Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr + Giveaway

Join us for this tour from Mar 28 to June 24, 2022!

Book Details:

Book Title: Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr
Series:  A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 14)
Category:  Adult fiction, 496 pages
Genre:  Murder Mystery / Police Procedural / Crime Fiction
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  Mar 30, 2022
Content Rating: PG-13. Lauren Carr's mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No F-Bombs!

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"Five Stars for Lauren Carr's 14th book of the Mac Faraday Murder Mysteries, Shadow of Murder! In this new release, she has recaptured the fun of cute "creatures" with the fast-moving, suspenseful, and captivating mystery, along with her usual touch of romance." - review by Lu Ann Worley, Rockin' Book Reviews

 

"This newest title in the author's Mac Faraday cozy murder mystery series offers Lauren Carr's most intricate plot to date - full of twists and turns guaranteed to keep readers up until the wee hours. While still full of the humor, fun critters and touch of romance that are her trademark, the author has also woven in a dark supernatural element that whispers through to the startling ending." - review by Marilyn R. Wilson, bestselling author, freelance writer, editor, and speaker at Olio by Marilyn.

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Book Description:

You can't move to the next chapter of your life, without tying up loose ends in the previous.
 
True crime blogger, Erica Hart starts a new chapter in her life with a bang when a dark shadow darts into the mountain road to send her SUV off a cliff and to the bottom of Deep Creek Lake. Spencer’s newest addition to the police force, Dusty O’Meara assumes it was a bear. Erica is not so sure.
 
Soon afterwards, contractors discover Konnor Langston’s body at the bottom of an abandoned swimming pool at the new summer home of Mac Faraday’s son.
 
With Police Chief David O’Callaghan away on paternity leave, Deputy Chief Dusty O’Meara must lead the investigation in his first murder case since moving to Spencer. Not only does Dusty have to work under the shadow of the legendary Mac Faraday, but he also has to match wits with Erica, who is determined to find justice for Konnor, her childhood friend.
 
Mac isn’t so difficult. Even Gnarly, the town’s canine mayor, is manageable if his authority is well-respected and he is kept entertained.
 
Erica Hart, Dusty finds, is more of a challenge. It wouldn’t be so difficult if she wasn’t so irresistible.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon.com / Amazon UK

Coming Soon to Audible and other Marketplaces!

It's been about eighteen months since I last read one of Lauren Carr's 'Mac Faraday' crime stories so I was delighted to have this opportunity to read and review the brand new installment in the series, Shadow Of Murder. Each novel has a self-contained crime case and this one centres on famous true crime blogger, Erica Hart, as she returns to Deep Creek Lake and her family's home there which she last saw years earlier when her parents were viciously murdered during a burglary. In common with previous Mac Faraday novels I have read, Carr breaks genre boundaries by not just telling readers about the case at hand, but also including a wide cast of supporting characters, several of whom I recognised from earlier books, so Shadow Of Murder was as much about the town's inhabitants and their relationships to each other. I loved the Nancy Drew Crew and their humorous verbal sparring with each other. The long-term friendship they share really came across well in the dialogue. Erica's burgeoning romantic relationship was cutely portrayed too. The most memorable character for me though was the fabulous Teddy, a cockatoo, who even manages to upstage Mac's incorrigible German Shepherd dog, Gnarly. Quite an achievement for Teddy!

Shadow Of Murder has a wonderfully convoluted plotline which kept me engrossed for hours. The book is actually quite a bit longer than my usual reads so kudos to Carr for keeping my interest piqued from beginning to end. Set-piece scenes often had me giggling at their domino-run intricacy (and I'm not sure the Spencer Inn will ever risk another ice sculpture, however popular they are!) The humour contrasted well with the darkness of the criminal motivation behind multiple murders that leave seemingly no one in Deep Creek Lake untouched. I believe that Shadow Of Murder is Lauren Carr's best novel yet - though I am lucky to have other previous installments to catch up with as part of the Shadow Of Murder blog tour. I can't wait!

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Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. 

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.  

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. 

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

connect with the author: website  ~  facebook  ~  instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

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Tour Schedule:

March 28 - Mystery Review Crew - book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
March 28 – Cover Lover Book Review – book series spotlight / giveaway
March 29 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
March 29 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
March 30 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 - Olio by Marilyn – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 - Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER / author interview / giveaway
March 31 – My Reading Journeys – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 1 –  Kam's Place – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER 
April 4 –  Kam's Place – book spotlight of IT’S MURDER, MY SON 
April 4 – Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of IT'S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
April 5 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 6 – Leels Loves Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 7 –  Kam's Place – book spotlight of OLD LOVES DIE HARD, SHADES OF MURDER, BLAST FROM THE PAST 
April 7 – Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 8 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 11 – Kam's Place – book spotlight of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE, THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER, TWELVE TO MURDER 
April 12 – Book Corner News and Reviews - book series spotlight / giveaway
April 13 –Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 14 – My Reading Journeys – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
April 15 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 15 – Kam's Place – book spotlight of A WEDDING AND A KILLING, OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER 
April 19 – Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of BLAST FROM THE PASST / giveaway
April 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 21 – My Reading Journeys – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
April 21 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway
April 22 –Book Corner News and Reviews - book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
April 26 –Literary Flits – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway
April 27 - Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
April 29 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 3 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 4 - Kam's Place – book spotlight of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER 
May 4 - Literary Flits – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 5 –Kam's Place – book spotlight of CANCELLED VOWS 
May 6 – Kam's Place – book spotlight of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER and CRIMES PAST 
May 9 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 10 – Celticlady's Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
May 11 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway
May 12 - Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 16 – Hall Ways Blog - audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 17 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 18 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
May 19 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 19 - Library of Clean Reads – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of BLAST FROM THE PAST / giveaway
May 23 – Rockin' Book Reviews - book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 24 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
May 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 26 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of CANCELLED VOWS / giveaway
May 27 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 31 –Jazzy Book Reviews - book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 1 – fundinmental – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 2 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest posts / giveaway
June 3 – Rockin' Book Reviews - audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 6 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of  TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
June 7 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
June 8 – The Page Ladies – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 - Bound 4 Escape – book review of  A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
June 10 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 13 - ​Rockin' Book Reviews - book review of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 14 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of  OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 15 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 16 –Literary Flits – book review of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER / giveaway
June 20 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Adventurous Jessy – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review of CRIMES PAST / giveaway

 

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Win a $50 Paypal gift card. Open internationally until the 1st July.

SHADOW OF MURDER (Mac Faraday Mysteries) Tour Giveaway

 

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Death Wish by K. Webster + Giveaway + Excerpt

Death Wish
K. Webster
(Deception Duet, #2)
Published by: Dangerous Press
Publication date: March 29th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Reverse Harem, Romance

All I wanted is for my little sister Della to be safe and happy. And maybe, in brief stolen moments, I dreamed of a happy ending for myself with a brown-eyed man. That hope has turned into sharp, bright fear. There’s only survival now.

I’m the daughter of a controlling and cruel billionaire, so I understand about power. But I find myself fighting anyway. I find myself testing them.

I have claws and I bite. I’m not going down without a fight.

It’s like I have a death wish.

Goodreads / Amazon.com / Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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EXCERPT:

What have I done?

Disgust at my naivety has my stomach churning. It’s the fear, though, that has every muscle tight with tension and every hair on my body standing on end.

I did this.

To myself. To us.

Della.

I try to glean a sense of what I’m in for, scanning his bedroom for clues. It’s too normal for this situation. His bed is unmade from the morning before and clothes are scattered all over the floor. There’s a picture of him and his brothers framed and sitting on his desk. Nothing says that he’s a kidnapper…or worse.

A sob of horror tries to make its escape, but Scout’s hand is clamped almost painfully over my mouth. His arm around me is powerful and unyielding. I’m trapped.

Walked right into the one he set for me.

Now I’m all alone with Scout. In his bedroom.

Flashes of the bathroom at school assault my mind. Any pleasure I thought I got from it is erased in an instant. Whatever pain he inflicts on me this time will be worse because I won’t enjoy one second of it. On Friday, when it happened, I cared about him. Thought he was sick. Craved his touch and attention. Needed the promise of safety he offered.

What a joke.

And I’m a damn fool for falling for it.

“You won’t scream,” Scout says, voice cold and sharp like an icicle, piercing its way into my heart. “Because if you do, I’ll tape your pretty mouth shut. Plus, you don’t want to upset your little sister.”

I gag and tears flood my eyes. Though the urge to scream and hope someone will hear is high on my list of wants, I know that I won’t. Not if it means risking Della’s safety. I got her into this mess and I’m going to have to get her out of it.

Author Bio:

K Webster is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her titles have claimed many bestseller tags in numerous categories, are translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks. She lives in "Tornado Alley" with her husband, two children, and her baby dog named Blue. When she's not writing, she's reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and researching aliens.

You can easily find K Webster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads!

Can't find a certain book? Maybe it's too hot for Amazon! Don't worry because titles like Bad Bad Bad, This is War, Baby, The Wild, and Hale can all be found for sale on K's website in both ebook and paperback format.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub / Newsletter

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Win paperback or ebook copies of Death Wish. Open internationally until the 7th April.

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A Moment of Faith by Martin Svaneborg

A Moment of Faith by Martin Svaneborg
First published independently in June 2021. Republished by Kingsley Publishers on the 25th March 2022.

How I got this book: Received a review copy via Rachel's Random Resources

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

Copenhagen, 1840 – Fighting to reconcile his obligations with a quest for romance, the eccentric philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, rushes through the cobbled streets, thrusting himself into the arms of Regine and a disastrous engagement.

Copenhagen, 1855 – Withering away in a hospital bed, Bitter and alone, Kierkegaard conjures up a preposterous scheme. A vendetta against the Bishop of Copenhagen, and a mission to save the future of love.

Copenhagen, now – Introvert Christian Kardahl, meets devout and mysterious Emma for the first time. Two days later, Christian comes across an old letter aimed to destroy a famous, eccentric philosopher. When a sudden murder is added to the mystery, the past has caught up. Christian and Emma are drawn into an involuntary quest that will make them question their belief in history and, unless they can sort out the puzzle, their faith and love will be forever doomed.

Søren Kierkegaard seems to be one of the most frequently referenced philosophers I encounter in other novels, but I don't think I had ever read more than brief quotes from his work until I started A Moment of Faith. Part of this novel is told through a series of letters from Kierkegaard to the love of his life, Regine Olsen. Sadly a doomed love affair, but the letters (which I think are genuine) provide wonderfully evocative insights into Kierkegaard's bewildering mind and also give Svaneborg's fictional adventure tale an authentic grounding.

A Moment of Faith is a religiously themed dual-timeline thriller which I very much enjoyed immersing myself in. Its narrator, appropriately named Christian has a dry sense of humour which often chimed with my own and I loved his italicised thoughts, shared only with us readers. The novel, while being  very much its own story, does give nods to The Da Vinci Code and I think would appeal greatly to readers who appreciated that tale. The historic Sogade church makes for a beautifully enigmatic early location from which the breathtakingly paced adventure starts. Despite its fast pace, A Moment of Faith never felt rushed and the connections between each timeline were deftly plotted to give a really satisfying conclusion. I'm only not sure about the epilogue, but that aside, I was happily entertained by A Moment of Faith and am now keen to read its sequel when that book appears in due course.

Meet the Author

With a background in musical theatre as both an actor, singer, and dancer, Martin Svaneborg has spent his teenage and adult life as a storyteller. In 2018, driven mainly by his interest in the history of religion, Martin started studying theology at the University of Copenhagen while exploring other ways of telling stories as a theatre director, speech coach, and speaker, hence the transition to novel writing felt natural, and his debut novel is a fusion of his growing interest for the personal life of the philosophers he encountered during his studies and the desire to tell an adventurous love story. Also, he, like Kierkegaard, has a thing for nice, long sentences

Kingsley Instagram ~ Kingsley Twitter ~ Martin Instagram

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Los Angeles Stories by Ry Cooder

Los Angeles Stories by Ry Cooder
Published by City Lights Books in October 2011.

How I got this book: Borrowed from my partner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

Los Angeles Stories is a collection of loosely linked, noir-ish tales that evoke a bygone era in one of America's most iconic cities. In post-World War II Los Angeles, as power was concentrating and fortunes were being made, a do-it-yourself culture of cool cats, outsiders, and oddballs populated the old downtown neighborhoods of Bunker Hill and Chavez Ravine. Ordinary working folks rubbed elbows with petty criminals, grifters, and all sorts of women at foggy end-of-the-line outposts in Venice Beach and Santa Monica.

Rich with the essence and character of the times, suffused with the patois of the city's underclass, these are stories about the common people of Los Angeles, "a sunny place for shady people," and the strange things that happen to them. Musicians, gun shop owners, streetwalkers, tailors, door-to-door salesmen, drifters, housewives, dentists, pornographers, new arrivals, and hard-bitten denizens all intersect in cleverly plotted stories that center around some kind of shadowy activity. This quirky love letter to a lost way of life will appeal to fans of hard-boiled fiction and anyone interested in the city itself.

I finished Los Angeles Stories on the St Malo ferry so was transported from a fortunately calm crossing of the English Channel to the down-at-heel city of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 1950s. Ry Cooder is not only a wonderful musician but also a pretty good writer as these stories prove. There is a fantastic sense of the atmosphere and seediness of the city, the desperation and hope of the people. Each of this collection of short stories has a link to the others, whether it be a place or a character and it was fun to spot how they join together. I didn't understand all the stories however, and a few lost me part way through so I was reading them more for their evocative descriptions than for their plots. Others were simpler to follow. Perhaps have a more extensive knowledge of the music scene of the period would have helped? I did pick up on a number of references but am sure that I missed more than I spotted!

Overall, this is an interesting insight into a past time which puts the spotlight onto those who faded from view or who never made it big in the first place, the darker side of the city of dreams, and I enjoyed reading about the array of characters penned by Cooder. I wonder how many were actually real and how many purely imagined? 

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Torn From Troy by Patrick Bowman

Torn from Troy by Patrick Bowman
First published by Ronsdale Press in March 2011. Post Hypnotic Press audiobook, narrated by Gerard Doyle, published in July 2013.

How I got this book: Downloaded from AudioSYNC

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

Two-and-a half millennia after it was created, Homer's Odyssey remains one of humanity's most memorable adventure stories. In this re-creation of Homer's classic as a young adult novel, we see the aftermath of the Trojan War through the eyes of Alexi, a fifteen-year-old Trojan boy. Orphaned by the war and enslaved by Odysseus himself, Alexi has a very different view of the conquering heroes of legend.

Despite a simmering anger towards his captors, Alexi gradually develops a grudging respect for them. As the Greeks fight off the angry Cicones, weather a storm that pushes them far beyond charted waters, and nearly succumb to the blandishments of the bewitching Lotus-eaters, he realizes that they are not the demons they were said to be, but people like himself.

At the same time, Alexi's quick thinking, bravery, and the healing skills that he learned from his father prove to his captors that he is no ordinary slave. His key role in their escape from the Cyclops earns the respect of his master, Odysseus, and a striking discovery during their escape gives his life a newfound purpose.

Straddling the boundary between historical fiction and mythology, Torn from Troy is written in a hard, realistic style and brings to life the travails of a bronze-age slave of the Greeks in a form that will appeal especially to teen boys. While this book is the first volume of the author's Odyssey of a Slave trilogy, it is a compelling and fully-realized work on its own.

It goes without saying that Torn From Troy has a great storyline because it is adapted from one of the greatest ever adventure stories, Homer's Odyssey. However, author Patrick Bowman has cleverly reinvented the tale by telling from the point of view of a Trojan boy. Through his eyes, the all- conquering Greeks are not the typical heroes of legend, but brutal louts who have destroyed his home and his family. I enjoyed how this approach made even Odysseus appear real and human.

Torn From Troy is a YA novel and Bowman takes the opportunity to include lots of fascinating description of life in Troy, in the Greek siege camp, and on the boats. Obviously elements such as the Cyclops are fantasy, but nicely blended with factual information too so this book is also a history lesson that doesn't feel like learning!

My download was via AudioSYNC, published by Post Hypnotic Press. I know the same narrator has recorded the next two for them too and I hope they are available via Audible as I want to continue this journey.

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Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Sutanto

Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Sutanto

Published by HQ on the 29th March 2022.

One of my WorldReads From Indonesia

How I got this book: I received a copy of this book from its publishers via NetGalley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com / Libro

The Book Depository / Waterstones

The laugh-out-loud new novel from the bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties, winner of the Comedy Women In Print Prize 2021

It’s supposed to be the perfect day…

After getting away with literal murder, Meddy can’t wait to settle down and marry the love of her life, Nathan. She’s found the dress, got the dream venue at Christ Church College, Oxford, plus having a destination wedding comes with the added bonus of not having to invite her very large extended family.

…But is it even a wedding if nobody gets killed?

Although when her meddling aunties get involved, Meddy knows her wedding is going to be anything but quiet. Even though there’s no dead body hidden in the freezer this time, for better or worse, it’s certainly going to be a day she’s never going to forget…

I should start this review by confessing that I haven't yet actually read Dial A For Aunties, the prequel to Four Aunties And A Wedding, however I don't think that negatively affected my enjoyment of this second book in the series. Events in the first book are referenced, but also briefly explained so I soon felt as though I was up to speed and had a good grasp of what was going on - well, as good a grasp as any of the characters do anyway! Four Aunties And A Wedding is a classic farce of misunderstandings, miscommunication and glaring social faux pas, given a fabulously Chinese-Indonesian makeover. I loved Jesse Sutanto's larger than life Aunt characters and the intense sibling rivalry between them is brilliantly portrayed. Their behaviours provide much of the humour throughout the novel and I particularly appreciated how Sutanto made them funny, but never figures of fun. It's a fine line of distinction and I was impressed with how deftly she wrote the four roles.

I was a little less enamoured of bride-to-be Meddelin. I understood that she couldn't be as over the top as her aunts, but at times her vacillating and repeated refusals to just talk to Nathan did irritate me. The total implausibility of some of the plot points also detracted from my enjoyment. That said, the initial premise is daft, but fun and the Aunts charge across each page rarely allowing readers the chance to draw breath. Their 'British' accents are an inspired touch and the culture clash between the bride's and groom's families is cringeworthily painful to witness. I could easily feel how cold the atmosphere became. I'm really pleased to have discovered Sutanto's writing now and will certainly pick up the first Aunties book when I see one. Four Aunties And A Wedding is a good escapist read that I think would brighten anyone's day.

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Ghosts Of Spring by Luis Carrasco

Ghosts Of Spring by Luis Carrasco
Published by Epoque Press today, the 24th March 2022.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Waterstones

The Book Depository

A young girl, anonymous and ignored, sits through a cold, hard west-country winter, scrounging for change and a warm place to sleep. Ghosts of Spring explores one girl's desire to transcend the limits of her environment and forge a new life against all the odds.

I was blown away by Luis Carrasco's new novel, Ghosts Of Spring, and am so grateful to Epoque Press for offering me a review copy to read. Carrasco repeats the stunning portraiture he achieved with his debut novella, El Hacho, but this time depicting the bitterly harsh realities of life on the streets through an English winter.

Ghosts Of Spring is an emotionally powerful novel to experience, yet it is not entirely grim and depressing. I loved the anonymous girl at its heart who appears to have lost absolutely everyone and everything, save for the few items she carries in a small bag, but she has determination and, most importantly, can still hope when an opportunity presents itself. As readers, we see the city through her eyes, meeting the other similarly anonymous homeless people to whom she gives descriptive nicknames, but never actually seeks to get to know. This idea of unknown people in plain sight runs throughout Ghosts Of Spring. The girl feels frequently invisible to the mass of shoppers and commuters passing by her cardboard mat except for the rare occasions when she might awaken to find a hot drink left at her side, the invisibility reversed for just a moment.

I'm now a firm fan of Luis Carrasco's writing. His prose here is achingly poetic and gorgeously descriptive. Its contrasting of city and rural landscapes reminded me why I so much prefer to be out in nature. If you're looking out for powerful contemporary fiction which doesn't pull any punches and has a lot to say about present-day English society, Ghosts Of Spring is absolutely the novel for you.

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The Simple Case For Going Vegan by Magnus Vinding + Free Book

The Simple Case For Going Vegan by Magnus Vinding

Self published in 2014.

A Book With a Vegan

How I got this book:

Downloaded from Smashwords

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Smashwords (free)

Amazon UK (free) / Amazon.com

This two-part essay argues that a vegan lifestyle is implied by core human values that we all share. The first part presents a simple argument for veganism based on an ethical principle we all hold valid, while the second part argues that veganism follows directly from a rejection of unjustifiable discrimination. In particular, it follows from a commitment to not discriminate against individuals based merely on their external appearance.

This second of the Magnus Vinding philosophical books I have read, The Simple Case For Going Vegan, is a concise essay which was a much easier read for me than the previous tome, Suffering-Focused Ethics. The Simple Case For Going Vegan puts across the argument that, as a healthy vegan diet is perfectly possible, why would anyone choose to inflict cruelty just to make meals? If shooting a tiger for fun is socially unacceptable, why is shooting a pig for palate pleasure considered ok? I found it impossible to counter Vinding's well-reasoned essay and just hope I can recall enough of his clarity next time an anti-vegan troll starts sneering.

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Gun Love by Jennifer Clement

Gun Love by Jennifer Clement

Published by Vintage Digital on the 12th April 2018.

How I got this book:

Borrowed from a friend

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

Gun Love is a hypnotic story of family, community and violence. Told from the perspective of a sharp-eyed teenager, it exposes America's love affair with firearms and its painful consequences.

'My mother called anyone or anything that seemed alone, or ended up in the wrong place, a stray. There were stray people, stray dogs, stray bullets, and stray butterflies.'

Fourteen-year-old Pearl France lives in the front seat of a broken down car and her mother Margot lives in the back. Together they survive on a diet of powdered milk and bug spray, love songs and stolen cigarettes. 

Life on the edge of a Florida trailer park is strange enough, but when Pastor Rex's 'Guns for God' programme brings Eli Redmond to town Pearl's world is upended. Eli pays regular visits to Margot in the back seat, forcing Pearl to find a world beyond the car. Margot is given a gift by Eli, a gun of her own, just like he's given her flowers. It sits under the driver's seat, a dark presence...

Despite this novel having been highly recommended by the friend who lent me her copy, I put off reading Gun Love for quite a while because, I think, its title led me to believe the story would have a somewhat different slant. As it turned out, however, Gun Love is neither a pro nor anti-gun novel. It simply witnesses their influence on the lives of a fringe community in a small Florida town. 

I loved our narrator, fourteen-year-old Pearl, who is, in some ways, wise beyond her years and, in others, painfully naive. The idea that she had spent her entire life living in a ramshackle car with her mother seemed incredible to me (even though I've spent most of the past four years living in a campervan!). Clement portrays this existence so plausibly though and Pearl's observations on the minutiae of her surroundings made each page wonderfully vivid. I could feel that extreme Florida humidity! I appreciated how Clement keeps the narrative mostly in the present so, while we are given an outline of how Pearl's mother came to live in her car, the focus of this story is very much on Pearl's coming of age. From a wilful teenager concerned primarily with whether she might be able to steal a cigarette that day, she suddenly has to grow up fast and details of the neighbouring trailer park, which seemed innocuous in early chapters, take on a darker and more threatening significance.

Gun Love is certainly a captivating novel, all the more memorable because I could easily believe in the truths at its heart and that there are genuinely people living in similar situations. The prose is sharp and the fairly large font size in the paperback edition made this feel a fast-paced read. Pearl's story is bitterly poignant, yet not without hope and I'm glad to have finally experienced this acclaimed novel for myself.

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	Vintage Florida  Alligator Thermometer by Starling Furnishings Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Jennifer Clement / Contemporary fiction / Books from Mexico

The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies by Raynelda A Calderon + Giveaway

 

Join Us for this Tour:  March 1 to March 21, 2022

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies by Raynelda A. Calderon
Category:  Children's Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12​)
Genre:  Children's Book
Publisher:  Cayena Press, Inc., 48 pages
Release date:   March 2022
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for all readers.

 

 

 

Book Description:
​
​Born in a small town in the Dominican Republic, the Mirabal sisters lived at a time when the country was under the merciless rule of a dictatorship. Their deaths on November 25, 1960 (at ages 36, 34, and 25), have received international coverage. In their honor, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually on November 25.

 Buy the Book:
Amazon.com ~ Amazon UK
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

​Raynelda A. Calderón, a Dominican native who lives in Queens, NY, is a children’s book author who has worked in public libraries for more than 15 years. She holds a doctorate in leadership in higher education, and she has taught Information Literacy at various colleges, most recently at Bronx Community College. As a librarian, working with children inspires Raynelda to write about the accomplishments of Hispanic women in history. She hopes to inspire young readers to follow their passions and never take no for an answer. Raynelda is the creator of the first Hispanic Heritage wall calendar that honors the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans in the United States. She lives with an untamed Shih Tzu, Toby, and a much attached Chihuahua, Maya. She spends her free time thinking (and drafting) about books to write, or painting, crocheting, or crying over abused dogs.

connect with the author:
author's website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads​ 

 

Tour Schedule:

Mar 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Mar 1 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 1 - Kam's Place – book spotlight
Mar 2 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Mar 2 - Lynchburg Reads – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 3 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Mar 3 - A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / guest post / giveaway  
Mar 3 - Deborah-Zenha Adams - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Mar 7 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Mar 8 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 9 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Mar 10 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 11 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight /guest post / giveaway
Mar 14 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Mar 15 – bujos_n_books – book review / giveaway
Mar 16 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Mar 17 – @twilight_reader – book review
Mar 18 – Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Mar 21 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

Win a signed hardback copy  of The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies (one winner/USA only) (ends Mar 28)

The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies Book Tour Giveaway

 

Etsy Find!
	Mirabal Sisters  portrait by Tiny Studio Paris Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Raynelda A Calderon / Biography and Memoir / Books from the Dominican Republic 

Postcards from Beyond Reality by Bernard Jan

Postcards From Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels by Bernard Jan
Published by Bernard Jan today, the 20th March 2022.

Featured on my vegan book blog, HirlGrend

How I got this book: Received a review copy from the author

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazon.com / Amazon UK

His life has been a cocktail of melancholy, sorrow, and desire. When a skateboarder dips his pen into poetry, what will his passion create?

After a lifetime of abuse and the tragic loss of his mother, NYC teen Michael Daniels needed an outlet. Despite his cheerful nature, his inner mind was teeming with the stark contrast of darkness and light. So, in this volume full of imagery and symbolism, his underground rhymes reflect days full of extreme sports, failed relationships, and nostalgic memories.

Written by Bernard Jan in character as the hero from his novel Cruel Summer, this channeled view of the world is an extravaganza of extremes. And in its groundbreaking perspectives, you’ll discover the cries of a heart longing to be understood.

Buy this book of poetry and feel Michael’s passion through these unusual literary postcards.

I will admit that, when I was first offered a review copy of Postcards From Beyond Reality, I wasn't sure how well the project would work out. I knew how convincingly Bernard Jan had managed to inhabit Michael Daniel's personality within the novel Cruel Summer, but to repeat the feat for a whole poetry collection did seem ambitious to say the least. I should have had more faith!

I loved being given deeper insights into Michael's character through his poetry. It often felt as though I was surreptitiously reading his journal or diary instead. The work is so personal yet also addresses universal themes, particularly those that are important to young people. On remembering how the events of Cruel Summer affected Michael, I could see echoes within the poems however I don't think it is necessary to have already read the novel in order to appreciate Postcards From Beyond Reality. The two works are very much companions rather than a series so I can imagine that it would be just as rewarding to experience Michael's poetry before learning more about his life.

P.S. It's not often that I'm up on reading trends, but I spotted, on the day after Bernard Jan announced Postcards From Beyond Reality was available for pre-order, that it was already the #1 New Release in Amazon.com's Teen & Young Adult Poetry eBooks category!

Etsy Find!
	Recycled Skateboard  Wooden Bead Bracelet by SESHNOTSTIGMA Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Bernard Jan / Poetry / Books from Croatia

Shards Of Time by Mitos Suson

Shards Of Time by Mitos Suson
Self published on the 6th August 2021.

How I got this book:

Received a review copy from the publisher via Story Origin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amazon UK / Amazon.com

The Book Depository / Waterstones

Shards of Time traces the steps of Mita Zara, a young girl whose father was captured and sent to prison during the Martial Law era in the Philippines. As Mita tries to glue the family together, she learns that life is uncertain and nothing will ever be the same. Unable to face her past demons, Mita runs away as far as possible only to discover that the past continues to haunt her. Shards of Time is a family saga that spells unconditional love, voices the sentiments of despair, and most of all unlocks the heart to forgive.

I chose to read Shards Of Time when I spotted review copies available via Story Origin. I was intrigued to learn more about the tumultuous Martial Law period of Philippines history and thought reading the words of someone who was actually there at the time would be a good way to do so. As it turns out, Shards Of Time is not actually a memoir per se, but is described as 'creative nonfiction' i.e. there is truth in the story being told, but 'some areas have been fictionalized to heighten the story'. The end result for me was a very readable book that gives powerful insights into everyday life for the central Zara family and how that life was irreparably disrupted by the patriarch's arrest and imprisonment. It was impossible not to feel strongly for young Mita. Her bewilderment and confusion are reflected in the way Shards Of Time jumps around in time and I thought this was an effective device for illustrating the mental turmoil our narrator experiences. The book also clearly shows the long-term effects of such a childhood trauma with Mita still suffering decades later. I didn't always get on well with changes in Suson's prose style as the book progresses, however I felt I got a good sense of the events portrayed. It must have taken a lot of courage for Suson to revisit such a painful time.

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	Cebu coffee mug by Pinoy Proud Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Mitos Suson / Historical fiction / Books from the Philippines