Tag: #aboutauthor

Book Review: Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

BREAK MY FALL (Gossamer Falls Book #2) by Lynn H. Blackburn is the second Christian romantic suspense in the Gossamer Falls series. These books center around a large, multi-generational family in Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Each book features a Christian romance intertwined with a suspense plot involving illegal activities and corruption in the area. While this story is a complete romantic suspense plot, I feel it is best read after the first book, Never Fall Again, due to continuing characters and criminal plot lines between books one and two.

Dr. Meredith Quinn always planned on returning home to the small town of Gossamer Falls to open her dentistry practice and help the underserved population in the neighboring area with a mobile dental clinic. What she did not expect was the amount of despair and corruption in the neighboring county and the small talk that will ultimately put her life in peril. After a series of incidents, the Gossamer Falls police chief fears for Meredith’s safety, but Meredith does not want him hovering as she fights her personal attraction to him.

Police Chief Grayson Ward has heard rumors about the neighboring county and is helping a covert FBI joint task force with information. When he learns that Meredith has been targeted, he will do anything to protect her, except open his heart to her. He has experienced several losses in his life and is not willing to risk his heart, but Meredith seems able to break down his walls. Can Grayson protect Meredith from those who want to hurt her, or will he end up being shattered again?

This is a solid Christian romantic suspense that has a good balance of two characters fighting their attraction while being thrown together in danger and having their friends and relations help and support them both. I preferred the first book more because this romance has a fairly large portion of the H/h not communicating which is annoying in a couple of their age. This is a Christian romance so there are no sex scenes or premarital sex. The religious aspects were never obtrusive or story stopping but fit in seamlessly throughout the story focusing on family love and forgiveness. The suspense plot was realistic with plenty of tension and apprehension for the main characters.

I recommend this enjoyable second book in the Gossamer Falls Christian romantic suspense series and am looking forward to reading book three.

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About the Author

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

She’s currently writing the Gossamer Falls series set in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The series will include three novels and one novella and kicks off with Never Fall Again.

Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series, was a 2021 Christy Award finalist, and her previous titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award.

Lynn lives in South Carolina with her family.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.lynnhblackburn.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnhblackburn/#

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/break-my-fall-by-lynn-h-blackburn

Feature Post and Book Review: Last Dog Out by Candace Irving

Book Description

Kate Holland has a new mission. As a special investigator for the governor’s office, she takes on Arkansas’ toughest cases—especially those involving veterans. At her side is Ruger, now her fully trained K-9 partner.

Their first case begins with a mutilated body and a stolen identity. The victim wasn’t who he claimed to be—and he was still actively serving his country when he died. As Kate digs deeper, other bodies surface…and the truth emerges: a warrior is missing.

Working the case puts Kate and Arash on dangerous ground—professionally and personally. The closer they get to the truth, the tighter the noose around them. Kate will risk everything to bring the missing soldier home. The only question is, who will make it out alive?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217236725-last-dog-out?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JuJlJ2v0Gf&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

LAST DOG OUT (A Kate Holland/Hidden Valor K-9 Mystery Thriller Book #4) by Candace Irving is another gritty and intense police procedural/crime thriller addition to this outstanding action-packed series with a female veteran protagonist and her dog that you cannot forget even after the conclusion of each book. This is a series that I feel is best read in order due to the protagonist’s personal journey through PTSD, emotional trauma, and healing. Please note: this book does discuss PTSD, suicide, and depicts a dog fight.

Kate Holland and her newly promoted K-9 partner, Ruger are barely situated in their new jobs as Special Investigators for the Arkansas governor’s office, when she receives a call to investigate a mutilated body found in a ditch that is presumed to be a Marine veteran. As Kate begins to search for answers, the identity of the man from his wallet begins to fall apart.

Kate and her law enforcement friends must deal with politics, military secrets, and a secretive circle of powerful men and corrupt law enforcement involved in dog fighting, illegal arms, and prostitution. She discovers beside unraveling this web of death, money, and power, she is also looking for a stolen retired CAD (Canine Assault Dog). Can she find the killer, bring justice to the dead soldier, and find the CAD still alive?

It is no secret that I love this series and this book did not disappoint! Kate’s journey with PTSD has come a long way since book one and it continues here. The bond between Kate and Ruger is strong and beautiful. I love reading about his instinctive protective reactions towards Kate. Ruger’s climatic scene in this book had me holding my breath on the edge-of-my-seat. Kate’s relationship with Arash is believably written and I am looking forward to following it into future books. All the recurring secondary characters are realistically written and well developed. The police procedural/crime thriller plot was well written and fast paced with many twists and surprises throughout. This plot does go into dark criminal activity and animal abuse, but I never felt it was gratuitous.

I highly recommend this addition to the Kate Holland/Hidden Valor K-9 Mystery Thriller series!

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About the Author

A former US Navy Lt., Candace Irving is the daughter of a librarian and a retired boatswain’s mate chief. Candace grew up in the Philippines, Germany, and all over the United States. Her senior year of high school, she enlisted in the US Army. Following basic training, she transferred to the Navy’s ROTC program at the University of Texas-Austin. While at UT, she spent a summer in Washington, DC, as a Congressional Intern. She also worked security for the UT Police. BA in Political Science in hand, Candace was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy and sent to Surface Warfare Officer’s School to learn to drive warships. From there, she followed her father to sea.

Candace Irving writes gritty military thrillers. She is the author of the Deception Point Military Detective Thriller Series and the Hidden Valor Military Veterans/K9 Psychological Suspense Series. She also writes military romance and romantic suspense as Candace Irvin (without the “g”).

Social Media Links

Website: https://candaceirving.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candaceirvingbooks/?hl=en

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/last-dog-out-a-kate-holland-suspense-a-hidden-valor-military-veteran-k-9-suspense-book-4-by-candace-irving

Feature Post and Book Review: Murder at the Wild Haggis Bookshop by Jackie Baldwin

Book Description

At The Wild Haggis Bookshop, the murder mysteries aren’t just on the shelves!

Beth Cunningham thought she’d closed the book on her troubled past when she opened The Wild Haggis Bookshop in the charming Scottish town of Oban. But when her inaugural book club evening ends in real murder – the body dramatically posed amongst the party decorations – her fresh start ends in a twist she definitely didn’t see coming.

With local police detective Logan Hunter eyeing her as his prime suspect, Beth must fight to clear her name. Still, she can’t help but notice his warm brown eyes and dedication to justice… even as he builds a case against her.

Determined to find the truth, Beth is shocked to discover a web of lies among her book club attendees, each one hiding secrets worthy of a bestseller. With time running out before she lands in jail, can Beth uncover the secret worth killing for?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234048321-murder-at-the-wild-haggis-bookshop?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Fi7APa26yZ&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MURDER AT THE WILD HAGGIS BOOKSHOP (The Highland Bookshop Murders Book #1) by Jackie Baldwin is an engaging and entertaining first book in a new cozy murder mystery series set in Oban, Scotland. It features the new owner of The Wild Haggis Bookshop and her three employees as they all work together to solve a murder.

Beth Cunningham is excited to be starting a new chapter of her life. She is the new owner of The Wild Haggis Bookshop in Oban. Her inaugural crime/mystery book club evening has five participants, with one being a local journalist who is excited to tell the group that she has uncovered a secret that will get her back into the national news service. When the group breaks up for the night, Beth is in the back cleaning up and when she walks back out to the main room she discovers the journalist dead in the crime scene tape decorations.

Beth has a secret in her own past which places her in the crosshairs of the local detective, but with the help of her staff, they work to discover the secrets of the other book club attendees. Can they discover who is willing to kill to keep their secret before Beth is arrested and framed for the murder?

This is an enjoyable start to a new cozy mystery series that I am looking forward to following into the future. Beth is a complex character with a tragic back story, but as she becomes more intertwined with her employees and the town, she shows her strength in starting anew. The bookshop employees are unique and interesting, and I look forward to seeing their further personal development and interactions with Beth. The mystery plot itself was full of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing between all the suspects. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, but it did tie every mystery plot thread up. The ending also left Beth’s personal life with many new possibilities for the future.

I recommend this engaging Scottish cozy mystery and look forward to more books in this series in the future.

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About the Author

Jackie Baldwin was born in Dumfries. She studied law at Edinburgh University returning to Dumfries to practice criminal and family law for a number of years. She later retrained as a hypnotherapist. Married, with two grown up children she now lives in the countryside just thirty minutes away from Portobello Beach where her latest series is set. When she’s not writing she loves spending time with her young grandson and walking along the beach with her dog Lucy.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jackiebaldwin.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.baldwin.1088

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/murder-at-the-wild-haggis-bookshop-a-totally-unputdownable-scottish-cozy-mystery-novel-the-highland-bookshop-murders-book-1-by-jackie-baldwin

Feature Post and Book Review: Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland

Book Description

Nestled amongst the comforting shelves of her beloved Bay Books, Lily Appleton finds the peace and quiet she needs. But with Christmas just around the corner, Lily has to find an extra pair of hands to help her share the bookish magic.

After selling his business, Lars Jóhannsson is feeling lost. A job at Bay Books would give him the space he needs to contemplate his next move, but returning would mean confronting a painful past he’s been avoiding. He’s also fairly sure he’s the one person Lily would never want to see again.

Lily is torn. Lars could be the perfect fit for Bay Books, but he once rejected her friendship and the hurt still lingers. But working together, Lily discovers a vulnerability that Lars has kept hidden away, along with a few surprising secrets. And as the Christmas season sprinkles its magic, Lily discovers the warmth of renewed friendship and the joy of heartwarming traditions from Lars’s Icelandic roots.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233593750-winter-nights-at-the-bay-bookshop?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=CsF0dVTTu7&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

WINTER NIGHTS AT THE BAY BOOKSHOP by Jessica Redland is a wonderful Christmas holiday cozy romance which I highly recommend especially for all the booklovers out there. While this is a part of the author’s Whitsborough Bay series, it is easily read as a standalone book.

Lily Appleton loves books and runs the family bookshop, Bay Books, with her father. who is finally scheduled for knee replacement surgery. With the holiday fast approaching, Lily must find the perfect short-term replacement for the upcoming busy season.

Lars Johannsson feels lost. He sold his successful on-line education business. His grandmother decides to move in with her friends at the new retirement home while also selling her home which she shares with Lars. While out to lunch with a friend, they notice the sign for help wanted at the bookshop, and Lars’ friend encourages him to apply. But Lars and Lily have an unpleasant past and even though he would love the job, he is afraid Lily will reject him out of hand.

Lily knows Lars is perfect for the job and is willing to give him a try. As they work together, both discover hidden emotional hurts and vulnerabilities in the other. With their shared love of books and the magic of the season, can these two find the love they have been waiting for?

I loved Lily and Lars so much! The story perfectly paces the discovery of past misunderstandings and emotional heartaches from immediate family or past relationships and intertwines the difficult emotions with uplifting quotes from favorite books. I felt the difficulties and emotions both the H/h dealt with are believable and well written. Lily’s family and friends are great support for both. I found the Icelandic traditions for Book Flood on Christmas Eve and all the mythical characters introduced the twelve days before fascinating. This is a cozy romance so everything other than kissing is behind closed doors. I needed tissues for the last two chapters, but they were happy tears from a satisfied romantic heart.

I highly recommend this heartwarming and enchanting cozy holiday romance. You will want to curl up on a comfortable couch with a blanket and your favorite hot beverage as you disappear into this bookish holiday romance.

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About the Author

I live in Scarborough on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast in the UK. My home inspired the creation of the fictional seaside town of Whitsborough Bay where I set many of my books. The Hedgehog Hollow series and Bumblebee Barn Collection take readers to a gorgeous countryside setting on the Yorkshire Wolds. In July 2023, I added the lakes and mountains to my settings with the start of my ‘Escape to the Lakes’ series. I absolutely love this part of the country and am loving writing a series in my happy place.

I live with my husband, our teenage daughter and sprocker spaniel, Ella. I’m a stationery addict with a notepad obsession who loves chocolate (although it doesn’t love me), hedgehogs, 80s music, collectible teddy bears and lighthouses.

My career has mainly been in HR as a trainer and recruiter. I had a brief detour into retail to set up and manage my own specialist teddy bear shop and started writing my debut novel on quiet days in the shop.

In June 2020, I became a full-time author. I’m so very grateful to anyone who has bought or borrowed my books in whatever format, helping me fulfil a long-held dream of writing full-time. I still can’t believe I get to spend every day chatting to my fictional friends and making stuff up.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.jessicaredlandauthor.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/?hl=en

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jessicaredland.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/winter-nights-at-the-bay-bookshop-by-jessica-redland

Feature Post and Mini Book Review: Holding Out for a Holiday Hero by Cynthia Eden

Book Description

Bah humbug. Bounty hunter Jake Hale hates Christmas. He doesn’t do twinkling lights, festive packages, and you definitely won’t ever catch him singing Christmas carols. What he will do? Track down the worst of the scum out there. The former special ops soldier makes merry by tossing the naughty into prison cells and getting a grand pay day. Ho, ho, ho.

Then a ghost from Christmas past walks through his door.

True Blakely is always at the top of the nice list. Beautiful, sweet, with an innocence that—yep, he might have been tempted to destroy once or twice—she’s there to hire him. There have been a string of dangerous accidents in her life, and True fears that someone is trying to kill her. Not at all the sort of case that Jake would usually take—he hunts down the criminals after they jump bail, not before they’ve even been arrested. But one look into True’s bedroom eyes, and he can’t refuse. Maybe he still is a bit too tempted by the girl who got away…and surely one nice act won’t kill him? For her, he can play the hero.

He’ll close the case and be home in time for Christmas dinner.

Except, on the first morning of his investigation, he finds a dead body. One waiting underneath True’s glittering Christmas tree. The attacks are real, and it’s clear that someone is gunning for True. But Jake is on the job now, and no one is going to hurt her. His protective instincts are in overdrive…and so is the desperate desire that he’s always felt for True. This time, he’s done fighting that desire. He’ll finally show True just how fantastic it can be when you aren’t nice. Welcome to his naughty list.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219177927-holding-out-for-a-holiday-hero?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zYA3pDkC4P&rank=1

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My Mini Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO by Cynthia Eden is a hot and steamy holiday romantic suspense that kept me laughing out loud, turning the pages to figure out the villain in the suspense plot, and cheering for Jake as he turns from Scrooge into the hero True needs. This is a fast-paced standalone holiday romantic suspense with a great H/h duo and interesting secondary characters.

True Blakeley was the sweet, good girl in high school. Jake Hale was the bad boy who secretly wanted her. Now the former special ops soldier is a bounty hunter who hates Christmas, and beautiful True, the object of all his dreams, comes to him for help. Jake is determined to protect her as well as bed her. What he doesn’t realize is True has no problem with any of that.

Believable characters, fun dialogue, a well-paced suspense plot, and smokin’ hot sex scenes make this the perfect for me holiday read.

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About the Author

Cynthia Eden is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller.

Never miss a release from Cynthia Eden! Sign up for her newsletter at cynthiaeden.com/newsletter. You can also visit her Facebook page for her latest updates: facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage.

Cynthia writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate.

Social Media Links

Website: https://cynthiaeden.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaedenauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/holding-out-for-a-holiday-hero-by-cynthia-eden?ebook_deal

Feature Post and Book Review: I’ll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost

Book Description

It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and the Historical Society has launched a widespread campaign to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary. Descendants of the founding family, the Snows, have returned for the first time, and Holly is determined to make the family’s visit magical. In an attempt to put Mistletoe on the map, Holly’s mother, a respected local baker, attempts to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man, but her plans are whisked away when Mr. Snow’s body ends up in the batter.

When Mr. Moore, the local mistletoe farmer, is accused of the crime, Holly reprises her role as amateur sleuth to protect the sweet older man. Between hosting the inconsolable Mrs. Snow and other guests at the inn, receiving threatening messages telling her to stop her investigation, and preparing for her first wedding anniversary with Sheriff Evan Gray, she might need a Christmas miracle to survive.

When someone breaks into Holly’s office and scratches a warning into her desk, she knows she has little time left. Can Holly uncover the killer before someone else gets burned, or is her involvement a recipe for trouble?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208516144-i-ll-be-home-for-mischief?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=uZIHmnlYdG&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I’LL BE HOME FOR MISCHIEF (Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries Book #5) by Jacqueline Frost takes us once again to quirky Mistletoe, Maine for the Christmas holiday season and as much as our main characters hope against it, another holiday murder. Each of the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries books can be read as a standalone with a completed crime plot, but the main characters continue to develop, and I feel the stories can be enjoyed more by reading them in order of publication.

Reindeer games and the Hearth are going to be extra busy this year with Holly Gray’s mother attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the largest baked gingerbread man. Holly and Sheriff Evan Gray are also excited for their one-year wedding anniversary Christmas Eve, and the town is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a Victorian Christmas theme. Everyone is very busy hoping for no murders this year.

As Holly’s mother gets ready to have the giant gingerbread man moved to the outdoor cooking area, they take off the cover and discover a man dead in the batter. Holly cannot help herself and once again asks too many questions which leads to threats and danger. Can Holly discover the killer and survive to celebrate her anniversary?

This is another entertaining, fun, and well plotted murder mystery featuring my favorite holiday cast of characters. Holly really does want to mind her own business this year, but with the murder at Reindeer Games and a kind old man accused of the murder, she just cannot let it be. Ms. Frost had me guessing who-dun-it to the end and I was surprised. This book also has a great cast of secondary characters with Christ0pher’s wife and best friend, Jackie, staying at the inn along with two true crime murder podcasters in town. Their podcast is called Dead and Berried as they serve up murder clues with complimentary recipes. All the regulars are back and I love them all.

I highly recommend this book in the holiday mystery series and always look forward to the next.

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About the Author

Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Jacqueline is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC).

Social Media Links

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/i-ll-be-home-for-mischief-by-jacqueline-frost

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Mischief-Christmas-Tree-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CVKNNLT7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27KKDD9GSA7T6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2wYusIo_LA