tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78641220911840897072024-03-16T23:53:19.157-06:00No More Grumpy BooksellerAn ordinary man can... surround himself with two thousand books... and thenceforward have at least one place in the world in which it is possible to be happy. ~Augustine BirrellBecky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.comBlogger3502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-17323160787075615172024-03-13T00:00:00.001-06:002024-03-13T00:00:00.129-06:00The Escape Room by L.D. Smithson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/147779072-the-escape-room" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2764" data-original-width="1807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbgEy8uKBk6zyoz2DudzFXUmuYlPeURFUcsWgZAq9_QoHENu7QbOgtZOrTaT6gV9bOxYIE-iV7gtitX3hYmJsat85TOXqaf4hbDm_w8tDrYPZjQNA5xz32PJGBbrNnap1FhaIxA1ngc96UhH7e5lPlwfwsdwQ8K9BBQsI4JktTPXc7AJW0EcVisFd8PY/s320/The%20Escape%20Room%20HB.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hello, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for L.D. Smithson's <i>The Escape Room</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Clara is desperate to get picked for The Fortress, a new reality competition escape room with a 100k prize. Money she and her sister can definitely use in the wake of their mother's illness and death. But after being accepted onto the show, Clara breaks her leg and can't compete. She only barely manages to convince her sister, Bonnie, to take her place, arguing that they look enough alike that she can pull it off and that Bonnie has always done better at puzzles anyway.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The competition is set in an old fortress that dates back to the 1800s, though it wasn't completed until later. At one point it was even a hotel. But rumors swirl around the place, as the contestants soon learn. It all seems fodder for the clues to the game until viewers' commentary starts to suggest something much more sinister. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Escape Room</i> is a no holds barred thriller that had me hooked from the strange and bloody beginning!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The structure of the book is interesting to note considering Bonnie is a guest on a podcast in the aftermath of the show. She's telling the story, even though it played out ostensibly in front of a live audience. And it adds a definite layer of suspense that I absolutely loved!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I've never done an escape room. And honestly I have no real desire to. One is the fear that I'd absolutely suck at it! And reading this one, I have to admit I never would have figured out any of the clues the contestants are faced with. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What's more, even though the clues seem to lead to prizes of a sort (remember the oreos and peanut butter <i>Survivor </i>episode--note, I watched little of that show so my reference point is very dated), the viewers vote on contestants to go head to head with one another throughout. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which seems fairly normal to the kind of program the game is based on. Except...Bonnie notes that something feels off from the beginning. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Escape Room</i> is a cool premise done in a way that I found to be truly fresh and fun! Throughout, there are dispatches from "The Director," which hint at a more nefarious plot than even I could guess at. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This book has blockbuster written all over it and I was here for every single page--frequently with popcorn to accompany it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Escape Room </i>is out now in the UK and I highly recommend adding it to your immediate must read list!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfPg14t4DBcnY5T3v1L7plC19JSqN5YyQgvhD8oBhTlexZ1W0wq2HO5Ge3gAR6CiPrs2_tOp3elYrzM1_XcGaWlhrUweDc85L84BExSpsFFCcTyf5kmf381iBmSOo9c6KIoiUl9b8VaNWU6aAIG5Tmambhadnyn8mS3Q3jFH0x3i9FlZLHjy45wJgE2A/s1080/Escape%20Room%202%20BT%20Poster%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1080" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfPg14t4DBcnY5T3v1L7plC19JSqN5YyQgvhD8oBhTlexZ1W0wq2HO5Ge3gAR6CiPrs2_tOp3elYrzM1_XcGaWlhrUweDc85L84BExSpsFFCcTyf5kmf381iBmSOo9c6KIoiUl9b8VaNWU6aAIG5Tmambhadnyn8mS3Q3jFH0x3i9FlZLHjy45wJgE2A/w529-h335/Escape%20Room%202%20BT%20Poster%20.png" width="529" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-61945797054276235762024-03-11T00:00:00.040-06:002024-03-11T12:55:01.038-06:00Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61838703-crow-moon" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqHbBfU4VeiYRD2muyoEA1Zhw4tXBzQB8Ly7X8YhtuyJiVmZ8E_e3r4Ncur1TzKoEuLKMaO2xUhT3smc5u-ANFYegyBSkIYbKjGl9hh_S_78qcVNK_z2IB1ks53XOYPuJ5rlUeU3fpXNcw2vEvnlp0scEsrNRsQkLyuAB-bgHeQudqL_ED6ryWvm02w0/s320/CROW%20MOON%20FINAL%20COVER.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Suzy Aspley's <i>Crow Moon</i>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Things haven't been easy for Martha Strageways since the loss of her three-year-old twins. But she and her teenage son are getting by. Until his friend goes missing. Knowing all too well the horrific fears that come with being a parent, Martha makes an effort to look into the teen's disappearance, never expecting to stumble over his dead body!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">And then another teen goes missing. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What a fantastic start to a new series! The blending of folklore and dark mystery is always one that's going to get me, and this has it all!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So what is it about this strange village? That's the first question. Even Martha's home, a croft with a stone built to track the phases of the moon, a discovery she made after purchasing the home, hint at weird things!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But the main mystery and the POV of the killer are undeniably creepy, hinting at ritual, sacrifice, and all manner of things that only begin to become clear as the story progresses. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is also a story about grief. And to that end, is a very emotional read. Martha's loss is a shadow that hangs over the story. It motivates her, it drives her, it also keeps her going at times. And it plagues her. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Aspley imbues the story with this layer of grief so that the reader can't avoid it. Can't help but feel it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will say that it can make for a difficult read at times. But I found it was affecting and added to my rooting for Martha and her family. And I absolutely look forward to reading more about her and her strange new home!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvpM307AlXTk1q9gg6XjRmgO-6CUaamk_5RVyhWow0SJ_orXHmI5106tezIW35oPEBBANODu0dz0I_WQQGp-bETlsX27F19njWGZkB4E_PV9o15CI5CyFFngOc6Rzhro9mOvXUPzfJoJNBK3yiQtfuoOgpSszNhnsOHXFyWJGprtuGm20m1cFyeCLUp0/s2245/Crow%20Moon%20Blog%20Tour%20banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvpM307AlXTk1q9gg6XjRmgO-6CUaamk_5RVyhWow0SJ_orXHmI5106tezIW35oPEBBANODu0dz0I_WQQGp-bETlsX27F19njWGZkB4E_PV9o15CI5CyFFngOc6Rzhro9mOvXUPzfJoJNBK3yiQtfuoOgpSszNhnsOHXFyWJGprtuGm20m1cFyeCLUp0/w418-h515/Crow%20Moon%20Blog%20Tour%20banner.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-62952156145573779332024-03-06T13:44:00.002-07:002024-03-06T13:44:00.214-07:00Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcbwVYl1cs9LCLQ6IU1d_LbrWTjIinHdaGD22q32UdZrraXOMo-sYKsq4JEO6adabj6nv4PR_E0-9xq7CYhh0fOWDt4WGOb_6NWk428khYuapMCpLm5M9HlVlAKYBMQZpA30Kerbpl8p3TXa4QvXweGl7wSMzMdoFyxMHaVrDO0G7DYYr-maO0l2VFLI/s400/122658643.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcbwVYl1cs9LCLQ6IU1d_LbrWTjIinHdaGD22q32UdZrraXOMo-sYKsq4JEO6adabj6nv4PR_E0-9xq7CYhh0fOWDt4WGOb_6NWk428khYuapMCpLm5M9HlVlAKYBMQZpA30Kerbpl8p3TXa4QvXweGl7wSMzMdoFyxMHaVrDO0G7DYYr-maO0l2VFLI/s320/122658643.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">What if you woke up one day and realized your life has become a story? And not a great one!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Celia doesn't recognize her daughter. She doesn't remember her husband. And she has somehow forgotten her past. She runs a restaurant where, thankfully, the recipes come to her with ease. She certainly doesn't remember the grumpy old lady who harasses her regularly or the cop who responds in kind. And then the lady winds up dead in Celia's restaurant's dumpster. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Allie was supposed to be celebrating her birthday on a beach vacation with her two best friends. But plans soon change and they wind up at a remote cabin in the woods with the friends' boyfriends in tow. When she's awakened by strange noises in the night, she knows something is wrong. But as a horror movie fanatic, her friends are ready to write off her fears. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Maggie has somehow wandered into a red-life competition that resembles the dystopian novels she's so fond of. She and a handful of other women are set on a timed course where failure could literally mean death!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All three women quickly realize there's something very wrong with their stories. But even they can't imagine just how twisted the plot is!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wasn't sure where this one was going when I first started reading. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We meet Celia first. As noted, she runs a restaurant, where she is most comfortable because at least she can remember how to cook the dishes they serve! But at home everything feels off. At first she thinks its her. But she soon becomes suspicious. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By the time we get to Allie, we know something weird is going on. But Allie's experience is completely different than Celia's. Allie is with her friends. Allie is supposed to be celebrating her birthday at the beach until her friends' significant others tag along and change the plan. But that's when things go pear shaped for Allie!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we reach Maggie, we're well aware that things aren't going to go her way. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't want to spoil the plot, but this is truly a fun book for book lovers and a great addition to Henry's collection of work!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Order a copy from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9780593638194">Bookshop.org</a>!</div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-1736270594155754362024-03-05T00:00:00.001-07:002024-03-05T00:00:00.144-07:00The Drift by C. J. Tudor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9780593356586" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSuiiNy2HWZ-PqUmDGgQGdjldjl-pHnHJX474XtyekNSA7h-hqmsz86SjjSsaM73x-7dCCy1AXaD5ZA9LcZEQ31e6fglE1vOqh1AVrkq3jd1wX1vwUjQwhKKBKC48l9yZ66kr7Q2vs5mIzED3dmkn1-wnquuWk_UnwQRuBD6O7Ktr1q-LVoEs9T0sC6k/s320/9780593356562_bde69.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Listen up, people. Have you read C. J. Tudor yet? If not, you are missing out!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I read <i>The Drift</i> when it came out in hardcover, but was very neglectful about typing up my review. Now that it's out in paperback, I'm rectifying that!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The book is told in three parts. But they intertwine in such a way that the connections aren't immediately clear beyond setting. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">A school bus overturns on trip to evacuate a group of students to a place called The Retreat. These chosen few should be safe there. If they can only make it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Meg was also on her way to The Retreat when she awakens in a stopped cable car. Neither she or her fellow passengers can remember how they got there. But with no power and temps dropping fast, they must find a way to survive!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Carter lives comfortably in a ski chalet. But they live at the mercy of the generator. And when it starts to fail, it means facing the things both inside and outside that put everyone at risk. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tudor says this was a bit of a passion project. One delayed by but also made possible by the pandemic. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After all, even I as both a reader and agent had my doubts about ever being able to read a post-apocalyptic thriller in the days around and beyond 2020. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But I actually found it a bit cathartic. And by the time <i>The Drift</i> released here in the States, I was more than ready for this particular book!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First, I have a thing for snowed-in reads. And absolutely fits the bill! Which is perfect because it's February and I especially like to read snowed-in books while it's nasty and snowing outside!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The world of <i>The Drift</i> unfolds somewhat slowly through the eyes of these three narrators. And it's in part because of the structure—alternating short chapters between each of these characters means you get snippets of what each of them are experiencing alongside the world around them. And I have to say that the deliberate delay in what is otherwise an exceptionally fast-paced read made for a deliciously agonizing experience!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I desperately wanted to know what was going on in this world. Why the desperation to reach The Retreat. Why the secrecy around the facility!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the dawning of understanding that begins to set in at a certain point in the reading was truly a wonderful discovery and reveal. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Again, if you've not been reading Tudor, you absolutely need to. There's a new adaptation of one of her works (<i>The Burning Girls</i>), there's a new release (<i>The Gathering</i>) on the horizon, there's plenty of backlist to tide you over, and there's even a TV adaptation of <i>The Drift</i> in the works! Add her to your must-read list today and ENJOY!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Order a copy from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9780593356586">Bookshop</a> today!</div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-45287462400746748172024-03-04T00:00:00.001-07:002024-03-04T11:14:43.042-07:00Kitchen Sanctuary Quick & Easy: Delicious 30-Minute Dinners by Nicky Corbishley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/197775201-kitchen-sanctuary-quick-easy-delicious-30-minute-dinners" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="2303" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFw1GN4D4E5ZGx0acm2L0B0IU9qXLlYeNiWAkgUvruSSoICiFhUmPc3-OJ0iqF5-XQwYWS5igFPbsk63jwlTbAKZ5iHuI8hmYPft4Uqs1CMhOz_uX_bAyLOQotQApMU_SQ46aItmAVM1VCqgMTr3c-Kal8pzQ9qir33xW4bPWoxh60D9cmUkDt64atfA/s320/9781804191002.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Monday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Nicky Corbishley's <i>Kitchen Sanctuary Quick & Easy: Delicious 30-Minute Dinners</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love reviewing cookbooks and I seriously need to do it more here because I'm a bit of a cookbook fiend. To that end, I have my own preferences for how a cookbook is put together (layout of the recipe itself, selection of recipes, images...).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And I love to cook! Which is why it's lucky I work mostly from home these days. But generally I am looking for quick and easy meals that my whole family will eat: exactly what's promised by food blogger Nicky Corbishley and her latest cookbook. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kitchen Sanctuary Quick & Easy</i> features 90 recipes that can all be made in 30 minutes. And, bonus, 70 of the recipes are not on Corbishley's blog, they're new and exclusive to the book!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Recipes are divided into the following sections:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Vitally Veggie</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fantastic Fish</div><div style="text-align: left;">Champion Chicken</div><div style="text-align: left;">Moreish Meat</div><div style="text-align: left;">Perfect Pasta</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rice, Noodles, Grains & Pulses</div><div style="text-align: left;">Snack Suppers</div><div style="text-align: left;">Super Sauces</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And might I add that anyone who includes a section on "snack suppers" wins super extra points for me! I am all about the snack supper!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's also a section on Smart Shortcuts, which is awesome because things like rotisserie chicken, frozen veggies, and store bought sauces are a busy person's best friend when it comes to supper! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This section includes A TON of fabulous info for making your cooking quicker and easier. A fabulous resource on its own. (Pssst: there's a basic but customizable salad dressing in this section that really comes in handy!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's technically spring as I post this, but it was winter as I browsed and cooked, so dishes like Cheddar and Vegetable Chowder (in a bread bowl!), comes together in 25 minutes, y'all!; Creamy Lemon Butter Sea Bream (I used bass)--served with mashed potatoes and peas, per her suggestion; and Potato and Bacon Hash with Cheesy Beans were all examples of things I NEEDED to get me through the cold weather. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that we have some warmer days, I'm dying to try the Crispy Fish Burgers with Mustard Pickle Mayo (and I might have to make a bit batch of that mayo to use on other dishes--or dip fries in!). The Saucy Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Lancashire Cheese is also up on my cooking roster soon. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a fabulous collection of recipes. And they really are recipes my whole family will eat. Crispy Baked Parmesan Chicken Strips with Special Sauce...I do not have an air fryer so thank goodness for this recipe! This beats dino nuggets any day! (Hey, that mustard pickle mayo as a dip for these chicken strips...!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kitchen Sanctuary Quick & Easy hits all the right notes for me. Recipes are approachable and easy, the instructions are easy to follow and understand, and the breakdown of prep, cook, and total time really helps when I'm frantically trying to figure out what we'll eat as my kid is walking in the door from daycare.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Corbishley's latest is out now in the UK and will be out in the US in April!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVFgW-ShqB90W6argpxBPouIxYGKcI5cO2AvlzNo0inorGZAnbGAtrpHPlH5IbgLI0NkysYB7usMqz5h3b0-NGweDZ25BbxBvZ99u_-BnMf_7U8FKYax0RamiF8ZLwIl_YjcpwH5Fm1Phmplsqzhc-TelL2L0XNw6kO1L3gyFeJQIeQnMQpAxYy3jGMo/s1920/Kitchen%20Sanc%20BT%20Poster%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1920" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVFgW-ShqB90W6argpxBPouIxYGKcI5cO2AvlzNo0inorGZAnbGAtrpHPlH5IbgLI0NkysYB7usMqz5h3b0-NGweDZ25BbxBvZ99u_-BnMf_7U8FKYax0RamiF8ZLwIl_YjcpwH5Fm1Phmplsqzhc-TelL2L0XNw6kO1L3gyFeJQIeQnMQpAxYy3jGMo/w531-h347/Kitchen%20Sanc%20BT%20Poster%20.png" width="531" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-315771890192498872024-02-02T00:00:00.055-07:002024-02-02T10:13:55.167-07:00The Lover of No Fixed Abode by Carlo Fruttero & Franco Lucentini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123089643-the-lover-of-no-fixed-abode" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="977" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MxCaBjw-gFARTprtAqeqrsRlSez_vCNZfsV3G78bK1nV2SoC-EI30_JQgQt8Ev7xkgqzN7pidD4P0oOidz3zKhV1SMGyG5A7hsIF3nNuN0Y7q7MrsKTmpEYoFKwKOqco8puxMtSfbdqBxqvoPi_XKXDimeAqH3yDS6cMTKkewhq1q9RHlzaKHejxYMY/s320/Lover%20Cover%20Image.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Friday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for <i>The Lover of No Fixed Abode </i>by Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini, translated by Gregory Dowling.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A nameless narrator who works as a scout for auction houses and what seems at first to be a simple instance of paths crossing begins this cozy-ish mystery set in 80s Italy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">A tour guide. A quiet, unassuming man who might be much more than he seems piques the interest of the narrator. Her thoughts gravitate towards him even when they have separated. But soon they are reunited. And thus kicks off a three-day affair as well as a mystery surrounding the man, our narrator, art, and Venice itself. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is really kind of a hard book to sum up. It's very character and setting driven, rather than plot driven. Though there is a plot. And, as the translator notes, the authors are well-known for their mysteries. But this one, apparently their most successful, is quieter than the others. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And a quiet read it is indeed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Lover of No Fixed Abode</i> is perfect for fans of quieter mysteries. It's also perfect for armchair travelers, and fans of period stories (though I am loathe to include the 80s in "period" considering I was born in that decade!). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's also a study, I think, in what a great translator can do. And I know that's not the point of a review, but the translator is so key to opening up works to audiences. They can either pull us in, or turn us off. And a great translator always strives to stay true to the author's original story, voice, tone...everything. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which seems to be something Dowling has taken great pains to do, especially considering the authors have both passed away.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have never been to Venice. So I certainly never experienced it at the time the story is set, but the authors have truly created a stunning portrayal of the setting that will stick with readers and potentially leave them yearning for a vacation of a sort that they will soon realize is only possible in the pages of a book!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFgtjca4dWKeHR-Al4ikia1sW6-DZ6MRc2x1ANK7vLizkfmclxqnlfcxYXNDH-6akLC-5gmPQYhxi8mRdKgEq_RnhdoMY5Gg1hre0N85jRx8XTzwkkEr6zx03MeFdh8bRISPmuZyq6GNNgbUqMXMNeqoQfasViUf8j3aREGE3HJrPosBbqj_Ex884yVo/s1920/Lover%20No%20Fixed%20Abode%20BT%20Poster%20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFgtjca4dWKeHR-Al4ikia1sW6-DZ6MRc2x1ANK7vLizkfmclxqnlfcxYXNDH-6akLC-5gmPQYhxi8mRdKgEq_RnhdoMY5Gg1hre0N85jRx8XTzwkkEr6zx03MeFdh8bRISPmuZyq6GNNgbUqMXMNeqoQfasViUf8j3aREGE3HJrPosBbqj_Ex884yVo/w501-h437/Lover%20No%20Fixed%20Abode%20BT%20Poster%20.jpeg" width="501" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-76398317477510206652024-01-30T00:00:00.057-07:002024-01-30T11:07:31.779-07:00The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181853939-the-spy-coast" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="975" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIrHAWcBK5GejUoBw2UJs4FB7dKrNAFy2-0-vE2gFKzMTGFh0YAOBgs-ytfqmTMQ7aOF8MGPhiG0Yw80rBh2knp8EFWBLUcfj6J3ONaHLMboLuvdcKm3SRvZGm66Us8qysUyx0pA9HPuvFRU7xDXQ7QIMaUt5ZMCSK-aXp5vINgkjmkAvR4IBgNVODuE/s320/Spy%20Coast%20Cover%20.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div>Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Tess Gerritsen's latest, <i>The Spy Coast</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">For Maggie Bird, retired life is about keeping her chickens safe. A far cry from what she used to do for a living. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">See Maggie is one of a handful of retired CIA agents who now call the small town of Purity, Maine home. But her quiet retirement is about to come falling down around her. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">A woman has shown up telling Maggie that a fellow operative has gone missing. What's more, details of an op they worked together have been leaked. Which means Maggie's cover has been leaked. Later that same day, the woman is found murdered in Maggie's drive. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">Now Maggie will have to try and figure out who's behind it all, with the help of her fellow retirees. But as they run their own internal investigation, the local sheriff's department is also on the case. And sitting Sheriff Jo Thibodeau is starting to think there's something fishy about her town's newest residents. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>This first in a new series from Gerritsen is a bit of a change from her longtime Rizzoli and Isles series. And it is exceptional!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Spy Coast</i> introduces readers to Maggie Bird. And boy has she led a fascinating life!</div><div><br /></div><div>While on vacation in Bangkok, decades ago, Maggie met and fell in love with Danny. A doctor traveling overseas, he's doing one last grand tour before returning to the UK where a steady job will offer him a chance to help his mother. </div><div><br /></div><div>But what begins as a benign, everyday life experience—meeting and falling in love—kicks a series of events into motion that has repercussions way down the line. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>A retired spy offers, I think, so many story possibilities! Not only do I hope we'll get more adventures from Maggie and her cohorts, but I absolutely love the idea of main characters outside the "normal" range we see. I was immediately drawn to this story simply because of the premise of following a former spy in their sixties! (And of course because it was Tess Gerritsen.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Spy Coast</i> is a new favorite for me! I hope we get more of The Martini Club and would LOVE to see this get picked up for adaptation as well! Give me more!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjroyJec03A3fTFD8V6xTPEeCfA4syCpHks40gSNPqUjSwGzu-75joH49caGogkp-9MGSMjo1yW_AhaSX_3JRNnk-Bdc9tzNpROqysPSwQ2hJZWnzap88NxK-qE_sBU40OSB7Kpt8S-Nh2dDfRsii8E3MCY9a_h67zUzBU7sgX4Z-rhHxgmh3QXoAGjY8/s1920/Spy%20Coast%20BT%202%20poster%20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjroyJec03A3fTFD8V6xTPEeCfA4syCpHks40gSNPqUjSwGzu-75joH49caGogkp-9MGSMjo1yW_AhaSX_3JRNnk-Bdc9tzNpROqysPSwQ2hJZWnzap88NxK-qE_sBU40OSB7Kpt8S-Nh2dDfRsii8E3MCY9a_h67zUzBU7sgX4Z-rhHxgmh3QXoAGjY8/w426-h576/Spy%20Coast%20BT%202%20poster%20.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-46472825427289507602024-01-24T00:00:00.062-07:002024-01-24T15:57:05.007-07:00The Search Party by Hannah Richell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136272904-the-search-party" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="1843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnB7xxNr714yCEFbV0z1lKJfnDbBt0AqGfF0_8RKNMFETf0LbxMHsG3a0PUf2m8FINPWJNYt5Fo_dzmeKH3cqHSQ9-GJShFrSNV9WmbFcseH7oPSirqbMQxWaOv7ZrgDCVIOhYczvfvA2diEdtouV8wYi0c_q947VTbx73rhe62BvlIgz_Q-tnJnBRIY/s320/The%20Search%20Party%20HB%20cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Hannah Richell's latest, <i>The Search Party</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Annie and Max, Suze and Jim, Dominic and Tanya, Kira and Fred: Five college friends and their families checking out Annie and Max's new glamping endeavor for the weekend. It should be a great get together. A reunion of sorts, considering their last get together (for Kira's 40th) ended somewhat badly. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">And yet, nothing goes to plan. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The country site offers wide open spaces for the kids to play and no wifi means no distractions. But tension sets in after just the first night. And as gray clouds roll in, threatening an unexpectedly bad storm, one of the group goes missing. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">By the Sunday, someone is dead. Someone is unconscious in the hospital. At least one partner is no longer speaking to the other. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So first of all, I love a great thriller about old friends and juicy secrets and drama and tension! And that is exactly what you get with <i>The Search Party</i>. With the added bonus of knowing some of the aftermath from the start and getting pieces of it throughout. It's the kind of book that I like to guess along the way (and then get proven WRONG!). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What's really fun about this one is that we get alternating POVs, giving readers a chance to see the different sides of the story as it progresses. But it also alternates timelines, which is how we get those pieces of what's happened. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And Richell spreads them out in such a way that the tension builds and builds and builds until everything boils over!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Search Party</i> is a great thriller! Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware's <i>In a Dark, Dark Wood</i>, Lucy Foley's <i>The Hunting Party</i>, (obviously), and authors like Alice Feeney and Lisa Jewell, to name a few! It also makes for a great book club read, in my opinion, because there are so many complex characters (and their actions) to discuss!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJt7RqoV4McZr2c4jfJ5FtGfD3KGPZ57bWyzjr9BE1lY2GW02PE9hPXhj7SF68QX5Lqu26Su5ScxBW74PbVJd3l6qLwNwIocPuJTlk80BP6mwkWfD5L_EJg-zvDSQe50k-h83VLADn7EwXei57KRVPkFjGhZm6aU0t-C7699s49b_gsbwluw5FQiMEDQ/s1920/Search%20Party%201%20BT%20Poster%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1920" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJt7RqoV4McZr2c4jfJ5FtGfD3KGPZ57bWyzjr9BE1lY2GW02PE9hPXhj7SF68QX5Lqu26Su5ScxBW74PbVJd3l6qLwNwIocPuJTlk80BP6mwkWfD5L_EJg-zvDSQe50k-h83VLADn7EwXei57KRVPkFjGhZm6aU0t-C7699s49b_gsbwluw5FQiMEDQ/w518-h275/Search%20Party%201%20BT%20Poster%20.png" width="518" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-13864863501128286752024-01-16T00:00:00.059-07:002024-01-16T10:36:18.728-07:00One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204240567-one-of-the-good-guys" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="1830" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yntH1vKlD9Gp3_wSY_O5cS_yqqtRwAVKMU6HblaIsNvYhe2OBF1zLvY1Si2A0QVOrF3qfjNvZmaYO8LJd6ZyChYZtddrD5K6XQc-yH1h3WXcT8bie-u__GulF_wQXUll55jpkbE5Yh1nnnMF1cID6q_QT9iNrGmDYMw4ZVHTZO2-8YsDgZ550MQ-PZM/s320/One%20of%20the%20Good%20Guys%20Cover%20.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning, everyone! Are we all snowed in? I know I am!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today I'm a stop on the Random Things Tour for Araminta Hall's <i>One of the Good Guys</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Cole is looking for a new start. Something uncomplicated after the fallout with his wife, Mel. He'd always imagined a quiet life in the country, living off the land as much as he can, would be just the change they needed from the stress of Mel's job and their busy life in the city. But Mel stayed and Cole is living the country life on his own. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">When he meets Lennie, an artist renting a weather-beaten cottage nearby, he thinks he may have met a likeminded friend who could potentially become more. But then Lennie finds an abandoned tent thought to belong to two women trying to raise awareness of violence against women. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">As it happens, Cole had a run in with the women in question. And they filmed the encounter. And while he's not responsible for whatever their fate has become, he's afraid the run in alone will point the finger in his direction. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wow. I did not really know what I was in for with this one! And I will do my absolute best not to give anything away!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So the book begins from Cole's perspective. And the reader really does get a glimpse inside the mind of an ordinary guy. He's mourning the breakup with his wife, but still hopes they can reconcile. Other than that, he wakes early for a cold swim, he walks a lot, and he takes his job as a wildlife ranger seriously. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The book then switches to Mel's and Lennie's POVs, interspersed with Twitter convos, Instagram posts, news pieces, and other commentary along the way. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thought provoking doesn't begin to describe this one. In fact, I found it turned my head into a whirlwind of thoughts! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While this is published by Macmillan in the UK, US audiences will see that it's one of Gillian Flynn's imprint's titles, which should tell you something!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're a fan of twisted reads that will really make you think—and then reevaluate what you thought, and then do that again—<i>One of the Good Guys</i> is the read for you! I thought it was fabulous and would love to be a fly on the wall as other people read it as well!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8sTQbMWMvQag1Q6BqZw085E-Og08Wfkm4Cw9-DvhaHm2JdoLpc_KLp1LAiTO5QGv1uLAqbF1uQSRa0bglQgXoAs6bjEKPRsy7VwspoCJetUlV77PQHEulR7t6JX2-1lzdGM4zQ8ic-5rrpw1iPUyR9FRW_8D72ci7k7JsuGqLd7u6jxxOXNogOwThX8/s1080/One%20of%20Good%20Guys%201%20BT%20Poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1080" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8sTQbMWMvQag1Q6BqZw085E-Og08Wfkm4Cw9-DvhaHm2JdoLpc_KLp1LAiTO5QGv1uLAqbF1uQSRa0bglQgXoAs6bjEKPRsy7VwspoCJetUlV77PQHEulR7t6JX2-1lzdGM4zQ8ic-5rrpw1iPUyR9FRW_8D72ci7k7JsuGqLd7u6jxxOXNogOwThX8/w519-h337/One%20of%20Good%20Guys%201%20BT%20Poster.png" width="519" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-67581306485603027072024-01-10T00:00:00.008-07:002024-01-10T12:57:25.719-07:00The Guests by Agnes Ravatn<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201307825-the-guests" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_7cxCbyoqoCARU5-EQh2HO20QLvikpil2S4hIGVedokEzpY-DqpnH1vMM0kOz2OzNFxefVd-7jginLudIPUblft9E7tlSuZV3E4FcrygJC6gUVxJQCCGNFB68pl1DjG1wVjGU5YOeSeJenrMpgWdlzZrZSOS5c9vZH9lOvCX-_ABQlba7oTdK1CTBjI/s320/200780497.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning and Happy New Year! I've been sick, but I've been reading, and my first post of the new year is a stop on the Random Things tour for Agnes Raven's <i>The Guests</i>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Karin and Kai are due for a holiday. She's got the week off. Her in laws are watching the kids. But the plan is to spend the week working on renovations to their home. That is until a run-in with and favor for a childhood frenemie results in an invite to stay in a swanky water-front cottage. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The "friend" in question is Ivy Vilden. A mean girl Karin finally broke away from in her school days. Today, Karin is an actress of some regard with a wealthy husband. And Karin is certain that the invite to use the "cottage" is just to make it clear how much farther Ivy has come in the world than Karin. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">But a cottage is a cottage and Karin and Kai deserve something nice. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Then Karin meets the neighbors. And begins to create a tangle of lies about her and Kai's lives that threatens to overwhelm them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Woohoo! This was a rollercoaster of a read. A tense character study of insecurity and jealousy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Karin is not at all likable. Probably because she serves as something of a mirror to every possibly insecurity a person can have these days. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Her history with Ivy is fraught. But she overcame it. Something she'd always been proud of. And yet, it becomes clear from the start just how much influence Ivy still has over Karin. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's quite sad to watch Karin devolve into the the person she creates as the story continues. She perfectly illustrates how constant comparison, keeping up with the Joneses, can ruin even what should be a vacation in paradise. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What's more, the neighbors in question and the train wreck Karin creates there is almost painful for various reasons. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of that might make this sound pretty negative. I get it! And yet, I read the whole thing in one sitting and came away with the unfortunate realization that I not only suffer some of the same insecurities, but can see just how easily a person dig such a hole!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like I said, Karin is unlikable. But it's because Ravatn so cleverly illustrates just how bad envy can be if we allow it to overwhelm us!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Huge props to translator Rosie Hedger for bringing Karin and Kai and all of their faults to life for English audiences.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlkEFwdtjMlYz_4jYv0m1C9OqyLGF6PmPwjFLeB-a_mAtdMv_3vlT2djsxuMQI3PcL7vDSjKOfB0F3xbn2dYTvdc8r-WJpiAEMlRKwzj_8zdp8UCF2X64MmQJ0xP6cfyYVchJ1MJpVckL955VDDgkdA_111usomOljuykTBLIS-chRFZu4UEB1q44HUg/s2245/The%20Guests%20Blog%20Tour%20banner%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlkEFwdtjMlYz_4jYv0m1C9OqyLGF6PmPwjFLeB-a_mAtdMv_3vlT2djsxuMQI3PcL7vDSjKOfB0F3xbn2dYTvdc8r-WJpiAEMlRKwzj_8zdp8UCF2X64MmQJ0xP6cfyYVchJ1MJpVckL955VDDgkdA_111usomOljuykTBLIS-chRFZu4UEB1q44HUg/w494-h593/The%20Guests%20Blog%20Tour%20banner%20(1).png" width="494" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-61424159664030274362023-12-05T00:00:00.036-07:002023-12-05T09:52:33.517-07:00Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123230173-yule-island" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPElsXj_NkVvlO6KXmWHI315Ex6O48nRIznGAQ8Xf8HfPBBCwnwWCuqjPNC8Lw8kaiCu8yGyWc1s5gwVJn7HyZJyu5kBwQxKmBkFB1dIGKASZJxD-Jc342NIcN3mPNEFFOE-yaShyphenhyphenfjqSzijAFZE7rs5y7pae4h0lNSZD5S-qzZABT3k7Gv5JPFqL05UM/s320/123230173.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Johana Gustawsson's latest, <i>Yule Island</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Emma Lindahl is a young and ambitious art expert recently hired on at Von Dardel's, a small but prestigious auction and appraisal house. Through this new position, she's been assigned a fabulous opportunity: cataloging and assessing the Gussman collection at their remote home on Storholmen island. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">But the Gussmans are strange. Her hours are severely limited, her access is confined to specific rooms, and her interaction with the family is all but nonexistent. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Then there's the island history itself and the fact that a girl was found murdered on the grounds less than a decade before.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Emma tries not to let all of this get to her, but when another body is found nearby, it becomes clear there's something very wrong on Storholmen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Yule Island</i> is so much creepy fun!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A manor house with dark secrets, a remote island with very small community, and the most fabulous dark Scandinavian lore! Plus, Gustawsson pulls off some truly amazing twists!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The story alternates POVs between Emma; Karl, a local cop; and Viktoria, an employee at the manor. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Emma is hesitant about her job. And with good reason. The Gussmans are an off-putting family who almost seem to resent her for being there to do the job they hired her for. It's a strange environment, to say the least. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Karl worked the still open nine-year-old murder case and it haunts him to this day. When another body is found, he's called in even though his own wife has recently gone missing. And yet, the work keeps him busy, keeps him away from their home and their memories, and maybe even gives him a chance at the personal redemption he needs in the wake of the earlier unsolved crime. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Viktoria has always worked in high-end resort hotels, but the opportunity for a live-in position with the Gussmans offers both her and her daughter a chance to escape her overbearing and emotionally abusive husband. But that doesn't keep him from turning up asking for money occasionally. She gives us a fly-on-the-wall view of the residents of the manor, which becomes increasingly strange and fascinating for the reader!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I mentioned, Gustawsson has some excellent twists in this book. Some are the kind a savvy reader may see coming while others are a complete surprise. Either way, they make for an intense read. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then there's the lore I mentioned. As a whole the book is a wonderful read, but this piece makes it such a stand out. I know next to nothing about Yule lore (the celebration that predates Christmas) and honestly just eat up things like this, begging for more!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gustawsson hooked me with her previous release, <i>The Bleeding</i>, and as a result <i>Yule Island </i>was already in my must read list and I have to say it did not disappoint!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1t9181KoKQu-09LgyaZVzzJ3LySDzEtLPwF4o6Mm6oUcRuEKLI74Uzs2yogHf6kLjO7ojzW-RPGxBrL0u0Yud4jU1dzRmMj4z36LTCqIOyfP-cjlkC1R19mATEQiqPMUpbqaZmMMbbA_YLqMMR9b5h-QFr5AU4pfIse7hVy9xBykIJq0zbNbLYndbhGc/s2245/Yule%20Island%20Blog%20Tour%20Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1t9181KoKQu-09LgyaZVzzJ3LySDzEtLPwF4o6Mm6oUcRuEKLI74Uzs2yogHf6kLjO7ojzW-RPGxBrL0u0Yud4jU1dzRmMj4z36LTCqIOyfP-cjlkC1R19mATEQiqPMUpbqaZmMMbbA_YLqMMR9b5h-QFr5AU4pfIse7hVy9xBykIJq0zbNbLYndbhGc/w432-h500/Yule%20Island%20Blog%20Tour%20Banner.png" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-30833824592639086162023-12-01T00:00:00.065-07:002023-12-01T00:00:00.136-07:00Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/176967978-dead-sweet" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2409" data-original-width="1559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUUkiiLPA-yLUXUIkkZiSveFOiK3LU6EwyFfQ8yzPFhd3p7BYccqWyEKFWjXJSAP2NOsfZEwWnShma4lA1540JSwQJcNIF9kSJVvxgTS-aGLNYBEK26jcrGEhthme1gYlWPtrdvysfFwjS7nahyphenhyphenRBCE2NQlkzoC0-igEDQ0JJ_bBliiwOUhQzzY0pHHY/s320/thumbnail_Dead%20Sweet%20Final%20cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's December, readers! And today I'm kicking off the Random Things blog tour for Katrín Júlíusdóttir's <i>Dead Sweet</i>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Óttar Karlsson's girlfriend is thrilled to throw him a surprise party for his 50th birthday. She's hired out caterers to make an American barbecue feast, in honor of Óttar's having earned his degree in the States. She's even gone to the trouble to track down old friends from school. And no on is more shocked than her when the guest of honor fails to show up. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Then Óttar's body is found on the beach. After making quite a name for himself in Icelandic politics, the police are sure someone must have wanted revenge for one of his policies. And yet his coworkers all sing his praises and the polls showed support from many of voting citizens. In short, the police are a bit stumped. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Sigurdís has been working the beat for a while and is eager to prove herself and move up in the rankings at the department. But she's sidelined early on in the investigation. That is until she discovers a hidden safe in the victim's condo with some very interesting evidence. Soon the police have a number of motives that could have prompted the killing. But which one will pan out?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the first in a brand new Icelandic crime series! Interestingly, the author has a background in politics, making her well informed for the kind of plot she's built in <i>Dead Sweet</i>. Or at least part of it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Because politics isn't the only thing driving this mystery. As Sigurdís ensures she's heavily involved in the case, she uncovers more and more secrets about the acclaimed politician. As the reader would expect, the man is anything but squeaky clean. But it's well hidden. And in some cases, deeply hidden!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And yet part of Sigurdís's strength as an investigator is the fact that she has a keen intuition when it comes to investigations. It's earned her the respect of her colleagues, even after an incident that lands her in very hot water with the department. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of that said, she can't understand why her boss keeps relegating her to the sidelines. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But Sigurdís and her boss have a history that soon comes to light as well, making it clear that he feels an obligation to the young officer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As Sigurdís's personal story unfolds, so does the victim's. And the author does a very good job building parallels between multiple characters and their varying stories. To say more would, I fear, give too much away, but after the final page I couldn't help but reflect on each parallel that led up to that point. And it makes Sigurdís a very interesting character indeed!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I look forward to seeing what will happen next and how the events of this book will affect the determined young officer down the line!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Shout out to translator Quentin Bates! He's done another excellent job bringing the author's words to us English readers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvC0X-lRkmoByt4Qr88QvSf-FcAbF-C8yR3tJib2Vnh9iB0FDNbOeTWg5qgc5LQ5tIele_QoG2PXsmBDaBa_8x5Ackv07p9lvzesMDshp_IpKL94yNYbG9ZDRUJYfjI0v0If9NrRhToE5iH2luS20n0CW9H4TwOeKdkwlNKv1i__AF6x8jYxQDyJrFxw/s2245/Dead%20Sweet%20Blog%20Tour%20Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvC0X-lRkmoByt4Qr88QvSf-FcAbF-C8yR3tJib2Vnh9iB0FDNbOeTWg5qgc5LQ5tIele_QoG2PXsmBDaBa_8x5Ackv07p9lvzesMDshp_IpKL94yNYbG9ZDRUJYfjI0v0If9NrRhToE5iH2luS20n0CW9H4TwOeKdkwlNKv1i__AF6x8jYxQDyJrFxw/w406-h473/Dead%20Sweet%20Blog%20Tour%20Banner.png" width="406" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-41043521433217392652023-11-07T00:00:00.012-07:002023-11-07T11:14:02.802-07:00The Wolf by Samuel Bjørk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123252944-the-wolf" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="1843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9C1SpJ9gouI4ru2CVWweqNbr7yN6RNfj3_n5B4DwShJ-X55znlPrlwGvVSlVo7hgDeWrOBO5sjUiFAh6FrvnqBnSB7x-_0Fe2v6o7HPqsAgpFlS85S_QvjONW8GIvXu7z2dyAnG3sYoDTbfeXonBtVCgYTg2JDAj-g96AypgjMEWiYQ5nPZxsw1UfgM/s320/The%20Wolf%20Cover%20.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning, readers! Today I'm super excited to be a stop on the Random Things tour for the latest in Samuel Bjørk's Munch and Krüger series, <i>The Wolf</i>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As an aside, over a decade since I was introduced to this series with the amazing <i>I'm Traveling Alone</i> and to this day it remains one of my favorites!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wolf</i> is actually a prequel to the existing series. It is the story that starts it all: Mia Krüger being recruited to Munch's team at the ripe old age of 21. Her dreams to be the first female Delta sidelined when she's approached with an offer that turns out to be too tantalizing to resist. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Two boys have been murdered. Their bodies found in a bizarrely laid out scene with a dead fox placed between them. It mirrors a still unsolved case from Sweden with one exception: the animal there was a hare. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">As Munch and his team comb the growing crime scene as well as case files from outside of Norway, the head of the police academy flags Mia Krüger as a potential candidate Munch who might interest Munch. And while he's not looking to expand his team at the moment, Mia's skills of observation prove to be truly unique. After just forty minutes with the crime scene photos, she's made an observation everyone missed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Solving the case is anything but easy. No trace evidence at either scene, no connection between the victims in Sweden and Norway, and an eight-year gap between the crimes complicates things, to say the least. And yet, Munch's team is determined.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bjørk, aka Frode Sander Øein, excels in creating dark and disturbing puzzles of plots for his characters to unravel. And he also excels in building fascinating and well-rounded characters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've noted before that although this is commonly referred to as the Munch and Krüger series, it is in fact a larger cast of characters, all of whom get a careful amount of focus and build. (Though Munch and Krüger do take the spotlight.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the case of <i>The Wolf</i>, Bjørk even adds a bit of a forward that sent me on an internet search to see if it was in fact real, which is actually something I love. It means the author has done such a great job at putting together their story that it does feel as though it could be seated in reality!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will warn you that this series is dark. And by dark I mean it probably needs ALL of the trigger warnings. But if you're a fan of Nordic Noir, this is truly one of the best series I can recommend!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To date there are actually five installments in the series. The fifth has only just released this year and has yet to be translated (so I don't have a title), but the reading order now is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Wolf</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I'm Traveling Alone</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Owl Always Hunts at Night</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Boy in the Headlights</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Book 5 </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAMoE964V7HhIAk9zdlveq2RG23Zblc9VqdC4JzwgZ9pNyMFKQmKiCpJk9_FUu5OVIJ43k52m9km6KcRtmSdbQX58AIIOXeT0ixfV7R2HrHaSbnG4MnK-CnxHRfu0gwTqXnJ3aBU_2m0LpouxWxUxqro53fIOJxKeYoS6ENSoHJuYbPbqGkvv-y516jQ/s1866/The%20Wolf%20BT%20Poster%20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="1862" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAMoE964V7HhIAk9zdlveq2RG23Zblc9VqdC4JzwgZ9pNyMFKQmKiCpJk9_FUu5OVIJ43k52m9km6KcRtmSdbQX58AIIOXeT0ixfV7R2HrHaSbnG4MnK-CnxHRfu0gwTqXnJ3aBU_2m0LpouxWxUxqro53fIOJxKeYoS6ENSoHJuYbPbqGkvv-y516jQ/w523-h430/The%20Wolf%20BT%20Poster%20.jpeg" width="523" /></a></div></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-84144148090063491352023-11-03T00:00:00.067-06:002023-11-03T13:14:52.796-06:00The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/151330959-the-leftover-woman" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="975" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RShXifV24Usqbhu8yq36Nf4VVARQEpP9mZdiQiB8MhdLxzpVSm9j7SUcKSpwVjuekAZylhFSpbycj7q0OCG5CYE6a4YTXjmhjTCHVStYRANyU9OLOkwCUQ7IO6scQVr05X8xRLAhiTCj14cC2PArUijDiITbX0MFZehrUHLIWLBmw1Sf2BBvaVPM9ms/s320/Leftover%20Woman%20Cover%20.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Friday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things blog tour for Jean Kwok's latest, <i>The Leftover Woman</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Jasmine has left her life behind and come to America in hopes of finding her daughter, Fiona. But first, she needs to find a way to pay off the people who got her out of China. And stay out of notice of anyone who can alert her husband, Wen, of her whereabouts. Which is why it's a shock to run into her old friend, Anthony, while job hunting in the city. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Rebecca is a high-powered editor who wants to have it all: family and a successful career. But after an embarrassing incident with one of her authors, she's finding it more difficult than ever to balance those variables. If she can land a big author at auction, she can get her career back on track. But she can't help feeling like she's losing her grasp on things at home. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">One thing connects Jasmine and Rebecca: Jasmine is the biological mother of Rebecca's adopted daughter. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Leftover Woman</i> is a character-driven suspenseful narrative that explores oh so many things! Primarily womanhood, motherhood, and Asian culture. Which is a terrible simplification of the book. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jasmine is a daughter from a country that historically does not value its daughters. In spite of this, women are a commodity as wives. And her parents essentially sold her into marriage. And at first things are ok. But when she discovers her husband has betrayed her in the worst way imaginable, it marks the end of their union in her eyes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rebecca is a legacy in the publishing world. And determined to stay that way. But if she can't land a hugely desirable author, she may be in danger of losing her job. It doesn't help that she feels disconnected at home. Jealous of her daughter's affection for her nanny and concerned that she's losing ground in her relationship, she soon finds that juggling all of these pieces is harder than she'd imagined. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is a mystery involved here (which I've not gone into). And a definite underlying tension that makes what is sort of a slow burn, utterly gripping. And all of that wrapped in a lovely lyrical package. <i>The Leftover Woman</i> isn't a pretty story, but I have to say that Kwok's writing is. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Leftover Woman</i> is one of those magical books that's perfect for a broad range of readers: a cross-genre read with lots of emotion. At times it made me sad and at others it stressed me out. Throughout, I found myself rooting for these two very different women, unsure how things could possibly work out for both of them but very much wanting it to be so. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Leftover Woman</i> is out now in the UK from Viper!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NQUkV5dis1L-r0wvzlCKgAnuW7zKP2i2wx7tKpNkyEJy0m4cGEX8gs0nWDZP-Dr06oF7NYS7fpuwBqIgdnGY_m28PqrM4O7ThbT45qjh6fHF52Bus70QfHnJp1Ej2f-U9Ok9RcMgiFyAbzi00M0nID2Dvka1QMG2kdYTwqzl7B80lKzjFxs_6eTeZN4/s1920/leftover%20poster%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1920" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NQUkV5dis1L-r0wvzlCKgAnuW7zKP2i2wx7tKpNkyEJy0m4cGEX8gs0nWDZP-Dr06oF7NYS7fpuwBqIgdnGY_m28PqrM4O7ThbT45qjh6fHF52Bus70QfHnJp1Ej2f-U9Ok9RcMgiFyAbzi00M0nID2Dvka1QMG2kdYTwqzl7B80lKzjFxs_6eTeZN4/w513-h270/leftover%20poster%20.png" width="513" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-75552285183407785702023-10-26T00:00:00.001-06:002023-10-26T13:41:41.013-06:00The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781668035887" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm4dPE3zqzOztG6kxRLAGipmrS7vcqPjeHpwJFjS4PCGnu8tvUWNPpyvbUE48mzoDI0YOvqskJ3SjWFupM_2zaWfWCRxBMJY3wsu4BviIsY8p5YoR0ZwE2yx-q3mxlo4EU_1h5H9DNuIOukay2wzIKBCpC7xwGRUHV5UA0bfB8yN8tyWN77D4JiAi6dE/s320/6166fyMKmOL.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Thursday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Janice Hallett's delightful novella, <i>The Christmas Appeal</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The Fairway Players are back and up to their old tricks. With the loss of their leaders, Sarah-Jane MacDonald and husband Kevin are co chairs of the organization, much to the dismay of Celia and Joel Halliday. Mustn't forget that's Joel Halliday, OBE.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">It's Christmas now and they're prepping for their annual pantomime. This year it's to be <i>Jack and the Beanstalk—</i>all money raised will go to fixing the church hall roof after an unfortunate bat incident. And Sarah-Jane is determined that this will be the best production yet, going all out and even securing a massive beanstalk set piece. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">As it turns out, the beanstalk itself could be a problem with rumors of asbestos swirling around the emails and apps behind the scenes. But it's the dead body that's discovered the night of the play that's the real issue!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So apologies, readers, as I've not posted a review of <i>The Appeal</i>, this book's predecessor as of yet. But I will do so very soon as it is quite fun and highly recommended!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Christmas Appeal</i> is wonderful! Literally laugh-out-loud hilarious at parts and overall a very lighthearted read. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you've read <i>The Appeal</i>, the characters you know and love are back and feisty as ever. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sarah-Jane has a new baby, which hasn't slowed her down at all. Celia is at her throat, at least passive and not so passive aggressively. And the Players are recruiting new members now that they're down quite a few. It's a good thing two new housing developments have gone up even though some of the members would rather not recruit from the other side of the Tesco. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As with <i>The Appeal</i>, the book is built through texts, emails, and WhatsApp, and other ephemera with Charlotte and Femi once again reading alongside trying to untangle the various clues to determine a. what crime has actually been committed and b. who committed said crime. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Honestly, delightful only begins to describe this one. <i>The Christmas Appeal</i> is out and out fun! Definitely recommended, though if you haven't read <i>The Appeal</i> just yet, you might want to dive into that one first so you can get to know the characters and the first case a bit more!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Christmas Appeal</i> is out now in the UK and in the US. Happy reading!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OwdmhRw-NZCzWqMxE7wVE5ePwWSdZkFJ2jA-sZ92kDDo5P5jqwmB2XoOVtEAuqZwdMK2_vPymtUa968YT20_WT4ZYFPaFK7ynrE87sJ-rD2wH9YatDnyZqtyTwc5yzF9aTtNUCi2-UhDALl13fnX0pxdTekqwPzafR27B1Y4tTKa1_h5omk3UX_ODLE/s1336/Christmas%20Appeal%20BT%20Poster%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1336" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OwdmhRw-NZCzWqMxE7wVE5ePwWSdZkFJ2jA-sZ92kDDo5P5jqwmB2XoOVtEAuqZwdMK2_vPymtUa968YT20_WT4ZYFPaFK7ynrE87sJ-rD2wH9YatDnyZqtyTwc5yzF9aTtNUCi2-UhDALl13fnX0pxdTekqwPzafR27B1Y4tTKa1_h5omk3UX_ODLE/w510-h285/Christmas%20Appeal%20BT%20Poster%20.png" width="510" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-49631109763924620912023-10-23T00:00:00.080-06:002023-10-23T12:12:36.994-06:00Stigma by Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781914585760" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-9LDJPW2jERZgg7oLAZmWWUhpHejfXnnS1IXBvxek0rQIJ7hl8aOFnNe0RIw7K6FaZWEsSkGFrKAm8A4aGt7uklOLd1Eu3fBeKiZR-rXqT5i3sqVqsHT8SX6ZTCO88DCHRjM11kvA6kWg-YiLnXcPCzVwgOCpYm8NniblFb7RjtbU8H1cZD9oQwUz5g/s320/Stigma%20Proof%20aw.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Monday, everyone! Today I'm am super excited to be a stop on the Random Things tour for the latest in the Blix and Ramm series by Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger, <i>Stigma</i>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>WARNING SPOILERS FOR UNHINGED</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Things are grim for former cop now inmate Alexander Blix. Losing his daughter has been such a blow that serving time for killing her killer barely even registers. He's lost weight. He's lost interest. And Emma Ramm is one of his only regular visitors. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">But when his former boss approaches him for help, he can't resist. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">It seems a serial killer has escaped prison in Germany and may be on his way to Norway. How do they know this? Their one clue is the name of a man serving time alongside Blix. In fact, it's the one inmate he's had the most trouble with since arriving. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Meanwhile, Emma ends up looking into the same escaped prisoner, by way of looking for an advantage for Blix with his problematic inmate. And the case is all kinds of twisted. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">With threads that stretch back to 2004 and a tourist camping spot, Emma becomes entangled in a web on the outside while Blix faces the challenges of investigating from behind bars. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have reviewed the majority of the books in this series and I don't know how many more ways I can sing its praises! I love Blix and Ramm!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I warned you above and highly suggest reading these books in order. However, if you don't mind MAJOR spoilers for book three, you can dive in with <i>Stigma</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While all of the books pretty perfectly illustrate the partnership between Blix and Ramm, this one does so in such a great way! Blix is in prison. There's not much he can do beyond the connections he makes with a particular inmate. And so he is reliant on Fosse to share info and on Emma and the research she can do online and on the ground. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Both characters shine throughout the series, but pitting them both against the challenges they face here truly does show why this is such an amazing series!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is also the appeal of gaining insight into Norwegian law. Blix's case, which is under appeal at the time the book is set; the intricacies of chasing a convict across country lines; even the small town cops Emma has to navigate in her own digging. All of it is such a fun escape for someone like me who has never been to Norway. (Which might sound funny since this is a thriller, but it's true!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't want to give too much away, but I will say this one kept me guessing. I truly did not see the twists coming!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As ever, the authors and translator, Megan E Turney, and all of the folks at Orenda have done such a fantastic job here. I cannot recommend this series highly enough! And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the series order is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Death Deserved</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Smoke Screen</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Unhinged</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Stigma</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4EgRnEquegGx5rM3KYBVt-XRkydn7YbjGDcv1jLQ3j2X_YZnlpoyBekN-EahAZ4QfauFBe1xo0oEiS8Lg-ndgHi2MhtudoO8quTVVPxjXpHFnulaGGxpm5swkSHZy4qsnxY_fWiZ9DHlyve5uAv55PnniNUSZcQCoolVN1qjItVrgjvS4vYeABa1zsc/s2245/Stigma%20Blog%20Tour%20Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="571" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4EgRnEquegGx5rM3KYBVt-XRkydn7YbjGDcv1jLQ3j2X_YZnlpoyBekN-EahAZ4QfauFBe1xo0oEiS8Lg-ndgHi2MhtudoO8quTVVPxjXpHFnulaGGxpm5swkSHZy4qsnxY_fWiZ9DHlyve5uAv55PnniNUSZcQCoolVN1qjItVrgjvS4vYeABa1zsc/w452-h571/Stigma%20Blog%20Tour%20Banner.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-82081616859139890592023-10-06T00:00:00.004-06:002023-10-06T00:00:00.138-06:00Short Fiction Friday: Mama Bird by Clay McLeod Chapman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.shortwavepublishing.com/products/chapman-chapbooks-1-mama-bird" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV-0Saxtl7vHqlLYX1vLVE9c9RNuwsOy2R672cy59jnQVx9-mppjdH_0USophvO1E7_kLZpjf1j5pZHMmn2DvDuoaSK3K3j9lpx3Z_tJMeUnyYX89NT6oEtnJr3oGqtvLiSPJLQZyvXTS7BvbU6jV6XJ0bdXCEBjYYv4sODS1fIppFUctZvO5uaeSaQw/s320/Mama%20Bird.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bringing back my short fiction posts!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I've mentioned before, I am a literary agent. So during the week, in an attempt to reign myself in and focus on work, I try to stick to short stories and novellas. ('Cause if I get into a novel, I'm going to binge read until I finish, at the expense of work I need to be doing!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Every parent knows the worry that comes from picky eating kids. Are they getting enough nutrients and protein? Are they going to be hungry? It plagues you. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">And for this mother, whose daughter struggled to regain her birth weight and eschewed food, when she finally finds a solution, she grabs hold of it. Even if it isn't quite what you'd expect...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You're probably familiar with Clay through his novels, <i>The Remaking</i>, <i>Whisper Down the Lane</i>, <i>Ghost Eaters</i>, and the newly released <i>What Kind of Mother</i>. But this first of his chapbooks, published by Shortwave, came to my attention just before StokerCon. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a short tale. One that can definitely be read in one sitting. But it is a lot to chew on. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And as a mom, it hits on something I myself have had issues with since day one: providing nourishment for my child. Worrying about his development. And stressing about the importance of my own role in that regard. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Course I've never quite had to deal with the things this mom experiences!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A little plug for Shortwave—they are a special indie press putting out fantastically packaged chapbooks, novellas, collections, and novels. I've been reading a bunch of their titles, so you'll be seeing more from them on the blog!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://shop.shortwavepublishing.com/products/chapman-chapbooks-1-mama-bird">Order a copy from Shortwave today!</a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-23282382096820888362023-10-05T00:00:00.065-06:002023-10-05T09:54:05.684-06:00White as Snow by Lilja Sigurdardóttir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/175962854-white-as-snow" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8cq3Tco8idH7MjaNiWLGBM7pV9sqWm0pLYF3_-pkYZLaFnkF2XlR0Cv5uvpyxsLxYhWj1oMRypMjXLD54p06l87BgDOZ85BARbpFGpA119uoSwguesImbDfqURENWDsaRrnQm3ci4yd1kOznPuJQD5jiYZayFtAMDENNQ5_yEma2VmCOMGwPYkzY1uc/s320/White%20as%20Snow%20Proof%20Cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy happy Thursday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for the third in Lilja Sigurdardóttir's series, <i>White as Snow</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">A shipping container has been found on public land containing the bodies of five women. Except upon further investigation, one of the women is hanging on by a thread. Malnourished and suffering from terrible frostbite, the police do their best to keep news of her survival out of the press. As their main witness, they understand all too well that the people responsible for putting her there will do anything to find her and keep her quiet. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Daníel was supposed to be spending the next ten days with his children, but a case this big can't be pawned off. But he also knows that something this dark and twisted is going to loom heavy over him for a while. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">At the same time, Áróra, still trying to figure out where she stands with Daníel, has been asked to look into his ex-wife's new partner. The man, Sergei, is quite a bit younger than Elín, an artist who happens to be Áróra's own father's cousin. Though Elín is admittedly smitten, her father is insisting on a pre-nup to protect her assets. And yet Sergei is not only pushing for marriage, under the auspices of needing to be an official resident to get a job, he's against the pre-nup as well. And so it's Áróra's job to find out if there's something shady about the Elín's love interest.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">As both Daníel and Áróra's cases go on, there becomes hints of a connection. At first, it's an old case that both worked on in the past and links to the shipping container. But as they move forward, the links between the two cases become even stronger. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So first off, the thing on just about every series reader's mind: yes, if you're new to Lilja Sigurdardóttir's work, you can start here fairly easily. You are missing character development, particular in the case of Áróra as her sister's disappearance continues to be a main focus of hers. Some spoilers, but you can easily read <i>White as Snow</i> as a lead in to the series. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Technically this is referred to as the third in the Áróra Investigation Series (<i>Cold as Hell, Red as Blood, White as Snow</i>). But what seems to be common with Nordic Noir in particular is the fact that the series does not focus exclusively on Áróra herself, but rather a whole cast of characters. Daníel and his fellow officer, Helena, get just as much page time as Áróra herself. Which is something that I really love because you not only get backstory on all of them, but the interactions between them become more rich and detailed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this particular outing, you also get Bisi, the survivor. A Nigerian cut off from her family and seeking refuge, she falls prey to the worst kind of people. Her story comes out in two parts: past (before the container) and present. And she plays her cards close, in part because she's reliant on the officers and immigration to keep her safe. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>White as Snow</i> is an excellent addition to what is a fantastic series! If you haven't discovered it yet, do dive in here. Or start from the beginning and read them in order (my recommendation!) for the full experience!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn11mbAyEgryEeiS7HTxVbP0xMGW4Sla7lz4Z3v0faXparUVKlXj52IEkwSn6-ridw-eN1oiyQ9upL_zwQ0PimjHNrZriKQE9beLH0gtPzB35J4wzhEeArLWOgKg9wfYnRUOkCjy0FHQ2tnurppm9ym3QoqnbSe3wggG27Dw6KY6Rro69vxUi1kABO5g/s2245/White%20as%20Snow%20blog%20tour%20banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn11mbAyEgryEeiS7HTxVbP0xMGW4Sla7lz4Z3v0faXparUVKlXj52IEkwSn6-ridw-eN1oiyQ9upL_zwQ0PimjHNrZriKQE9beLH0gtPzB35J4wzhEeArLWOgKg9wfYnRUOkCjy0FHQ2tnurppm9ym3QoqnbSe3wggG27Dw6KY6Rro69vxUi1kABO5g/w459-h543/White%20as%20Snow%20blog%20tour%20banner.jpg" width="459" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-920799670059749872023-10-04T00:00:00.001-06:002023-10-04T09:41:32.040-06:00The Hollows by Daniel Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781915202383" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="1594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50WK6AG_zOSVH1jlKrFQ13TXpemvOvCkTRlfUYNClitYFXdAmzzxLe2gVvy5WvXkxgr-7kKaTWDnI5bsJH1FZsUxYH8DocpLttfK92ePsXwOXDKj_2euPGnfEDCxCsC3csudUS1EhM3Ikd6JxYTDZ6F2kD6pBYvZdjzNLD01c2RTH7W2n9A1AspGcQ-E/s320/60896795.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Everyone knows the Harpers are trouble. And it's not unusual for the ones still allowed at the local pub to get wasted and pick a fight. But Tony Harper was one of the better ones. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Was. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Now Tony's been found dead, frozen in the snow, and it's up to Constable Ellie Cheetham to share the bad news. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">What Ellie doesn't know is that Tony won't be the last. Something has begun. Something that puts all of them at risk. The Harpers know. They've passed the knowledge down from generation to generation. And they're thrilled to allow the rest of the village, the outsiders, suffer what's to come. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Hollows</i> is snowed-in folk horror! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So a horrible storm is looming, a dead body has been found, and Ellie Cheetham, a capable cop working under a boss who's basically just keeping his chair warm. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He's ready to chalk this up as an accident. And it's not out of the realm of possibility that a Harper walking home drunk, fell and froze in the snow. Except there are some very strange details about the crime scene that Ellie can't ignore, even when pressed to do so. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Her conversation with the Harpers devolves very quickly, adding another danger to the locals as the storm brews. And then a house on the border of the village is found ripped apart. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are so many excellent characters here. Ellie is of course a favorite, but there are others who stand out as well. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the lore! Holy moly! I absolutely love the created lore in this one. I say created, but forgive me if there's a kernel of actual folklore to this one, I'm not fully versed on UK folklore. Either way, it's a very cool bit of terror to pit against a poor little cut off village with limited competent officers!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Daniel Church is fabulous and I look forward to more (pretty sure I heard there are definitely more to come from Church via Angry Robot!).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Order a copy from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781915202383">Bookshop</a> today!</div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-19850109426749389612023-10-01T00:00:00.001-06:002023-10-01T00:00:00.134-06:00Devil's Creek by Todd Keisling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781587678592" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS70sKkf-m81LjVbmclCDScrTV-xORZGn5Rrci1U7xG2Ly09JFyvutA43KW3-vmitRAZT9Y5LCYK4nnGoYdq33q5396MxtNTn1vUrxMVg3jazsdYeICyucNAcZojLKxufCc8TQ0zICL32t2n4yx424CRTqNQQReSSvNFQxHZGSr8ABbLvhyphenhyphenbLC6-OK350/s320/66094828.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been very neglectful of the blog, really only posting tour posts. Why? Because I've been a bit overwhelmed! And yet, as someone who works in publishing, I of all people am aware of the need to post reviews! So I'm back! And I"m trying to do better. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, IT'S SPOOKY SEASON! Which seems like a great time to get back into blogging! And I'm kicking it off with, full transparency, one of my new clients. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As an aside, I did not actually work on this title. It was already out in the world well before I started working with Todd. But it was one of the first things I read by him and I adore it, so I can't help but post. I will be posting more from Todd and other clients. I'll always put a header so you're aware. And they won't be reviews, per se, since I do work with them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Everyone knows about the dark history of Devil's Creek. That back in the 80s there was a church there that burned to the ground. Almost everyone in the congregation died. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Jack Tremly did not. In fact, he was one of the Six. Siblings that survived the fire. Illegitimate kids whose mothers blindly followed Jacob Masters and his cult. And all of them fathered by Jacob himself. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Jack was raised in nearby Stauford by his grandmother. One of the handful who turned against Jacob and his teachings. And as soon as it was feasible, Jack left town to start a life well away from his dark past. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">But now Jack is back. His grandmother has passed and as her only living relative able to settle her estate, he must reluctantly return to Stauford. And with her death, and Jack's return, Jacob Masters's plans are revived. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fair warning, this book is dark. Keisling does include an author's note at the start with a pretty hefty content warning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another small note, there is an earlier edition of the book that might still be floating around. My post here is for the Cemetery Dance edition that released in 2023. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So this one popped up on more than one recommended reading list that I'd come across and was in my must have list when I went to StokerCon in June. And amazingly, Todd was the first author I was introduced to there. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I snagged a copy at the mass author signing (got mine signed) and brought it back to my hotel room at 2am. I made it through the opening chapter before I fell asleep and had nightmares as a result. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I kid you not!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I devoured this book! And a few cool things about it: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Keisling is a designer as well as an author and he fully designed the interior. It's not something you usually see in books and it's a super cool affect that amplifies the reading experience. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This book and Stauford are part of Keisling's Southlands world. And part of a mythos he's building within said world. A lot of his work ties into this mythos, which I find exceptionally awesome!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Devil's Creek</i> is a hefty read. And again, it's dark. It deals with trauma and a lot of other stuff. But it's also well deserving of the Stoker nomination it earned and the praise so many authors have for it, including Ronald Malfi who wrote the new intro. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So even if you don't want to take my word for it, S. A. Cosby, Eric LaRocca, John Langan, and more can't be wrong!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And for more of the Southland Mythos, be sure to check out Todd's new collection, <i>Cold, Black & Infinite</i>, as well as his novellas <i>The Final Reconciliation </i>and <i>Scanlines</i>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Order a copy from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781587678592">Bookshop</a> today!</div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-89240736900819749072023-08-29T00:00:00.050-06:002023-08-29T00:00:00.258-06:00The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63325346-the-phoenix-king" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeuIFnf7shsEbd8FgYqQUMZXWGwHsvA25noZPXTVRA4PoQxJn9nevTwJ8sgURi-VnmyeKhJ7REl6eof33UN0kSYjWz81qea1BWKtmP7ljr4U-Ab3eO7uG8rV9lRbot3s-7SrsPmPUzpybOHvQk1TsymV1iDVm9q4FUECi7sCyof_DhjCntW2PFkz6Nz0/s320/phoenix.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hi, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Compulsive Readers tour for Aparna Verma's <i>The Phoenix King</i>. The first installment in the Ravence trilogy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A king unwilling to give up his throne. A would-be queen certain she'll never be accepted. And an assassin who yearns for freedom. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These three and their stories intertwine to make up Verma's debut, <i>The Phoenix King</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">When we meet Yassen Knight, he's on his last assignment. The last one before he's out of the business. Unfortunately things go very wrong and Yassen ends up on the run. Which is how he ends up in service to the Ravences. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">For Elena, the throne is her birthright. And yet, it seems everything, including her own father, is working against her claiming her place as leader. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">To that end, Leo is not at all ready to give up his seat or his power. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">But war threatens their kingdom, and an ancient prophecy could upend all of their plans. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Phoenix King</i> has an interesting history, all things considered. Verma self published the title as <i>The Boy With Fire</i>, gaining popularity and fanbase enough to catch the attention of trad publishers (a perfect storm, in other words). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And rightfully so! Verma weaves political intrigue, romance, and Hindu mythology into a book and a world that are quite unlike anything else I've read of late!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Phoenix King</i> is a perfect example of the power of new voices in fiction! Voices that tell stories we haven't heard over and over again. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't one of my most anticipated fantasy debuts of the year—and the book delivers on every possible front!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the first in a trilogy and so far I've not seen a date for the release of book 2, but it's already on my mental must have list! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeb1Ont3CjH_blggUV4uib2WRu52W1To9_dNKjYbLN-xRgA8N1nGOCZiLKpi_00ab-kwHeoLpL841pekjMBQrYPIRKy0nPn7uVIUs7iHts5SJfQdKhlqH1lQ7dM3ENFdg8ksVZXGSXClGULbYVWC4bUo2r-hEuz3W0w51ZQ_0RSPRwUr8uOUUnKHT6Jk/s1920/thumbnail_The%20Phoenix%20King.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1920" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeb1Ont3CjH_blggUV4uib2WRu52W1To9_dNKjYbLN-xRgA8N1nGOCZiLKpi_00ab-kwHeoLpL841pekjMBQrYPIRKy0nPn7uVIUs7iHts5SJfQdKhlqH1lQ7dM3ENFdg8ksVZXGSXClGULbYVWC4bUo2r-hEuz3W0w51ZQ_0RSPRwUr8uOUUnKHT6Jk/w528-h349/thumbnail_The%20Phoenix%20King.png" width="528" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-23657091606703726462023-08-08T00:00:00.035-06:002023-08-09T11:01:45.810-06:00Whalefall by Daniel Kraus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781665918169" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETcczGGszKBdCiWE_C-0xuFZ1UV4MnjuH-yuWknLk6a9sjaUOi0CN5x8qHDmS4Ks5slMlHOu_ZumJtfXmBHlT7MN-epxQL-4KalCu7_RdsjWZutoKydTJ2Oaqq5tGzDuunx-Dq1IpPg7rOrTLpX8ClHHapQKu43-fYNE2T8voPkaAK_pXSzg9NAsY/s320/9781665918169_ad94a.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Seventeen-year-old Jay Gardiner had what you would absolutely call a troubled relationship with his father. But Mitt Gardiner was such a local legend that no one, even his own family, quite understands. Especially in the wake of his father's illness and suicide.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">In a last ditch effort to gain back some respect, Jay has decided to find his dad's body. But what should be a typical dive for someone as trained as Jay becomes a harrowing survival tale when he's swallowed by a sperm whale. And it's up to Jay to remember all the things Mitt taught him if he's going to survive.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>As someone who knowingly suffers from thalassophobia, I knew this was going to be a tense one, but I think this is the most anxiety-inducing thing I have ever read! Which might make you wonder why I even subjected myself to it. You should know that as a habit I do read and watch just about everything focused on deep sea horror, exploration, and killer creatures. I'm terrified of it but equally fascinated by it!</div><div><br /></div><div>And oddly enough, both of my parents were divers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lest you think this is just a creature feature, it is not. In fact, the bulk of the story is actually the relationship between Jay and Mitt. And being trapped forces Jay to reckon with something he's been trying to escape for a long time: facing down his issues with his father. </div><div><br /></div><div>So yeah, it's a story about being swallowed by a giant whale. But it's also family relationships, trauma, and one determined teen!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is 100% binge read material and perfect for fans of Peter Benchley, Nick Cutter, and pretty much anything in between!</div><div><br /></div><div>Order a copy from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/85560/9781665918169">Bookshop.org</a>!</div></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-28264926109857055422023-08-02T00:00:00.089-06:002023-08-02T12:33:23.654-06:00Zero Days by Ruth Ware<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64631570-zero-days" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr89lJL_IZFJfk1aT8m7__ZIUBVvJcDTmYVx5l6G5RfvPf1mF6QL4UM1O306K4ZjU3Ldhb6wxWyFkn9Z9Edo-spJPs3ovyuZeFdyF7D3xKAA_QLAl0ZO4JPpTNh-xAgClWbIPjBVk-Df7x2dWmS9fPkKLwyO2708GrfQZRzaVcilaRqZQqo3osi2XQIc/s320/zero-days-9781398508392_hr.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Wednesday! Today I'm excited to be a stop on the Random Things blog tour for Ruth Ware's latest, <i>Zero Days</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Jack and Gabe are known for being experts in testing security systems. But a regular job turns out to be anything but when Jack finds Gabe murdered in their home. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The night starts like any other. They are testing security systems at Arden Alliance. Jack on site and Gabe at home manning the computers. But Jack makes a mistake that leads to her getting caught, which means having to convince security and the police that she is not in fact a criminal but was hired to break in. And it seems Gabe has fallen asleep because he isn't answering calls to back her up. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">After finally being released, Jack returns to the job site to pick up her car. Then, tired from the long night, takes a few wrong turns. Looking forward to calling it a night, she finally arrives home to find Gabe has been brutally murdered. And the scene suggests a professional hit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Except Gabe doesn't have any enemies Jack can think of. And he hasn't been involved in anything that would attract the attention of professional killers. Unfortunately for Jack, the police decide her timeline of the night in question doesn't quite add up. And with no one else to seriously consider as a suspect, the detectives turn their eyes to her. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">As the primary, and easy, suspect, Jack knows the police are focused on pinning the crime on her. Which means the real killer will get away. And that's something Jack won't stand for. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ruth Ware has done it again! And by it, I mean bringing readers another impossible to put down thriller that will keep them guessing through to the end!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jack is quite a fun leading character. She's trained in evading security. Which means she has (excuse the use of the cheesy phrase) a certain set of skills that are pretty perfect for avoiding police capture while also digging into a completely unfathomable crime. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But she's not alone. She has the support of her sister's family as well as Gabe's best friend Cole. Even still, staying off the grid pushes her to her limits. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And not only does she have to figure out <i>who</i> murdered Gabe, but also <i>why</i>! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Zero Days</i> proves once again that Ruth Ware is truly one of the best in the thriller business!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqmYHukhKONTyMj9U_jb3WoMKl3K6VWaS_KoiXWYNmWkifeluOuSIG4x2uBZ63YIn47gm4p_fgc6PgGo9ctsIVRq7WYu3fdHlRv7hF6bp1vL-axfQ5PVQDb9PunABGScrSIaSchoyVQ7-B2aAi1TbekBfHgM5QJCLiudV5WcroI8GZrmv8E4PimDA3IA/s1920/FINAL%20Zero%20Days%20BT%20Poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1920" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqmYHukhKONTyMj9U_jb3WoMKl3K6VWaS_KoiXWYNmWkifeluOuSIG4x2uBZ63YIn47gm4p_fgc6PgGo9ctsIVRq7WYu3fdHlRv7hF6bp1vL-axfQ5PVQDb9PunABGScrSIaSchoyVQ7-B2aAi1TbekBfHgM5QJCLiudV5WcroI8GZrmv8E4PimDA3IA/w507-h340/FINAL%20Zero%20Days%20BT%20Poster.png" width="507" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-85556011127325905102023-07-26T23:00:00.051-06:002023-07-28T20:52:23.469-06:00You Can't See Me by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnafdzC2NbR3JgR64C3DPU0jiGhXbu3vQ0iRLuxrjcZF7hpdOUvSRzRGriuS88l_Skg5KOXgr0yWYS03eFiKSXNzAb23Mk9DA0Rf4tVHejzI1MsAIXreTdoKyKveS2elGEnug-9DLooV5gPppoTerm0yFKTzg7Sjv6_ySCCxkSF0KxqzIOGsCpPiUyac/s2339/You%20Can't%20See%20Me%20Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnafdzC2NbR3JgR64C3DPU0jiGhXbu3vQ0iRLuxrjcZF7hpdOUvSRzRGriuS88l_Skg5KOXgr0yWYS03eFiKSXNzAb23Mk9DA0Rf4tVHejzI1MsAIXreTdoKyKveS2elGEnug-9DLooV5gPppoTerm0yFKTzg7Sjv6_ySCCxkSF0KxqzIOGsCpPiUyac/s320/You%20Can't%20See%20Me%20Final.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for the prequel to Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's Forbidden Iceland series, <i>You Can't See Me</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">On what would have been the family patriarch's 100th birthday, the Snæberg family has scheduled a reunion at a posh new hotel in rural Iceland. Modern and stark, the hotel is nonetheless breathtaking. But certain family members are less than impressed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">With a storm looming and alcohol in the mix, tension is particularly high. And then one of the guests goes missing. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Two days later, the police are on site. But what happened between the guests' arrival and then?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The story alternates in timeline and POV. Some of the narrators include Petra, an interior designer, her daughter Lea, who may have been followed to the hotel by an online stalker, and Irma, a hotel employee (to name a few). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The book begins with a prologue of sorts, set on Sunday, November 5, but then jumps back to Friday, November 3, the day the family is set to arrive at the hotel, and the reader is given a brief introduction to the family by way of Irma, who's done ample research to prepare for the family's stay at the hotel. But then the story jumps back to Sunday and the arrival of the detectives. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So less than three days before what's supposed to be a family reunion turns into something much more sinister!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The author perfectly sets the stage for a snowed in thriller that's excellent fun! And there's plenty of ominous foreshadowing for what's to come!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a perfect entry and introduction to the series for readers who are new to Ægisdóttir. If you're a fan of dark crime fiction and/or Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ragnar Jónasson, you need to be reading Eva Björg Ægisdóttir!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As mentioned, this is a prequel to the Forbidden Iceland series. Reading order, after <i>You Can't See Me</i> is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The Creak on the Stairs</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Girls Who Lie</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Night Shadows</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTG5mD3YY0go7syPXJpiqzbWN1gr-3LPHH-aL1frTDGB-5aUWBQ1pXPShUKGuqHKycLLDq8ghVOp2Jz0jmatAj1YpylyNxuLBgbrojUnmv00Na6-OuiiSSEb2F0QVrTrk8c-XBBqpSCHyIQgpi78WJgg8eF2T-fTzeU_8JqN7DUAC-aYw-8aDTvFeTzI/s2245/You%20Can't%20See%20Me%20Blog%20Tour%20banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTG5mD3YY0go7syPXJpiqzbWN1gr-3LPHH-aL1frTDGB-5aUWBQ1pXPShUKGuqHKycLLDq8ghVOp2Jz0jmatAj1YpylyNxuLBgbrojUnmv00Na6-OuiiSSEb2F0QVrTrk8c-XBBqpSCHyIQgpi78WJgg8eF2T-fTzeU_8JqN7DUAC-aYw-8aDTvFeTzI/w413-h532/You%20Can't%20See%20Me%20Blog%20Tour%20banner.jpg" width="413" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7864122091184089707.post-3158546125064561852023-07-25T00:00:00.073-06:002023-07-25T13:56:06.245-06:00The Dive by Sara Ochs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/97629987-the-dive" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="838" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6toncj_5VEuSBFXklAZ90kO0yNcRNScbXxB_YEY3f1h9FfUQaweTuj6XhY1QwvNVWeafjjd4aj9RrHmyTYAAsl5FfA3Zf0KfW699GGtlxUZSxVr68iArHSQuf2S6WGxwCMtYZjZcDU_d3s7sR6REY2vFb73ZB1GYIMZEA6nHZeCGeZQDhanrDPiboy5I/s320/The%20Dive%20Cover.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><div>Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Sara Ochs's <i>The Dive</i>!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">It's supposed to be a normal work day for dive instructor Cass. And yet it's anything but. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">Cass has lived and worked on the island of Koh Sang in Thailand for two years. And in that time she's made great efforts to keep her background under wraps. And she's done well in that regard, finding friends and a family of sorts among the other expats who work on the island. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">That is until she receives an ominous message: someone knows about her past. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">Things take a significant turn for the worst when a member of her latest dive class is found dead in the water. Cass soon becomes convinced that the death is tied to the note she received. Unsure of the note writer's motive, Cass, along with another expat, Brooke, decides to find out more about the tourist's death. And when another person turns up murdered near the resort and Cass receives another note, she's more certain than ever that the two are connected. </span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;">With the locals and the police determined to keep their island tourist friendly, Cass knows she can't turn to the authorities with her suspicions. Solving the case is her only option. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>Conspiracies and murder in paradise! If you're a fan of <i>The Beach</i>, this is the summer read for you! (If you haven't read <i>The Beach</i>, definitely pick it up—even Cass herself has a nod to the book/movie.) </div><div><br /></div><div>The reader is introduced to Cass the morning after she's become engaged to another expat, Logan. And we quickly learn that Cass hasn't told Logan everything about herself. Whatever she's keeping is big. Big enough that she's afraid of losing him. Big enough that someone can use it as blackmail. </div><div><br /></div><div>The reader is also introduced to our second narrator, Brooke, who is (surprise) also keeping secrets. Posing as a travel influencer, Brooke has been getting to know Cass and her friends for the past few weeks. But Brooke has bigger aspirations than Instagram. And when a guest at the resort is found dead, Brooke's interest is piqued. </div><div><br /></div><div>Though the death is ruled an accident, it is actually the second tourist death in recent weeks. A connection neither Cass or Brooke can overlook as they become involved in digging up info on the latest death. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved <i>The Dive</i>! The setting is fabulous: a small dive resort on a less popular Thai island where business lives—or dies—by its reputation. And with so many people running from their pasts (yep, it's not just Cass and Brooke that are hiding things), the list of possible suspects and motives isn't as small as you'd think. </div><div><br /></div><div>Given that it does take place on a (fictional) island, there's an automatic urgency to the story. An insular community, made so by language and cultural barriers, tied together simply by way of their all speaking English. And those nasty secrets none of them wants revealed are all in danger of being spilled!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Dive</i> is great fun! Perfectly paced and super fun! It's out now from Bantam Press in the UK and will be out in the US early next year. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBqApg29jWQgJaPMtiWHYRbhVIkTiJqB2XOcId8zTiodDORGd1gcTQo1w3KAn4ggDsna2L1vfy-jwUyEZr6ff5xtXRF-aXlJ5Gtaz_3RPYPx3YdsFtEVwjocjgvkyASArauTYoQZk4qNBmcUmAco9TzinVCqT-GKhcdgvh9SYTxcEmaOgT8XWoLTZ4Sk/s1200/The%20Dive%202%20BT%20Poster%20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBqApg29jWQgJaPMtiWHYRbhVIkTiJqB2XOcId8zTiodDORGd1gcTQo1w3KAn4ggDsna2L1vfy-jwUyEZr6ff5xtXRF-aXlJ5Gtaz_3RPYPx3YdsFtEVwjocjgvkyASArauTYoQZk4qNBmcUmAco9TzinVCqT-GKhcdgvh9SYTxcEmaOgT8XWoLTZ4Sk/w500-h268/The%20Dive%202%20BT%20Poster%20.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div>Becky LeJeunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030931605009567165noreply@blogger.com1