Book Tour and Review: Cranberry Bluff by Deborah Garner

How far is far enough to get away from your past?

Title: Cranberry Bluff

Author: Deborah Garner

Publisher:Cranberry Cove Press; November 21, 2014

Book Description: Molly Elliott’s quiet life in Tallahassee, Florida, is disrupted when routine errands land her in the wrong place at the wrong time: the middle of a bank robbery.

Accused and cleared of the crime, she flees both media attention and mysterious, threatening notes, to move across the country to Cranberry Cove, where she has inherited her Aunt Maggie’s bed and breakfast on the Northern California coast. Her new beginning is peaceful – that is, until five guests show up at the inn for a weekend, each with a hidden agenda.

Mix together one blushing honeymoon couple, one flamboyant boutique owner, a deadpan traveling salesman, and a charmingly handsome novelist, and there’s more than scones cooking at Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast. As true motives become apparent, will Molly’s past come back to haunt her or will she finally be able to leave it behind?

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My Review:

Cranberry Cove sounds like a place I would visit and I would definitely stay at Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast. On whole this was a good read. It was a bit tedious in a few place with a lot of descriptions but I still found it enjoyable to read.

The story is about Molly, a bed and breakfast inn owner who is trying to make a new life for herself after involuntarily being involved in a bank robbery. Life seems to be settling in for her until five guest show up. Five guests who are out for something other than a relaxing vacation in Cranberry Cove.

Mr. Charlie Miller was my favorite character. He was odd, reclusive and oh so O.C.D, he reminded me of one of my favorite detectives on tv, MONK. The other characters included Susie and Dan, the newlywed, Sadie, the wealthy boutique owner, I envied her ability to literally shop till she dropped! And then there was Bryce, a single, flirtatious novelist. While Miller was my favorite guest, the others were also well written and added their own charm and wit to the story. Each character is somehow connected to Molly and each other. The plots and twists throughout the story kept me on my toes (well, actually my bum) and reading on. I was pleasantly entertained and pleased with the ending. Kudos to the author. I did NOT see that coming! :D

Oh. Oh. Oh........

There are recipes at the end of the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doubly awesome!!!! :D

Book Blog Tour: Ruby Heart by Christelle Comby

Ruby Heart

When elderly client Doris Hargrave informs private investigator Alexandra Neve that her beloved antique ruby heart necklace has gone missing for the second time in a period of over sixty years, Alexandra knows this is no ordinary jewellery theft. The ruby heart is a family heirloom and the only thing that connects an ailing Mrs Hargrave to her parents, who were murdered during the Holocaust. To solve the case, Alexandra and her business partner, blind history professor Ashford Egan, must sift through obscure Holocaust documents to find out the truth. It’s that way that they learn of a secret World War II-era love affair which could hold the key to all the answers they are looking for. Meanwhile, Egan is under immense pressure from the university to quit his private investigating business, and Alexandra is afraid that a man she trusts will leave her. Again. When Alexandra begins to receive anonymous threats and her flat is vandalized, this all becomes personal. Knowing that there is someone out there to hurt her, Alexandra vows to find that elusive ruby heart if it’s the last thing she ever does.

My  Review:

Alexandra is a struggling PI with a blind university professor as her assistant. Most of her cases range from missing pets to cheating spouses. All of which barely pays her bills. She longs for a real case. She gets it in the form of an elderly woman who's heirloom, a ruby heart necklace is stolen, for the second time in a period of sixty years. This necklace is no ordinary piece of jewelry. It has a historical connection to the holocaust era. In order to solve the case of the stolen necklace, Alexandra and her partner, Ashford, delve into the past to figure out who stole it the first time. Her investigation lands her in a lot of trouble. When her home is sacked, her family threatened, and the only evidence she has linking the past thief to the recent one, Alexandra knows she is close to the truth.

Ruby Heart is the second book in the Neve and Egan series. Having not read the first book in the series, I was afraid I would miss a lot but I was pleasantly surprised that while sometimes references were made to incidents in the first book, they did not confuse or hamper the story line in Ruby Heart. I love a good detective story and this one has been added to my list. I have to admit, I was worried how a blind character could possibly be of any use to a PI but I loved Ash in the story, he certainly can pull his weight if he needs too (and he does :D)

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About the Author:

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides. Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent. She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting. Ruby Heart is her second new-adult novel, and she’s hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

Buy Link:
Cristelle Comby's Amazon page

Learn more about the author:
Cristelle Comby's Web Site:
http://cristelle-comby.com/

Cristelle Comby's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/cristelle.comby
Cristelle Comby's Twitter:https://twitter.com/Cristelle

Cristelle Comby's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/CristelleComby

Ruby Heart blog tour site:
http://rubyheartblogtour.blogspot.com/

Book Tour: From A to Z Poetry by Fida Islaih

From A to Z is 100 poems about being Muslim, handling emotions and the beauty of nature. There is a bit of sadness and humor in the collection. From doodling to any kind of sport to colors. In a way the poems may help you improve yourself and your outlook on life.

the poems may help you improve yourself and your outlook on life. ~from the author, Fida Islaih

 

 

My review:

 

From A to Z Poetry is a collection of short poems written by a talented young artist with great potential and a bright future ahead of her.

 

Fida's poems are sincere, candid, genuine and down to earth because she writes from her heart. Because her poems reflect life, love and living, readers will relate to her earnest expressions and impressions as she writes about life, school, relationships, emotions and faith. Get to know this poet through her writings and learn a little something about yourself along the way.

 

I really enjoyed the following poems as they gave me a sense of who Fida, the poet, is. Cannot Lie tells me so much of her character. Certain or Not, her faith. Life and I Come To You, her beliefs. Brokenhearted, her strength. Emotions, her passion. And, If You Give A Pen, her aspirations. 

 

Learn more about the author and her debut boo by visiting her website:

 

Fida Islaih

Blogger, Poet, Author

A TO Z POETRY (Sept, 2013)

fida-islaih.blogspot.com

Book Tour: CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Alex J Cavanaugh, author of the best-selling Cassa series, is here today as part of his book tour to answer a buring question of mine :) Alex's lastest book, Cassa Storm, will release on September 17, 2013.

Question: If you could change and re-do one aspect of your writing career, what would it be and why?

AJC:

I would’ve planned beyond that first book and been working on both sequels much, much sooner. Although it’s still difficult for me to work on more than one project at a time, I know that would’ve placed me in a better spot.

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh From the Amazon Best Selling Series! A storm gathers across the galaxy… Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans. After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind. Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

  "Cavanaugh makes world building on the galactic scale look easy. The stakes affect the entire known universe and yet Cavanaugh makes it intensely personal for our hero. The final installment of this series will break your heart and put it back together." - Charity Bradford, science fantasy author of The Magic Wakes

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019 $4.99 EBook available in all formats

Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble -
Amazon -
Amazon Kindle -
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Book trailer -



Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

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Book Tour and Review: The Circle by Cindy Cipriano

Tour Schedule

The Circle Calum Ranson is sure of three things: his cousin Finley is alive, Calum will find him, and no one knows Calum and his family are Sidhe. No one until Laurel shows up at his mother's bookstore wearing a dark clan's mark. When Calum learns the details surrounding the disappearance of Laurel's brother, he suspects the evil Hobayeth clan. Calum and Laurel work together in the Realm of Man and the Otherworld to rescue her brother - revealing a connection between Calum and Laurel that may cost Finley his life.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

Praise

"The Circle is full of magic and mystery. Readers will be engrossed in faerie realms, charming characters, and a state of wonder and imagination. The Circle is for those who delight in reading fantasy and exploring mystical worlds."

--Kathleen Fox, LibraryGames.com

Author Cindy Cipriano Cindy Cipriano lives in NC with her husband, son, and 27 pets. Okay, more like one cat, three dogs, and many, many fish. Cindy is an award winning science teacher, who this past August celebrated her 12th first day of sixth grade.

Website * Twitter

  Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review

I am not really a big fan of stories about faeries but this story was not that bad. It was a bit slow from time to time but I loved the world building, the characters were well developed and the plot was interesting enough to keep me turning the page. I think it would make a fun read for middle graders as it deal with relevant issues most kids in middle school are faced with. Not to mention the added fantasy element. :) My only 'ish' is that there were a lot of characters. Not that it is a totally bad thing, but when there are too many characters in a story, I tend to forget folks. :/

Overall, this was a quick and fun adventure to read.  
 

Book Tour and Review: The Tale of Mally Biddle

 

Tour Schedule

Read my review below

The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette When Mally Biddle agreed to spy upon the King of Lenzar and his overbearing knights she knew she was heading into danger. She didn't know she'd find a family unlike any other. Posing as a servant in Bosc Castle, Mally serves tea and tends fires for the most dangerous men in the kingdom. Her goal is to learn the truth of what happened sixteen years ago, when the infant princess met her death ... a death that is surrounded by more questions than answers. Along her search for the truth, Mally meets the energized Lita Stump, the strict and matriarchal Meriyal Boyd, and the opinionated Archibald Diggleby. Then of course there are the knights: Leon Gibbs who is slicker than a greased hog, Adrian Bayard, hot tempered and violent, and the worst of the lot: Sir Illius Molick, Captain of the Knights. And then there is Maud, a mysterious woman who just might know everything...

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Amazon Kindle

Praise "To say I loved this book is an understatement. Mally is a wonderful character and she encounters so many quirky folks on her assignment. Very well written and engaging story! And an added bonus of a love triangle! I enjoyed it from beginning to end!! I will definitely be looking for more from this author!" ~April Holgate  

Author Melissa LeGette lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright. The Tale of Mally Biddle is her second novel.

Blog * Facebook

Pinterest * Twitter

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/5/13  a Rafflecopter giveaway  

My Review

The Tale of Mally Biddle was a quick read for me. It had all the elements of a good story, moving plot, interesting characters ( I loved Sam, the horse, I'm a horse person :D), and quite descriptive. 

Mally, a simple farm girl, is recruited by Ivan, a member of a secret group trying to overthrow the King Salir and his oppressive knights. When Mally enters the Bosc for the first time, she meets another member of the rebel cause, Galen. She learns that her mission is to infiltrate the castle as a maid, learn everything she can about the night the Princess Avona allegedly died. Mally learns quickly, with the help of Galen, how to be a maid. Off the bat she makes friends with the servants, especially, Lita, who eventually helps her with her investigation. Just as she makes friends easily, she also makes quite a few enemies. She isn't there long before an attempt is made on her life! Between her investigations and her maid chores, Mally is one busy girl. But when she discovers that the princess's remains are not in her tomb, she makes a hasty call to get in touch with the rebels to tell them the news. An ambush takes them all by surprise. The knights kill, wound and capture most of the rebels. It's when Mally talks with the doctor that she suspects her mother is not her real mother. Mally runs away, leaving the rebels licking their wounds. But it is when she get home and confronts her mother, she realizes she can't quit now. She has to help the kingdom and avenge the murdered royal family. 

There was a lot to like about the story, for one, the characters were fun to read about. I liked Mally and Galen, Lita was funny and Sam was fantastic! :D Of all the characters though, my least favorite was Ivan, his character felt off. He was inconsistent, overconfident and seemed to do the least amount of work. The story had a strong plot and some really engaging scenes. However, a few of the scenes  (well a lot of the scenes) were a bit predictable but then to be fair, there were some genuinely unexpected ones too. The author did a great job convincing me of the world she created. The setting, the characters and the politics of the kingdom were all descriptive.

The Tale of Mally is a nice quick read for someone who wants a fun, easy,  non-intense detective mystery.        

Book Tour and Review: The Storm Bottle by Nick Green

 

The Storm Bottle

Swimming with dolphins is said to be the number one thing to do before you die. For 12-year-old Michael, it very nearly is. A secret boat trip has gone tragically wrong, and now he lies unconscious in hospital. But when Michael finally wakes up, he seems different. His step sister Bibi is soon convinced that he is not who he appears to be. Meanwhile, in the ocean beyond Bermuda’s reefs, a group of bottlenose dolphins are astonished to discover a stranger in their midst – a boy lost and desperate to return home. Bermuda is a place of mysteries. Some believe its seas are enchanted, and the sun-drenched islands conceal a darker past, haunted with tales of lost ships. Now Bibi and Michael are finding themselves in the most extraordinary tale of all.  


 

Book Trailer

   

Praise 'I loved it... An absolute winner.' - LA Weatherly, author of the Angel Burn trilogy 'A writer who knows how to grip the imagination, make you sit on the edge of your chair, and make you laugh out loud.' - Michelle Lovric, author of The Undrowned Child, The Mourning Emporium and The Book of Human Skin 'If you only ever buy one Kindle book in your life (although that sounds a bit unlikely, now that I stop and think) this has to be it.' - The Bookwitch blog.

Author Nick Green Nick Green is a UK children's and YA author, best known for his trilogy The Cat Kin, published in the UK by Strident Publishing and in Germany by Ravensburger, and also as a BBC audiobook. He has appeared on BBC radio talking about his books, and has been shortlisted for two UK children's book awards. He regularly does school visits and other children's literary events. The Storm Bottle is his first straight-to-Kindle novel.

Twitter * Website

 

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/26/13

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

My Review

When I first started this book, I thought, oh no, I'm not going to be able to finish this book. The first chapter or so was a bit slow. Then, it happened. Nick Green introduced me to a whole new world under the sea! I guess from the book blurb, I was just really excited to get to the meat of the story.  Well, sucked into the story finally, the story follows the adventure of two siblings, Michael and his step-sister, Bibi. It is told from two points of veiws, Bibi's and Michael's. I normally don't like it when a story has multiple POV's but the author did a really good job with keeping it simple and easy to follow. 

On a boating trip, Michael gets his consciousness swapped with that of a dolphin's. The author did a great job in my opinion with creating a very interesting dolphin society. Loved the Bermuda mystery and history from the dolphins and sea life perspective. I adored most of the characters, though, I have to say, I did not really care for Bibi :/ I can't quite put my finger on it, but her character did not wow me at all. But Michael, Rodrigo, the Privateers, even the mean dolphin bullies were intriguing.  

In short, this was a fantastic read with great world-building,  interesting characters, wonderfully crafted plot and lots of suspense :D