories were great but my favorites would have to be “Trouble with Gold” and “The Girl Behind The Gold” because I just found myself connecting more to these characters than the other two stories. This anthology is filled with great love stories and steamy sexual chemistry that definitely shouldn’t be missed.

January 28, 2014January 27, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Picking Lemons by J.T. Toman

Economic theories can predict many things – just not the death of a renowned Economics professor. When Professor Edmund DeBeyer is found dead in his office, strangled to death by his own Ph.D. hood, the police don’t have to look further than his colleagues in the Economics Department for suspects. After all, Edmund was the most despised member of the department. C.J. Whitmore, the department’s only tenured female, (who also has a penchant for wearing pink cowboy boots to class) resolves to get to the bottom of the mystery using economic principles. Comparing tracking down murder suspects to to selecting a used car, she attempts to discern the real deals from the “lemons.” That is, which suspects are really telling the truth and which are lying to protect their guilt. Will C.J. be able to pick the lemon before her clever adversary strikes again?

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

J.T. Toman lives in Boulder, Colorado. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Yale University and has taught econometrics at the University of Sydney and the University of Colorado at Boulder. She also has a degree in zookeeping from Pikes Peak Community College and has cared for everything from butterflies to elephants. She now teaches math at Front Range Community College, and truly believes fractions are useful in everyday life.

In her spare time, J.T. Toman joins the rest of Colorado hiking, biking and skiing. However, much like her cats, she finds food more inspiring than scenery. J.T. particularly loves home- grown tomatoes, udon noodles and tall glasses of chocolate milk, but not at the same time.

Picking Lemons is her first novel.

Website

Jennifer’s Review of Picking Lemons

Review (4 Stars): The main thing that I liked about this book was its main character, C.J. Whitmore. She was a breath of fresh air in this story within a stuffy group of male college professors and I loved her down to her adorable pink cowboy boots. This was a fun, entertaining mystery that was fast-paced and I liked how everyone was trying to figure out who killed the unpopular member of the Economics faculty. It is also surprising to me that this is Ms. Toman’s debut novel because it felt like she had been writing for a long time. Hopefully, there will be more to this series and I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next.

January 27, 2014January 25, 2014

Interview & Giveaway with Maya Banks

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Maya Banks back on the blog to chat about her new book Letting Go (The Surrender Trilogy).

Maya, can you please tell us about Letting Go (The Surrender Trilogy)?

Letting Go has some of my favorite tropes (as do all my books) But essentially it’s a second chance at love story. Typically when a heroine has lost or divorced her husband he’s cast as “bad” in order to make the new hero better. In this case Joss was very much in love with her husband and mourns his loss deeply and she feels as though she’ll never find that kind of love again. Except her husband’s best friend has secretly been in love with Joss for years and he’s been waiting for her to be “ready” to move on because he’s determined that he’ll be that man for her when she’s ready. (Check out Kelly’s review of Letting Go HERE)

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m often asked where or how I come up with the ideas for my stories and I can never truly answer it because they literally just pop into my head. Characters start talking to me and telling me their story and I just write it down.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I’m just finishing up When Day Breaks, the 9^th book in the KGI series and then I’ll be working on the final book in the SURRENDER trilogy, TAKING IT ALL.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I wouldn’t say “Interesting” but I’m very linear in my work. I can NOT write out of order and I can NOT work on more than one story at a time. Every story that I write gets my complete and utter focus and I write one story at a time. I’m very rigid that way!

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I actually already got to meet the one author I’d go completely fan girl over. Julie Garwood. She’s always been my inspiration and I’ve often said that everything I’ve learned about writing no matter what genre, I learned from her.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

To be patient. Not give up. Keep writing and don’t get discouraged. It takes a lot of hard work and PERSISTENCE to make a career out of writing. And never let others change your voice or your style. Protect both fiercely.

Would you share with us something off your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to go to Colorado when the Aspens are in color. Colorado is one of my favorite places on earth and I’ve been there MANY times but never when the Aspens are in color. So ONE DAY I’m going to do that 🙂

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Oded Fehr and The Rock. And I’d just stand stupidly and stare and probably never utter a word lol

*****

Letting Go

PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her. Dominance. Lonely and searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find is the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.

Dash has lived in an untenable position for years. In love with his best friend’s wife and unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.

When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.

(Check out Kelly’s review of Letting Go HERE)

Maya Banks is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and Scottish historical romance. She lives in the South with her husband, three children and a variety of pets. Visit her online at www.mayabanks.com, www.facebook.com/AuthorMayaBanks, and twitter.com/maya_banks.

Giveaway:

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January 26, 2014January 25, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Tale of Two Biddies by Kylie Logan

When it comes to solving mysteries, these ladies are in a league of their own…

Summer can be the best of times or the worst of times for the resort town of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie. For Bea Cartwright, business is booming as guests storm her B and B for the Bastille Day celebration. In honor of the holiday, the League of Literary Ladies is reading the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It would be hard to make a more apropos selection—especially when they have their very own Defarge sisters, elderly twins Margaret and Alice, who run the local knitting shop.

On Bastille Day, the head-banging rock band Guillotine shows their chops for the tourists—but the celebration is soon cut short. With something needling the Defarge dowagers and secrets that lead to murder, solving this mystery will be a far, far better thing than the Literary Ladies have done before. They’ll just have to make sure to keep their heads while they try to stop a killer’s reign of terror…

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond,” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (“Mayhem at the Orient Express”) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Webpage: www.kylielogan.com Also, www.caseydaniels.com

Jennifer’s Review of A Tale of Two Biddies

Review (4.5 Stars): When I first read Ms. Logan’s Mayhem at the Orient Express, I got sucked into the story and absolutely loved the characters of this series. A Tale of Two Biddies is the second book in this series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. Bea Cartwright and the League of Literary Ladies are in the middle of reading A Tale of Two Cities during the Bastille Day celebration when they become embroiled in yet another murder mystery. This time, it’s the murder of the town’s unpopular handyman and there is no short supply of potential suspects. The ladies have to hurry to solve this one before someone else falls victim to this killer.

This is such a great series with delightful characters, snappy dialogue and a well-written mystery that will keep you reading late until the night. I am so glad that I found this series and I will definitely be a fan for many years to come. I have enjoyed everything that Ms. Logan has written but this has to be my favorite of her series so far. Can’t wait to read her next book in the series because The League of Literary Ladies is a sheer delight to read.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of A Tale of Two Biddies. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by January 31st, please leave a meaningful comment for Kylie:

January 22, 2014January 21, 2014

Blog Tour & Spotlight: Vitro by Jessica Khoury

Welcome to the VITRO blog tour! Jessica Khoury, the talented author of Origin, is back with a death-defying tropical adventure. Follow along over the next two weeks as Jessica takes readers behind the scenes of her latest novel.

“SOPHIE CRUE UNVEILED”

Sophie Crue is the heroine of Vitro. She spent the first six years of her life on Guam with her parents, Moira and Foster Crue, both doctors working for Corpus. When Sophie was six, her parents divorced. Her mom stayed in the South Pacific, moving to Skin Island full time to work, while Sophie and her dad moved to Boston. Ten years later, Sophie’s returning to Guam for the first time in response to a mysterious email that leads her to believe her mom may be in trouble.

In a way, Sophie is the opposite of Pia, the protagonist in Origin. Where Pia was raised in isolation inside the Immortis Project hidden in the Amazon jungle, Sophie was excluded from all things to do with her mother’s research and comes to the project as a total outsider. One of the hardest parts of writing Sophie was dealing with the psychological effects left on her by her mother’s absence. Like many kids, Sophie both hates and loves her parent, and that difficult relationship with her mother is crucial to her inner growth throughout the story. Sophie’s tale is one of emancipation from a childhood of abandonment and confusion as the questions that have haunted her are answered—and many of them in ways she never imagined.

About the Author:

Jessica Khoury is 23 years old. She has red hair. She was homeschooled. She’s an avid soccer player and was a three-time All-American striker. She is of Syrian and Scottish descent. She went to college in the same tiny Georgia town in which she was born and raised. And she’s a prodigiously talented writer with a huge following.

Jessica Khoury lives in Toccoa, GA with her husband, Benjamin. You can visit her online at www.jessicakhoury.com.

When Sophie is summoned by her long-absent mother, a scientist who works in a classified lab, Sophie throws caution to the wind and heads to the South Pacific. She sweet-talks her way onto a tiny supply plane piloted by Jim Julien, who lives on Guam with his alcoholic father. Jim is captivated by Sophie and against his better judgement agrees to take Sophie to the secretive and tropical Skin Island where her mom has been working for so many years.

There Sophie and Jim are met not by her mother but instead by Nicholas, a handsome, brilliant boy who leads them to Lux–a girl who looks exactly like Sophie. Lux is Sophie’s genetic twin and was bred using in vitro fertilization. But why? And just what have the scientists created Lux to be capable of?

With lyrical writing and ever-increasing tension, Jessica Khoury draws out the explosive answers in her much-anticipated followup to Origin.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Vitro

Review (4.5 Stars): The concept of Vitro was very interesting and thought-provoking for me and I really enjoyed this action-packed novel. Sophie Crue has come to Skin Island in search of her mother after receiving a distress email stating that she needed Sophie. With the help of an old friend, Sophie arrives at Skin Island and finds that everything isn’t what she believed it would be. She learns that she has a “twin” known only as Lux and the medical research that she once believed would help the world has a more sinister agenda. Now, she has to try to get off the island before its too late or Sophie will never escape this nightmare.

Vitro is an amazing novel about testing the boundaries of scientific research that will leave you mesmerized. I was so impressed by Ms. Khoury’s writing (reminded me of Michael Crichton) and found myself immediately caught up in this action-packed adventure. I was impressed with Ms. Khoury’s previous book, Origin, but nothing prepared me for how Vitro would affect me. This story will stay with me awhile especially since you hear so often how certain advancements in the field of medicine border between helping the world and just seeing if they can play God. That is what we see in Vitro, the scientists of Skin Island see life as something that they can use for financial gain and forget that there is still a human being involved. This attitude leads to some disastrous consequences. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Khoury and I hope she writes many more books to come.

January 22, 2014January 21, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Passage of Crime by R. Michael Phillips

London’s East End, once known for poor boroughs and a derelict rail yard, is enjoying an optimistic resurgence. It’s becoming an affordable option for middle class residents looking to have their pounds go further. Despite this sweeping out of old rubbish, a cautious step is still advised when passing by a few remaining dark alleys. If only Mary Walsh had listened.

Prophet Brown, a disfigured, pathetic little man, called Detective Inspector Flannel after stumbling upon the body of a young woman in one such alley. Flannel quickly realizes she is not the random victim she appears. Add to that, the crime scene is hauntingly reminiscent of an old unsolved case; a case that almost ended an otherwise brilliant career eight years ago.

For the moment, Prophet Brown is the only solid link between the two cases. He has been in the employ of a charismatic and well-connected Member of Parliament for 17 years–the very man Flannel unsuccessfully accused of the murders in the previous case.

Flannel finds himself navigating a very treacherous course. His superiors have warned him for the last time to tread cautiously around the MP, and the rising tide of the past threatens to pull him under. Reluctantly, Inspector Flannel turns to a most unlikely ally, a reformed pickpocket named Ernie Bisquets. Together they disentangle a mesh of old lies and current clues attempting to bring a ruthless murderer to justice–ignoring the dangerous notion of murder being a carefully disguised trait passed from one generation to the next.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Michael is a classically trained artist who has been painting for over 25 years. By combining his creative talents with a passion for London he conceived the fictional world of the East London Adventurers Club, home to The Ernie Bisquets Mystery Series. Three books in the series are complete and there are plans for at least five additional books following the adventurers of London’s most remarkable pickpocket. Michael is a proud member of the Crime Writer’s Association and Mystery Writers Of America.

Website

Jennifer’s Review of Passage of Crime

Review (4 stars): I’ll admit I had a hard time getting into this book because I haven’t read the first two books in the series. Once I got acquainted with the characters, I got involved in the mystery and enjoyed this well-written novel. In this story, Inspector Flannel is investigating murders that are reminiscent of Jack the Ripper and brings him face-to-face with someone from his past that almost destroyed his career. Before he knows it, Inspector Flannel teams up with reformed pickpocket Ernie Bisquets to piece together the clues to find the murderer. I liked how there were so many different layers to this mystery and you couldn’t believe everything that you saw. I was never quite sure who to trust and I liked that because I usually can figure out who did it before the main character does. Very interesting series and I look forward to going back and reading the first two to learn more about these characters.

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January 20, 2014January 19, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Trapped By Revenge by Colleen Helme

With summer over Shelby is looking forward to having some time to herself while the kids are back in school. A phone call from Uncle Joey ruins her plans, but she manages to take it in stride. After lunch with her friend, she promises to meet with the private investigator who was spying on Uncle Joey, but this simple task turns into a disaster. Not only does she find the P.I. dead, but a slip of paper with her name on it under his lifeless hand implicates her for his murder. Desperate to prove her innocence and find the person who killed him, Shelby begins a frantic search. She enlists the aid of the local mob boss, Uncle Joey, his hit-man, Ramos, and her police detective friend, Dimples, but soon finds that nothing can save her from becoming entangled in a sinister plot. With her life on the line and no way out, she finds herself trapped by revenge, and realizes it will take all her skills to escape. Now she must choose where her loyalties lie, and hope she doesn’t trade something bad, for something even worse.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

A long career as a wife and mother while juggling several part-time jobs gave Colleen the ambition to dream of being a published author, where she could put her imagination to good use. Now instead of making up stories to tell her children, she writes books they love to read. Hopefully you will too. She is the author of three romantic fantasy novels, Songbird, Flame of Destiny and The Relic. Her Shelby Nichols Adventures include Carrots, Fast Money, Lie or Die, Secrets That Kill, and Trapped by Revenge with more to come.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Trapped By Revenge

Review (4 Stars): I haven’t read the first few books in this series so it took me a little while to get acquainted with the characters but once I did, the story just flew by. I enjoyed Shelby’s character, who keeps finding herself involved in mysteries because she has the ability to read minds after she suffered a head injury a few years back. In Trapped By Revenge, Shelby runs another “errand” for mob boss Uncle Joey and discovers the body of a private investigator that she was supposed to listen to his thoughts for Uncle Joey. Shelby must help solve the case before she becomes the prime suspect in this murder.

The humor in this book made this mystery very entertaining and fun to read. I loved the secondary characters which added to this mystery and made this an enjoyable read. I’m going to go back and read the series from the beginning to get properly introduced to these characters and I can’t wait to read more of Shelby’s misadventures.

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