martedì 31 dicembre 2019

2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge



Hosted by Amy over at Passages to the Past

Rules:
  • Everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section back at Passages to the Past if you wish)
  • Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky added each month at Passages to the Past (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide readers directly to your review)
  • Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st 2020 and there are six different levels to choose from:

20th century Reader  - 2 books
Victorian Reader        - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval                   - 15 books
Ancient History          - 25 books
Prehistoric                 - 50+ books

I'm signing up at the Ancient History level (25 books)

2020 Reading Assignment Challenge



hosted by Berls and Michelle @ Because Reading

Register for your spring semester reading assignment classes!
This year you’ll be registering for classes that fit your reading goals. And the best part? You’re only registering for a semester at a time!
The spring semester is January – April 2020. You’ll come back in April to register for your summer classes (May-August 2020). You’ll do your spring report card the second week of May.
You’ll be back again in August to register for your fall classes (September – December). You’ll do your summer report card the second week of September.
Finally, check back in December to register for the next year! You’ll do your year end report card the second week of January 2020.
Final Exams
Anyone who’s ever been a college student knows that there’s a crazy week at the end of every semester where you cram like crazy to make up for all the times you fell behind over the semester. That final exam (or paper) is your chance to make it right.
So we’ve added a bonus week at the end of every semester for you to cram. Missed a month? Catch up over this week! Whatever you can cram into this week will count and fix the month(s) you messed up.
Meet your professors
You can register for the same classes all year if you want, but you can also switch it up, depending on your life and goals. You can even choose to take a semester or two off!
Professor AuthorLuv
Professor AuthorLuv used to have her own school, where her students we’re required to pick a favorite author and commit to reading all their books over the course of a year (aka The AuthorLuv Challenge). She’s decided to make her life a little easier and just host some classes here instead. She still wants you to pick a favorite author and commit to reading a certain number of books by that author each month, but she’s letting you set your number based on the level course you sign up for.
AuthorLuv Beginner Class (credits: 1) – In the beginner’s course your committing to reading one book a month by your chosen author. You’ll get an A if you read 1 book by that author all 5 months, a B if you read 1 book 4 of the months, a C if you read 1 book 3 of the months, and a D if you read 1 book 2 of the months. Professor AuthorLuv will have to give you an F for anything less.
Professor Genre
Professor Genre is all about choosing a genre/theme. For his classes you’ll commit to reading a certain number of books from one genre each month. Choose your level course to sign up for the number of books you’ll read each month. (theme can be anything from Christmas to reading books with the letter P in the title)
Genre Beginner Class (credits: 1) – In the beginner’s course your committing to reading one book a month in your chosen genre/theme. You’ll get an A if you read 1 book in that genre all 5 months, a B if you read 1 book 4 of the months, a C if you read 1 book 3 of the months, and a D if you read 1 book 2 of the months. Professor Genre will have to give you an F for anything less.
Professor Mix-It-Up
Professor Mix-It-Up wants you to have the freedom to mix-it-up. For her courses you’ll commit to reading a certain number of books from a list that you create in the first month of the course. She’s giving you a lot of freedom; The books can be any genre, any author, any format! But you have to have your list completed and posted by January 31, 2020 and you have to stick to it. Choose your level course to sign up for the number of books you’ll read each month.
Mix-It-Up Beginner Class (credits: 1) – In the beginner’s course your committing to reading one book a month from your list. You’ll get an A if you read 1 book from the list all 5 months, a B if you read 1 book 4 of the months, a C if you read 1 book 3 of the months, and a D if you read 1 book 2 of the months. Professor Mix-It-Up will have to give you an F for anything less.
Professor Ann Thology
Like Professor AuthorLuv, Professor Ann Thology once had her own challenge (A Year in Anthologies), but realized she’d be happier joining these professors than trying to go it solo. Professor Ann Thology works with students who have a tendency to grab those great deals on anthologies, with multiple books in one book… and then forget about them. She’s determined that those purchases will no longer be a waste. Her class is a bit more challenging, because 1 book is actually multiple, but she believes in her students ability to do it. Plus, they get to read shorter books and multiple authors all in one!
Anthology Beginner Class (credits: 1) – In the beginner’s course your committing to reading one anthology a month. You’ll get an A if you read 1 anthology all 5 months, a B if you read 1 anthology 4 of the months, a C if you read 1 anthology 3 of the months, and a D if you read 1 anthology 2 of the months. Professor Ann Thology will have to give you an F for anything less.
There are actually an intermediate and an advanced class for each professor where you can double or triple your classwork and credits.

I'm signing up for Professor Mix-It-Up at the advanced class. That's four books a month for four months. 
I'm signing up for Professor Author Luv at the beginner class, my author is Philippa Gregory
I'm signing up for Professor Genre at the beginner class, my genre is classic

My List

January

1. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
2.The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 
3. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 


February

1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
2. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
3. Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes


March

1.Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
2. The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
3. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

April

1. Love Letters by Katie Fforde
2. Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
3. The Lake House by Kate Morton



2020 FINISHING THE SERIES READING CHALLENGE



Hosted by : Celebrity Readers

This challenge is focused on finally finishing those series that you’ve started but not yet completed. 

  • The challenge will run from January 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2020.  Books must be read during this time frame to count.  Sign up is open from now until December 1st, 2020, so you may join even just for the last month of the year.
  • Series can be already completed as well as still ongoing.  For ongoing series, the goal is to catch up to the most recent book published by the end of 2020.
  • We don’t care if you have only 1 book or 10 books to read in order to finish your series, as long as you’ve started the series before 2020 (ie read at least one book in the series), it counts.  Re-reads are not required.
  • Any format and length of book counts – print, ebook, audio, ARC, etc.
  • Series can be any length (even if it’s just a Duet).
  • Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable!
  • Reviews are not required, but highly encouraged.

There are 3 levels for this challenge:
  • C-List Series Finisher- complete 1 to 4 series
  • B-List Series Finisher- complete 5 to 8 series
  • A-List Series Finisher- complete 9+ series
 My goal


Release Blitz &Giveaway: Unfinished Sympathy by Amélie S. Duncan.




Title: Unfinished Sympathy
Series: Absolution #1
Author: Amélie S. Duncan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 30, 2019



Blurb

A symphony of passion and desire…

Aubrey Irving has music in her heart. Once a violin prodigy at the prestigious Juilliard, family issues and money problems forced her to give up her dreams. Now she struggles as an audio engineer for a hot new video game developer.

Then she met Paul…

Handsome, gifted, wealthy…At twenty-eight years old, Paul Crane seems to have it all. He’s made a fortune as a modern commercial composer. But he longs to show the world that there’s more to his music than trendy, disposable tunes.

An impromptu audition awakens a yearning deep inside their hearts. But just as the sparks begin to fly, they both find themselves pulling away…

Aubrey has a dark and troubled past. Paul has a history of crossing the line with his clients. The last thing either of them wants is another temptation.

Can these two artists unlock their hearts, and compose a symphony of passion? Or will their love song fade out before it even begins?





Purchase Links

$2.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






Author Bio

Amélie S. Duncan writes contemporary romances. Whether writing in the erotic, sports, or dark genres, all of her stories at the heart are character-driven. Her inspiration comes from many sources, including her life experiences and travels. She lives on the West Coast of the United States with her awesome husband and her sweet golden retriever Rosco. 




Author Links

sabato 21 dicembre 2019

2020 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge



Hosted by Carol at Carol's Notebook.

  • You can read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres.
  • You don’t need a blog to participate but you do need a place to post your reviews to link up (blog, goodreads, booklikes, shelfari, etc.)
  • You make a goal post and link it back to the sign-up page with your goal for this challenge (which is this post here)
  • Books need to be novellas or novels, please no short stories. (At least 100 pages +)
  • Crossovers into other challenges  are fine
  • The Challenge will  be from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st (Sign up ends March 15th)
There will be a monthly link up so that others can check out your progress and look at your reviews. At the halfway mark and at the end there will be a giveaway for those participating.
As with all good challenges there are levels based on how much you read / can commit to:
  • 5-15 books – Amateur sleuth
  • 16-25 books – Detective
  • 26-35 books – Inspector
  • 36 – 55 – Special agent
  • 56+ books – Sherlock Holmes
 I am signing up for the Inspector level, which is 26-35 books.

sabato 9 novembre 2019

Review & Giveaway: Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey


Apple Cider Slaying 

(A Cider Shop Mystery)

by Julie Anne Lindsey

About Apple Cider Slaying

 
Cozy Mystery 
1st in Series 
Kensington (October 29, 2019) 
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496723473 
ISBN-13: 978-1496723475 
Digital ASIN: B07NCQPSVW 
Apples are at the core of the family business run by Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe. But this year’s crop is unseasonably ripe with murder . . .
ONE ROTTEN APPLE
Blossom Valley, West Virginia, is home to Smythe Orchards, Winnie and her Granny’s beloved twenty-five-acre farm and family business. But any way you slice it, it’s struggling. That’s why they’re trying to drum up business with the “First Annual Christmas at the Orchard,” a good old-fashioned holiday festival with enough delicious draw to satisfy apple-picking locals and cider-loving tourists alike—until the whole endeavor takes a sour turn when the body of Nadine Cooper, Granny’s long-time, grudge-holding nemesis, is found lodged in the apple press. Now, with Granny the number one suspect, Winnie is hard-pressed to prove her innocence before the real killer delivers another murder . .
Includes Recipes!
My Review
The cover, the plot, the setting prompted me to read this story and I wasn't disappointed. Apples, orchards, Christmas, family, murder how can you not love this story.
Winnie tries to save the family business by creating new apple cider and opening a shop to sell them. To do this they need funding but a corpse is found in the cider press which is the grandmother's number one enemy and Granny is the biggest suspect. Winnie has to investigate to save her grandmother and their orchard, irritating, however, the sheriff and the murderer.
Winnie is a great protagonist, she loves her family and their orchard, she has a wonderful relationship with her grandmother and she misses her grandfather who is no longer there. She is very sweet but also determined, intelligent. I also like her relationship with the sheriff especially as it changes throughout history.
It's written very well, there's a lot of suspense, twists and lots of little clues. I loved the setting this small rural town full of gossip but also of friendly and welcoming people.
Great debut for this new series, I can't wait to read the new adventures of Winona and her grandmother and above all I hope for new tasty recipes to try.
If you love cozy mysteries, apple cider and small rural communities this is the perfect book for you




About Julie Anne Lindsey


Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. When she's not creating new worlds and organizing the epic adventures of fictional characters, Julie can be found carpooling her three kids around Northeastern Ohio and plotting with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
Author Links
Visit her online at www.JulieAnneLindsey.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JulieAnneLindseyAuthor/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JulieALindsey
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/juliealindsey/

  Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - GooglePlay - Indie Bound 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 1 - Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 1 - I Read What You Write – GUEST POST
November 1 - That's What She's Reading - SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
November 1 - Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 2 - Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 2 - Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 2 - Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW
November 2 - Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
November 3 – Diary of a Book Fiend - REVIEW
November 3 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW
November 3 – My Reading Journeys – GUEST POST
November 3 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
November 4 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
November 4 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 5 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
November 5 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
November 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 5 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
November 6 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
November 6 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
November 6 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
November 6 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 7 – This Is My Truth Now – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 7 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
November 7 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
November 8 – Melina's Book Blog - REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 8 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW
November 8 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
                                                             

venerdì 8 novembre 2019

Review & Giveaway: Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper by D.E. Haggerty



Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper

 (Death by Cupcake) 

by D.E. Haggerty

About Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper

 
Cozy Mystery Novella 
4th in Series 
Independently Published (November 1, 2019) 
Number of Pages: 80
ASIN: B07XMF4L35

It’s all candy cane cupcakes and peppermint coffee until you find a dead elf on your doorstep.
Only the elf wasn’t a real elf, because elves don’t actually exist – not even at Christmas time. A college student dressed like an elf decided taking a nap in sub-zero winter temps was a good idea. It wasn’t. Anna, the pink-haired baker extraordinaire of Callie’s Cakes, is convinced the student’s death was not an accident. She drags Callie and Kristie along with her as she attempts to discover who killed the elf … um… student.
Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the killer before Christmas is ruined?
Cupcakes not included, although you’ll find recipes for all the delicious Christmas cupcakes Anna baked.
My Review
It was a short but very funny read, there are some hilarious scenes.
Anna, Callie and Kristie are very busy producing cupcakes and cookies for the holiday season when they find an elf on their door. At first they think he's drunk but they soon find out he's dead. He's a Callie student and he goes to Kristie's college but they don't know him so well. When the autopsy reveals that it was a murder, Anna cannot help but investigate even if she is overwhelmed with work. And her friends - colleagues can't leave her alone.
I really enjoyed reading about the relationship of the three women with their overprotective boyfriends. Although Callie is not having a good time with Ben. Anna is a stubborn and determined woman, Kristie is sweet and romantic.
I loved every single page, every chapter starts with a request to Santa and is full of delicious sweets, I have been mouth-watering from beginning to end. There is mystery, humor, romance, nothing is missing.
I can't wait to try the cupcake recipes
I recommend it to those who love cozy mysteries, cupcakes and short and fun stories

About D.E. Haggerty


I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom's Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn't flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Author links
Website: http://dehaggerty.wordpress.com
Blog: https://dehaggerty.wordpress.com/category/mymusings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dehaggerty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dehaggerty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dehaggerty/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/D.E.-Haggerty/e/B00ECQBURU/
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/027b2768aa1c/newsletter-sign-up-for-a-writers-life-by-de-haggerty
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/denahaggerty/
Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-e-haggerty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-e-haggerty-4b49a29/

  Purchase Links Amazon Goodreads

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 1 - I Read What You Write – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 1 - Baroness' Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 - FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 - My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 2 - The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 3 – Celticlady's Reviews – REVIEW
November 3 – LibriAmoriMiei - REVIEW
November 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
November 4 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 5 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 5 – Laura's interests – REVIEW
November 6 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW November 6 – Book Babble – REVIEW
November 6 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – RECIPE, SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – Books Direct - REVIEW
November 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
                                       
                                                  

sabato 2 novembre 2019

Review & Giveaway:Beware the East Wind by Barbara Barrett

Beware the East Wind

 (The Mah Jongg Mysteries) 

by Barbara Barrett

About Beware the East Wind

 
Cozy Mystery 
4th in Series
Bowker (August 17, 2019)
Paperback: 254 pages 
ISBN-10: 1948532182 
ISBN-13: 978-1948532181 
Digital ASIN: B07WJ7KYSW

Beware the east wind! It’s hurricane season in Florida, and everyone’s attention is focused on preparing for the latest tempest. But in Serendipity Springs, mah jongg pals Marianne, Sydney, Micki and Kat are caught in a different kind of whirlwind—a mesmerizing murder case involving a slain hypnotist/chef and the woman police suspect of doing her in, her embittered catering partner, Portia.
My Review
 was happy to read a new adventure of these four very nice friends. This time they have to solve a murder in the complicated hurricane period
Marianne neglects her friends a little, is often late and lost in her thoughts because of her plays. While Kat is neglected a little by Rick, the sheriff, who has to work overtime for a murder that took place in the city. The dead woman is Alice the hypnotist that Kat and her friends had seen the night before the murder at a fund-raising dinner.
It can be read as stand alone even if it is the fourth book in the series and even if you don't know Mah Jongg
It was a pleasant read, with lovable and realistic characters, a fascinating setting and a well written and engaging plot



About the Author


Barbara Barrett started reading mysteries when she was pregnant with her first child to keep her mind off things like her changing body and food cravings. When she’d devoured as many Agatha Christies as she could find, she branched out to English village cozies and Ellery Queen.
Later, to avoid a midlife crisis, she began writing fiction at night when she wasn’t at her day job as a human resources analyst for Iowa State Government. After releasing eleven full-length romance novels and one novella, she returned to the cozy mystery genre, using one of her retirement pastimes, the game of mah jongg, as her inspiration. Not only has it been a great social outlet, it has also helped keep her mind active when not writing.
Bamboozled, the second book in her “Mah Jongg Mystery” series, features four friends who play mah jongg together and share otherwise in each other’s lives. None of the four is based on an actual person. Each is an amalgamation of several mah jongg friends with a lot of Barbara’s imagination thrown in for good measure. The four will continue to appear in future books in the series.
Anticipating the day when she would write her first mystery, she has been a member of the Mystery/Romantic Suspense chapter of Romance Writers of America for over a decade. She credits them with helping her hone her craft.
Barbara is married to the man she met her senior year of college. They have two grown children and eight grandchildren.
Author Links
Website – http://www.barbarabarrettbooks.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-Barrett-Author-1678443865812386/
Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbarrettbooks
Pinterest – pinterest.com/barbarabarrett7
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8181756.Barbara_Barrett
Subscribe Cozy Newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/BBCozies
Purchase Links Amazon B&N 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 24 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 24 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 25 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST
October 25 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 26 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Diane Reviews Books – GUEST POST
October 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
October 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW
October 28 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHTS
October 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
October 29 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 30 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
October 30 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
October 30 – Island Confidential - SPOTLIGHT
October 31 – The Book Diva's Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 31 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 - A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 1 - LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
November 1 - Readeropolis – GUEST POST
November 2 - fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 - MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
                                               

mercoledì 30 ottobre 2019

Release Blitz & Giveaway of Soul Bound II: The Wounded by Jas T. Ward

Soul Bound II: The Wounded

by Jas T. Ward 
Publication Date: October 30, 2019
  Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy, Gothic Romance

Cheat death and price is your life. Happiness… Jace Camden believed he had finally seized hold of that elusive concept. His life was brimming with love, friendship, and peace. Not only had he faced the demons of his past, he beat Death at its own game. Or so he thought... But when a woman Jace has never met wakes from a coma long enough to carve his name into her flesh, the “Dead Man’s Crew” is called to Ohio to investigate the case. Can the Soul Warrior save an innocent stranger from the deadly secret she is shackled to? Or will the icy talons of Death finally claim their long awaited prize? This time there is far more than life on the line, and Death… still doesn’t give a f*@k. Soul Bound is not just about the Happily Ever After… It’s about Surviving the Read. Again.

Also in the Series:

About Jas T. Ward

Born and raised in Texas, Ward is a mixed bag of creativity spinning tales of paranormal, urban fantasy and even dark romance and horror; wrapped within a love story. She’s been dared to write a few contemporary romances but even those reads have characters that are real and twisted by their creator. Mother of three diverse and independent bold children, Ward prides herself for being the “Queen Niche’ Bitch” which is a handy way of saying she sucks writing to market. But her readers don’t seem to mind.

domenica 20 ottobre 2019

Review & Giveaway: Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide by Lois Winston




Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide 

(An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)

by Lois Winston

 

About Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide

 
Cozy Mystery 
8th in Series
Independently Published 
Print Length: 212 pages 
Digital ASIN: B07VG2QZXV

Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend (and possible spy) Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.
In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?
Christmas craft projects included.
My Review
Christmas, cozy mystery, craft, how can I not love this book? Humor, twists and turns, adorable characters make this story truly engaging from the first to the last page.
Anastasia Pollack is a widow, her husband left her full of debts. The only positive note was Zack, her tenant who, in addition to bringing her an income, brought a little joy to her heart. Her most recent problem is her half brother-in-law Ira who makes her find a house full of Christmas lights that seems to be at the Rockefeller Center. When she tries to bring back his decorations she finds his house exaggeratedly full of lights, Christmas decorations and with deafening music and Ira surrounded by angry neighbors, one of whom hits him with a fist. The next morning Anastasia returns to finally leave the Grinch and the other characters but finds a corpse in Ira's sled. Ira is obviously the biggest suspect. Will Anastasia succeed in not investigating how she has promised his sons?
I loved Anastasia because she isn't a woman with super powers but a simple person with her flaws and her limits. She has two sons, a boyfriend Zack, a perfidious eighty-year-old communist mother-in-law with her terrible dog Mefisto, a troublemaker half brother-in-law.
I loved every page of this story, it's fun, fast paced with lots of humor, Christmas atmosphere, suspense, brilliant dialogues.
Although it is the eighth book of the series you can read it easily as a standalone, I had no problems.
This book is perfect for those who love Christmas and cozy mysteries.




About Lois Winston


USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick-lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.
Author Links
Website: www.loiswinston.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston

  Purchase Links - Amazon - Kobo - iTunes - Nook
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 15 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
October 15 – Babs Book Bistro – CRAFT POST - Reading Is My SuperPower
October 16 – Brooke Blogs – CRAFT POST
October 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
October 18 – Hearts & Scribbles – GUEST POST
October 18 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
October 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 21 - Here's How It Happened – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 22 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
October 23 – Laura's Interests – SPOTLIGHT
October 23 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW
October 23 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 24 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
October 25 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 27 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST
                                                   
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...