Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Death and Betrayal by Seeley James

Hi, everyone!

Today is my turn on the Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour and I am excited to share my Feature Post and Book Review for the new Jacob Stearne Thriller – DEATH AND BETRAYAL by Seeley James.

Below you will find a book synopsis, my book review, an excerpt from the book, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. Good luck and enjoy!

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Book Synopsis

Have you ever been betrayed by your government, your best friend, and your fiancé—all at the same time?

Jacob is about to propose to his girl when he discovers the next generation of weapons are being shipped to our enemies. Factions in the government ask him to find the perpetrators while others work to make sure he fails. His intended fiancé does not understand his disappearance and he can’t give an explanation. Can he lose the woman he loves to save the nation?

When Jacob sets out to expose the billionaire intending to auction off national secrets, he is fired, expelled, and hunted by the government that once awarded him medals. If he ever wants to return to his homeland, he must insert himself into the dangerous world of technology smugglers. It’s a place where only the aggressive and ruthless survive. In the cutthroat world of modern-day pirates, every breath he takes may be his last.

As the bad guys close in and those who could deny him aid, he confronts a terrible choice: to complete his mission or take millions in cash and run. The former is a death sentence and the latter is a lonely future. He must ask himself, can he outsmart the most corrupt billionaires in history before democracy is destroyed?

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller
Published by: Machined Media
Publication Date: February 18th 2020
Number of Pages: 300
ISBN: 978-1-7333467-2-6
Series: Sabel Security Thriller #8
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

DEATH AND BETRAYAL (A Jacob Stearne Thriller; Sabel Security Book #8) by Seeley James is another great addition to this thriller series. I always find these books to be so entertaining. I start a book in the series and get immersed in Pia and Jacob’s world immediately.

Jacob and the winged god Mercury are once again at the center of a fast-paced, action packed plot full of bad billionaires, arms dealers and a weapon that could destroy the balance of power in a country.

This time though, Jacob is without Pia and Sabel Securities. He is fired without knowledge of just what he did wrong and thrown into a dangerous world of a billionaire auctioning off a new technological weapon. To survive, he becomes a modern-day pirate and becomes as ruthless as the bad guys.

Jacob has decisions to make that will change his entire life and future.

I love all of these characters, especially Jacob. Jacob has so much to deal with physically, mentally and emotionally in this addition to the series and I could not stop reading until the end. The plots of all the books in this series are fast-paced and entertaining and this one was no exception. Mr. James writes plot twists and turns that keep me riveted throughout.

I highly recommend this thriller and all of the books in this series!

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Book Excerpt

Chapter 1

The man they called Ra stood on the Savannah’s main deck, staring hatred into the eyes of the general’s emissary. The smug bastard needed to learn a hard lesson about respect. Ra took several deep breaths, tamping down his growing agitation without betraying his emotions. The general had a good deal of money to spend. Ra held the emissary’s gaze as he cooled off. He said, “We’re talking about an auction for the most advanced weapon system the world has ever seen. An auction the general could easily win. What concerns could he possibly have?”

Ra resisted the urge to glance over the sea toward Monaco’s harbor. He was dying to see if his darling’s tender was on its way back from town, but he wouldn’t allow himself to be distracted.

“The general does not believe you have what you claim.” The emissary said in his heavily accented English. He gestured with his arms wide, encompassing Ra’s superyacht. “I do not see it here on your little skiff.”

Behind his left shoulder, the emissary’s sycophantic lieutenant made an insolent face to match his boss.

The dig was childish. Ra had the biggest yacht in Monaco, a present to himself after making billions in commodities. Too big to dock in the harbor. Sure, it was post-season, and the Numina would drop anchor due east of him in a few weeks. Until then, the Savannah reigned supreme. He felt like gutting the slimy emissary for his rudeness. Instead, he smoothed his Kiton sport coat and puffed up his thin frame.

“Don’t be a fool,” Ra sneered. “If I kept Alvaria onboard, sleezy generals from around the world would send commandos to take it from me. In case that’s what you’re thinking, rest assured, I have security. We call them ‘the dogs.’ You’ve met two of them.” He gestured to two bulky men in black suits standing close by. “Fido and Rover. Spot keeps watch with a rifle in case someone approaches uninvited. There are more. I have a whole kennel.”

Ra turned his back on his guests and checked the harbor. He couldn’t wait for his darling to return but he needed to conclude this delicate business before then. He didn’t want her to see the kind of men he dealt with. The emissary wore a ludicrous uniform without insignia yet festooned with medals. His black hair was greased straight back with what might’ve been motor oil. The lieutenant dressed and groomed himself to match. The very definition of a toady.

“The general does not believe the system can do what you claim,” the emissary said.

“Oh, my misguided friend. Alvaria is the stuff of autocrats’ dreams.” Ra laid his hands on the railing, keeping his focus out to sea. “Imagine what it can do. At the push of a button, a hundred drones leap into the air, locate their target, and annihilate whoever you choose. Each drone on a single-purpose mission, never stopping until one of them achieves the objective.” He straightened up and turned to face the emissary. “No more political rivals. No more annoying reporters asking inconvenient questions. No more adversaries across your western border. Everyone doing as they’re told, all under the general’s control. As it should be. It’s science fiction—and it’s here today. If your general doesn’t want to bid on it, he won’t get to see the show we have scheduled.”

“The general is skeptical you can obtain this system.” The emissary crossed his arms and widened his stance. “The Americans have impenetrable security.”

“I stand on my reputation. Many times your poor general has failed to pay me in a timely manner, yet I have never failed to deliver what he needs. From rocket launchers to automatic rifles, they arrived on time and under budget. He would still be a lieutenant were it not for me making good on my promises. He knows damn well my word is gold. My plan has been in the works for years. I have all the right people in all the right places. Alvaria will fall into my hands at exactly the right moment. If he does not believe me, he won’t see the demonstration.” Ra paused before making a sympathetic face. “Until his rival uses it to target him.”

To his credit, the emissary didn’t flinch.

“Think about this,” Ra said. “If Iran acquires Alvaria, they could destroy the ruling classes of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in an afternoon. The next morning, they could annihilate Iraq’s parliament. Then, they invade. The price of oil skyrockets because they would control 24% of the world’s production. Sanctions are lifted under threat of an oil embargo. And just like that, the Persian Empire is reborn.”

The emissary thought while he took a long, deep breath. He pressed a finger to his lips and looked at the deck. After a long moment, he lifted his finger and shook it at Ra. “The general does not like the glimpses of the future you have illuminated. He does not want to participate in your auction. Instead of bidding for it, he will report you to the Americans. That way, no one will have this system.” He paused and smiled. “There will be no resurgent Persian Empire.”

Ra flicked a quick glance at Fido, who sprang into action. To the emissary, Ra said, “I am most disappointed to hear you say that. On a different subject, do you recall meeting my man Bonham in a café last month? Bonham is my second-in-command. He offered you money to turn against the general. Ah, I see from your surprise that you do recall the encounter vividly. Well, sport, the problem for you is that when you turned him down, your lieutenant did not.”

As the emissary’s surprise turned to shock, his gaze swiveled to his lieutenant. At that moment, Fido knelt at the emissary’s feet and clamped leg irons on his ankles. In disbelief, the emissary looked down at his shackles, then followed the attached chain to find Rover standing at the railing, holding a very large, very heavy stone. “Do you think you can scare—”

“You’ve been paid,” Ra said to the emissary’s lieutenant. He held out an old, razor-sharp dagger. “Slit his throat.”

The lieutenant stared at Ra in disbelief. “Now?”

“Yes, now. Or die with him. Your choice. Ah. You’ve seen the light. Good man. Right here, above the collar. Stand behind him so you don’t get blood on yourself.”

As the young man weighed the knife in his hand and moved behind his former boss, Ra took out his phone, set it to video, and pressed record. The knife slashed through the stunned and wordless emissary’s neck. Blood sprayed forward. Rover dropped the rock overboard. The chain’s slack disappeared and yanked the emissary’s body with it, over the railing and into the deep.

The young man looked up at Ra, who kept the video rolling. The psychological weight of his first murder began to contort the young lieutenant’s expression. As he pondered his rapidly changing allegiances, he looked down to find Rover placing leg irons on his ankles. Behind him, Fido stood at the railing with another rock. He looked back at Ra and squeaked, “Why? I did what—”

“I think it’s obvious, isn’t it?” Ra asked. “You can’t be trusted.”

Over his shoulder he saw the tender bearing his darling returning from shore. She would be onboard in five minutes. No time for long goodbyes.

He turned back to face the lieutenant as Rover slit the young man’s throat. “There are four more of your kind in the general’s private guard. He’ll be dead by morning, so you’ll be in good company.”

The stone dropped. The chain tightened. The lieutenant’s body flew over the railing into the deep.

Ra looked at the pool of blood covering the deck. He snapped his fingers. A steward appeared. “You see this ugly mess? Scrub it clean.”

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Author Bio and Social Media Links

Seeley James’ near-death experiences range from talking a jealous husband into putting the gun down to spinning out on an icy freeway in heavy traffic without touching anything. His resume ranges from washing dishes to global technology management. His personal life ranges from homeless at 17, adopting a 3-year-old at 19, getting married at 37, fathering his last child at 43, hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim at 59, and taking the occasional nap.

Seeley’s writing career began with humble beginnings including publishing short stories in The Battered Suitcase leading to being awarded a Medallion from the Book Readers Appreciation Group. Seeley is best known for his Sabel Security series of thrillers featuring athlete and heiress Pia Sabel and her bodyguard and operative, veteran Jacob Stearne. One of them kicks ass and the other talks to the wrong god.

Seeley’s love of creativity began at an early age, growing up at Frank Lloyd Wright’s School of Architecture in Arizona and Wisconsin. He carried his imagination first into a successful career in computer technology sales and marketing, and then to his real love: fiction.

Catch Up With Seeley James On:

SeeleyJames.com, Instagram,Twitter, Goodreads, BookBub, & Facebook!

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Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Feature Post and Book Review: Yours in Scandal by Lauren Layne

Hi, everyone!

Today I am happy to be sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for YOURS IN SCANDAL (Man of the Year Book #1) by Lauren Layne. This is an entertaining start to a new series by a new-to-me author.

Below you will find an author interview, a book summary, my book review, an excerpt from the book, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. Enjoy!

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Author Interview

Tell us about your new series.

The series features three men who are named “Man of the Year” (think: People’s Sexiest Man Alive) and the unexpected ramifications that come with that! Yours in Scandal kicks off the series with a young, wealthy mayor of NYC who falls for his political rival’s daughter.

Why was it important for you to start your series with Addie and Robert?

The real answer? There’s is the book listed first in the contract 😉 In truth I’m equally excited about all three books in the series, and could have happily jumped in anywhere! That said, writing a politician was a unique and fun challenge for me (I tend to write a lot of businessmen!) so a new take on my “hot guy in a suit” was a fun creative challenge!

Even though she is still young, your heroine Addie has lived quite a life. Where did her teenage rebellious streak come from?

The first thing I always do when I get a new story idea is to figure out where the conflict is—I have to make sure these two people, however attracted, can’t get together (easily) by chapter three. When I decided to take on a hero who’s a mayor, I took a step back to think which woman would be most off-limits to him. One with a bit of scandal was the obvious answer, since the spouses of politicians are usually held to the same exacting standards (if not more so) than the politician him/herself! From there, I dug into Addie’s character and her scandal-laden past.

Do you have anything in common with your heroine?

Honestly? No 🙂 Other than being a little mouthy during puberty, I was a pretty easy kid and teenager, and skipped the rebellious phase, at least according to my parents! I sort of skipped the whole rebellious phase growing up no underage drinking, no missed curfews, I’ve never even gotten a ticket. Though, I think perhaps I was saving up all my rebellious urges for my mid-twenties, where I seemed to chafe really hard at being managed in the corporate world, and quit my practical, well-paying job rather spontaneously and irresponsibly with almost no safety net, and dove headfirst into being a full-time writer. And I suppose, for that matter, I’ve made some rebellious choices as an author (quitting Facebook, not doing ARCs on my self-pub title, etc). So, I guess I change my answer! Yeah, I have a little in common with Addie after all!

Your hero Robert is fantastic! He is smart, successful and just earned the title ‘Man of the Year’. What made you fall in love with him?

He really is great, isn’t he? 🙂 I actually knew from the start that Robert was going to be a pretty stand-up guy. I wanted to steer as away from the cliche, corrupt politician as possible, and show that it’s absolutely possible for people to be in public office simply because they want to do good, not because they’re power hungry. I think what I love most about him is how he never wavers in wanting best for Addie and the people around him, even if it hurts him personally. He’s a really unselfish guy, and that is so, so appealing to me!

Would you say that there are similarities that all of your heroes share?

I’d say they’re all pretty quick with a comeback. Whether they’re the charming playboys or the more reserved, Mr. Darcy types they’ve got a bit of a sharp, clever tongue! Also, the vast majority tend to be wealthy and suit-wearing. I’ve got a few exceptions, but I think there’s something so sexy about a buttoned-up guy in a suit coming undone over a woman, so I tend to come back to that again and again!

Some of the best moments in Yours In Scandal happen when your heroine and hero are around their trusted friends. Are any of the secondary characters we meet destined to get their own happily-ever-afters?

No plans for any spinoffs with those characters! Not because I don’t love them, but because the writing schedule’s pretty jam-packed!

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Summary

Fresh off being named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, New York City’s youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides it’s time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governor’s seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achilles’ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robert’s ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robert’s downfall.

Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New York’s premier event planner, she’s all about reform and respectability. Then she’s approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering he’s her father’s most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie can’t help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.

Now it’s Robert’s choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?

About the Book

Title: Yours In Scandal

Author: Lauren Layne

Release Date: March 10, 2020

Publisher: Montlake

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

YOURS IN SCANDAL (Man of the Year Book #1) by Lauren Layne is the first book of a new contemporary romance series by a new to me author. This is a fun and sexy, feel-good romantic comedy.

Robert Davenport is almost at the end of his two terms as the youngest man ever elected as the mayor of New York City. Just named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, Robert’s campaign manager decides it is time for him to use the publicity and work towards his next goal as governor. His main competition is an incumbent with a flawless reputation who also happens to have an estranged wild-child daughter.

Adeline Blake has a scandalous past, but she is now working hard to reform. She is New York City’s premier event planner. She is curious why she is approached by her father’s most formidable opponent to organize the party of the season.

Robert feels a strong, immediate attraction to Adeline that is not part of the plan and Adeline has many reasons she should not get involved with Robert. Can Robert follow his heart over his head?

I really enjoyed this story. It was predictable, but so well written with funny banter and witty dialogue that it did not matter that I could predict the HEA. I loved Robert and Adeline’s chemistry. I felt they handled the obstacles placed in their way as mature adults which made the characters seem more realistic to me. The secondary characters are all entertaining and fully fleshed to support both main characters.

This is a very entertaining and heartfelt start to this new series and I am looking forward to reading more.

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Excerpt

“I just need to be sure . . . am I going crazy? I am, right? Our girl’s not seriously telling us she had dinner with the mayor,” Rosalie said, turning to Jane.

“You’re not the crazy one—she is,” Jane said, emphatically pointing at Adeline.

Adeline nibbled on the corner of a chip. “It’s really not the big deal you two are making it out to be. It was just dinner. Pizza.”

“That’s even worse!” Jane said shrilly. “It’s so intimate.”

Adeline glanced over at her calmer friend. “Please tell her there’s nothing intimate about Italian sausage.” She winced as she caught herself. “Yeah, I heard it.”

“It is a little out of character,” Rosalie said slowly. “You haven’t exactly made it a secret how you feel about men these days. To say nothing of your thoughts on elected officials.”

“I didn’t sleep with the guy, we just had pizza.”

“I’d actually be less concerned if you’d slept with him,” Rosalie admitted.

“Agreed,” Jane said, smacking the table. “A sexy fling with the Man of the Year is one thing. A cozy dinner at his place is just . . .” She threw her hands up. “I can’t. I literally can’t process it.”

“You don’t have to process anything,” Adeline said, dunking the chip into the salsa and stuffing the whole thing in her mouth. “It was a one-time thing. The party’s next weekend, and then I’ll probably never see him again.”

“What if he wants you to be his forever event planner?”

“He won’t. His regular planner’s one of the best in the city, and I’m sure she’ll be back from maternity leave by the time he needs to hire someone again.”

“Is his regular event planner hot and single?” Jane pointed out.

“She’s married.”

“Exactly. Much less susceptible to his sexy face than single you.”

Adeline sighed and looked again to the perpetually calm Rosalie. “Make it stop.”

“Just promise you’ll warn us if you start to fall for the guy,” her friend said, fiddling with her chip. “Much as I love the idea of you landing the hottest guy in the city, I also know just how tricky that would be for you.”

“Tricky is an understatement given he’s likely running against The Bastard in the next election,” she said, knowing that both of her lifelong friends knew she was referring to the father she’d all but disowned.

Adeline hadn’t known Rosalie as long as she’d known Jane, but they still went all the way back to high school. Adeline had been the loose cannon, Jane the genius, and Rosalie had been, well . . . perfect.

“You know,” Adeline said, looking thoughtfully at Rosalie over the top of her margarita. “I actually thought about setting you and the mayor up.”

“Wait, what?” Rosalie’s eyes went wide.

“You said yourself he was hot,” Adeline pointed out. “You’re also beautiful, well spoken, polished. You never look bad in a photograph, and you never say the wrong thing. I literally can’t think of a more perfect future First Lady of New York.”

“Oooh, I see that!” Jane said, pivoting in her chair to stare at Rosalie.

Adeline gave Jane an exasperated expression. “You were just warning me off of the guy.”

“Warning you off, yes. But Rosalie . . .”

Adeline tried to ignore the sting. It wasn’t as if Jane were saying anything Adeline herself hadn’t thought. Even if she were inclined to pursue the mayor, and she wasn’t, she knew that she was the last thing someone like him needed. Her past alone made her an inconceivable choice for him, and even if she could keep her past mistakes under wraps, she would never be the right woman for him. She may have mastered the bun and the blazers, but she was still the woman who collected adventurous lingerie and loved tequila.

“The guy’s definitely attractive,” Rosalie said. “But I don’t know that I want one of Adeline’s rejects,” she said with a smile intended to annoy Adeline.

“I wouldn’t let that stop me,” Jane said, fanning herself. “If it weren’t for Dan . . . . Too bad I love that man so damn much. Seriously, Rosalie, let Adeline fix you up, so I can live vicariously.”

“Hello,” Rosalie said, staring at the admittedly, occasionally tone-deaf Jane. “Are you not seeing what I’m seeing?” She pointed at Adeline.

Jane glanced over and narrowed her eyes.

“Ever since she came back from New Mexico with her hair brown, she’s been like this buttoned-up ice woman. But when she talks about him . . .” Rosalie made an unrecognizable hissing, clicking noise.

“What was that?” Jane asked.

“Fire igniting,” Rosalie explained. “Whatever, so sound effects and act-outs aren’t my strong suit. The point is—”

“If I sound fiery when I talk about the mayor, it’s only because he’s a control freak and pain in the ass,” Adeline interjected. “The man doesn’t know how to delegate, is hell-bent on carrying on his father’s legacy without ever checking in with himself, and . . .”

Adeline’s thoughts scattered a little as she realized she wasn’t being entirety fair to the mayor. Yes, he was obsessed with his image, as a man in his position had to be. But he could also be funny and irreverent. He could also be spontaneous and casual.

He’d proven that yesterday, first with the tour of his home, then the invitation of dinner. Even the way he ate pizza was appealing, somehow both buttoned-up precise and outright relishing, all at the same time.

“We need more margaritas.”

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Author Biography

Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Hot Asset, Hard Sell, and Huge Deal in her 21 Wall Street series, as well as her Central Park Pact series. Her books have sold more than a million copies in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City. For the latest updates, be sure to check out her website at www.laurenlayne.com.

Social Media Links

Website: https://laurenlayne.com/

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6969772.Lauren_Layne

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Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Book Review: Anyone But Nick by Penelope Bloom

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

ANYONE BUT NICK (Anyone But… Book #3) by Penelope Bloom is the third book in the King Brothers contemporary romance trilogy. This one is an enemies-to-lovers romance that can be read as a standalone, but I preferred to read them in order to see each of the brothers fall and keep all of the connections and timelines straight between characters.

In high school. Miranda always felt a special connection to Nick King. When she finally built up the courage to slip a poem into his locker to let him know, she does not sign it and it is the cause of a seven-year misunderstanding and her hatred of Nick King.

Miranda has her life all planned out in steps to get her to the top of the corporate ladder with the perfect mate. But it has all fallen apart. She broke up with her perfect boyfriend and was fired from her perfect job. When she goes to apply for a new VP position, she can not believe Nick King just bought the business.

Nick is impressed by Miranda’s resume, but he wants more. He never understood what happened to their friendship in high school and he has never been truly satisfied with any other woman. Nick gives Miranda the job. Will he be able to work with Miranda on a strictly professional level or will they be able to give their friendship a second chance and turn it into more?

I enjoyed Nick trying to find the right way to deal with Miranda, while not treading all over her feelings, but I had a difficult time warming up to Miranda. I did not understand why she was so set on her professional persona when her best friends and family were all fine with the real Miranda. It took her too long to figure that out. Once Cade got involved, I enjoyed the story more and Miranda started to loosen up. The sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous.

This is a good close to the trilogy, but not my favorite of the three books. I loved reading the epilogue that showed the families all happy in the near future. This is a fun and entertaining trilogy to read.

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Author Biography

Penelope Bloom is a USA Today, Amazon, and Washington Post bestselling author whose books have been translated into seven languages. Her popular romances include His Banana, Her Cherry, Savage, and Punished.

Her writing career started when she left her job as a high school teacher to pursue her dream. She loves taking her imagination for a spin and writing romances she’d want to live. She likes a man with a mind as dirty as sin and a heart of gold he keeps hidden away. Her favorite things include getting to wear socks all day—pants optional—and being a positive example for her girls. Showing her daughters that no dream is too big, no matter what anyone tells them, is worth all the late nights, doubts, and fears that come with being a writer.

Stay connected! For giveaways, goodies, updates, and extras, join the mailing list at https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a0y7m1. Follow her on Facebook at PenelopeBloomRomance, and check out her website at www.penelope-bloom.com.

Book Review: Anyone But Cade by Penelope Bloom

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

ANYONE BUT CADE (Anyone But… Book #2) by Penelope Bloom is the second contemporary romance in the King Brothers trilogy. These books are an enjoyable mix of romance, laughter and smokin’ hot sex.

Cade King is the other twin, who is never serious unless it comes to negotiations for work. Seven years ago, he cost his girlfriend her soccer scholarship with a stupid prank that went wrong. Since then he has never been in a serious relationship and hides behind his money and success. He can’t be hurt, if no one really knows him, right?

Iris swore seven years ago with her two best friends to never again date a King brother. But they are back in town and already one of her friends has fallen. Iris values the success she worked hard for to become a law enforcement officer, but something is missing. Cade is still a temptation hard to resist.

Cade receives the news that he is the father of a five-year-old son that he never knew was out there. He asks Iris for her help and even though she knows she shouldn’t, she cannot resist Bear. Can Iris forgive Cade and can the two work together for Bear?

I really enjoyed this book. The dialogue was laugh out loud funny at times and ridiculously funny at others. As much as Cade and Iris were great for each other, Bear made them even better. I loved when Bear would be a mini-Cade and the action between the two throughout shows the difference, I felt realistically between how a man or a woman play with a child. Even when it seemed as though all the secondary characters were against them, Iris and Cade stayed positive and worked things out. The sex scenes were explicit, but not gratuitous. I love when I finish a romance and have a smile on my face.

I love all the brothers and I am looking forward to Nick and Miranda’s story!

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Author Biography

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: A Venomous Love by Chris Karlsen

Hi, everyone!

Today is my turn on the Blog Tour for A VENOMOUS LOVE (The Bloodstone Series Book #3) by Chris Karlsen. I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for the third historical mystery featuring Detective Rudyard “Ruddy” Bloodstone.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. Enjoy and good luck!

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Book Description

A veteran, Detective Rudyard Bloodstone has fought a brutal battle and witnessed war horrors that haunt his nightmares. Now one of those horrors has followed him home from Africa.

A vicious predator, the Cape cobra, can kill a man in thirty minutes. A suspect using the snake as a weapon in robberies is terrorizing London.

When the crimes escalate into murder, a victim’s daughter, Honoria Underhill, becomes the focus of the killer. After several attempts on her life, Scotland Yard threatens to take over the high profile case. With few leads to follow, Bloodstone and his partner must now fight department politics and catch the killer before Underhill becomes another murder victim.

Title: A Venomous Love (Bloodstone, #3)

Author: Chris Karlsen

Genre: Historical Suspense set in Victorian London

Release Date: February 28, 2020

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

A Venomous Love (The Bloodstone Series Book #3) by Chris Karlsen is the latest historical mystery in this series set in the Victorian era featuring Detective Rudyard Bloodstone. These are entertaining reads that give you a snapshot of the people in this era and it also gives you a look at the limitations of the police to solve crimes. No CSI here, just old-fashioned legwork and logic with a little luck thrown into the mix.

Detective Rudyard “Ruddy” Bloodstone and his partner Detective Archie Holbrook are on the case of a thief who uses a unique deadly weapon to get his victims to turnover their valuables, a Cape cobra. Ruddy knows how quickly this snakes’ venom can kill having fought against the Zulus in Africa.

When the robberies escalate into murder, Ruddy and Archie wonder why the victim’s daughter, Honoria Underhill becomes the main focus of their thief. As they work the case, Ruddy’s brother, Will who has returned from service in India becomes a bodyguard for Honoria.

With few leads and the threat of Scotland Yard taking over the case. Ruddy and Archie are racing the clock to catch the killer before Honoria becomes another murder victim.

I really enjoy reading these mysteries featuring Rudyard Bloodstone. Ruddy, his partner and all the secondary characters pull you back in time with an interesting case to solve. Ms. Karlsen makes you realize how limited early law enforcement was and the class differences that could also impact a case. The use of the Cape cobra as a weapon was unique and even though you know the person behind the crime, the story still keeps you intrigued and interested.

I recommend this historical mystery and all the books in The Bloodstone Series.

***

Author Bio

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs.

Social Media

Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Moonlight_Serenade

Website: http://chriskarlsen.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisKarlsenAuthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chriskarlsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCKarlsen

Instagram: http://instagram.com/chriskarlsenwriter

Buy links

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2T8xhf2

iBooks: https://apple.co/2VtNblW

Nook: http://bit.ly/3933A4N

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2TojkJ6

Universal: https://books2read.com/u/mqvwA2

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Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Release Blitz and Book Review: M for Murder by Keri Beevis

Hi, everyone!

I am very happy to be included in the Release Blitz for M FOR MURDER by Keri Beevis. (This book was previously published as Dead Letter Day in 2013.)

This standalone thriller’s plot will grab you from page 1 and pull you into a fast paced twisted story that intertwines a serial killer’s story from eight years ago with a present day series of killings. They thought the killer died in a fire, but there was no body.

Has he returned to continued his Alphabet Killings ?

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

M for Murder by Keri Beevis is an engrossing and fast paced standalone thriller. (This book was previously published as Dead Letter Day in 2013.)

Eight years ago, the ninth victim of The Alphabet Killer escaped. With her escape came the identification of the serial killer as Professor Rodney Boone an English Professor from the college. During the escape, the professor was stabbed twice and the basement kill room was set on fire. No body was discovered and the killings stopped.

Present day. The killings have resumed right where they left off in the alphabet. Rookie cop, Rebecca Angell is excited to be assisting the two FBI agents assigned to the case. She soon finds that not every investigator plays by the rules.

The investigators are convinced they are dealing with a copycat killer, but Boone’s body was never found. Is Professor Boone back or is someone else finishing The Alphabet Killers letters?

I have to say that this plot pulled me in and did not let up. There are several red herrings and plot twists that constantly had me questioning who the killer may be. I did not guess the killer or the twisted ending correctly and that makes me very happy. I was disappointed in Rebecca. She was always hot-headed and confrontational. The male characters were difficult and chauvinistic, but I would have really liked Rebecca to have handled her frustration and temper better.

The thriller plot is great and because of that and the surprise twist ending I recommend this book for an engrossing read.

***

Author Bio and Social Media Links

Keri Beevis wrote her first novel at age twenty, but it was a further twenty years before she was published after winning a contract in the Rethink Press New Novels Competition 2012.

Born in the village of Old Catton, less than a mile from where Anna Sewell was living when she wrote Black Beauty, Keri had a passion for reading and writing from a young age, though her tastes veered more to the macabre.

Today she still lives in Norwich, along with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel), where she writes a comedic lifestyle column for a local magazine. She loves Hitchcock movies, exploring creepy places, and gets extremely competitive in local pub quizzes. She is also a self-confessed klutz.

Keri joined the Bloodhound team in 2019 and her first release with them, the psychological thriller, Dying To Tell, which is set in her beautiful home county of Norfolk, has been her biggest success to date, with over 1200 four and five star ratings on Goodreads.

Her new novel, Deep Dark Secrets (which was previously published as The Darkness Beneath) was released in January 2020.

Find out more about Keri and her books at www.keribeevis.com or you can follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/allaboutbeev or Twitter at www.twitter.com/keribeevis