#TuesdayBookReviews- Two For the Road #amreading

This week I have two completely different stories to share. I love how books can connect with readers in unexpected ways 🙂

They Call Me Mom: Making a Difference as an Elementary School Teacher

Who Will You Inspire Today? Teachers face this challenge and responsibility each day, but in the process, the author discovers that his students can also have a profound influence on him. Pete Springer takes you on his memorable thirty-one-year journey in education as an elementary school teacher and offers the many valuable life and teaching lessons he learned along the way. Get ready to laugh out loud at some of the humorous and memorable experiences that all teachers face, feel inspired by the inherent goodness of children, and appreciate the importance of developing a sense of teamwork among the staff. Learn valuable tips for working with children, parents, fellow staff members, and administrators. This book is ideal for young teachers, but also a reminder to all educators of the importance and responsibility of being a role model.
This book is a must-read for all new teachers and those teachers that need a reminder they are human! Mr. Springer educates others in his easy-to-read, story-like, first-hand manuscript. You will laugh, cry, and get motivated to be the best educator you can. After reading this, I have a better outlook on relationships with my colleagues and am reminded to savor every moment.
–Tami Beall
(Principal, Pine Hill School)

My Review

Teachers are often under-appreciated. Without their dedication, patience, and caring where would we be?

This is an inspiring memoir on one man’s thirty year journey as an elementary teacher and all the challenges and joys he found along the way.

There is much more to teaching than relaying a set curriculum. Many times, teachers are faced with children who are in tough situations, lashing out, bullying, depression (yes, even in elementary). They must navigate a minefield of emotional stress and still manage to portray calm and stability.

This book is filled with helpful information on the classroom setup and teaching methods. While I think it’s geared more toward new teachers looking for advice, it’s also a must-read for parents. I guarantee it will change your attitude the next time you go to parent-teacher conference!

Warning Signs: A Story About Obsession

Eugene’s research into his criminal mind is not about the why, but how to prevent his horrific crimes. Angie, a young woman starving for passion sees Eugene as her saviour from a lonely life of caring for her heroin addicted mother. How far is she willing to go in order to save her relationship with Eugene and his promise for a future together?
Detective Van Ray is out on a vindictive mission as he attempts to solve the murders of young girls in Youth Protection.
Their lives collide in a mixture of mistrust, obsession and ignoring the warning signs. A psychological thriller about human frailty and loneliness.

https://amzn.to/2X2oHRL

My Review

Niko Nishevsky, aka Eugene Monroe, fancies himself a professor in search of the truth behind a serial killer’s motives. His study of previous cases reveals differences between his own murders and theirs, leading him to believe he is smarter and more evolved than his predecessors. Where they killed, he saved his victims.

Not the same at all.

Angie is a full-time caregiver for her drug and alcohol addicted mother and dreams of the day a white knight will swoop in a carry her away. When she meets Eugene aboard a train heading to Ottawa the connection is immediate. They go on a date, share a few kisses, and Eugene gives her a burner cellphone for ‘secret’ conversations. Angie realizes he is a little bit strange, but her desperation blinds her to the truth.

When Detective Van Ray accidentally gets a look at the biography of a serial killer book in Niko’s briefcase his suspicions rise. Is this the man who has been murdering young women in youth protection?

A game of cat and mouse begins and it’s hard to say who wants the killer caught the most, Van Ray or Niko?

This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves into the mind of a psychopath. I was surprised to find myself empathizing with Eugene. He truly wants to change, but life has made him into what he’s become.

An enthralling read!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

How about you? Any good books that you’ve read lately?

March 31, 2020March 30, 2020

Jacquie Biggar9 Comments

Pike by @TM_Frazier #MCRomance #Suspense

“T.M. Frazier sucks me in every time with her incredible storytelling.”- Meghan March, New York Times bestselling author

Pike, the first dark and fast-paced story in The Pawn Duet from USA Today bestselling author T.M. Frazier, is available now!

I was raised by the violent laws of the streets, spilling blood without the hindrance of useless emotions or connections. 

Unfeeling. Unloved. Alone.

My life was perfect.

Until her.

While on a manhunt for a mysterious enemy, one hellbent on taking both my business and my life, I find Mickey. She’s covered in mud, rambling nonsense, and clearly out of her mind.

She’s also a distraction I don’t need.

That is until I discover a connection between the girl and my enemy. 

Mickey isn’t a distraction anymore.

She’s the perfect weapon.

One I’ll use to exact my revenge. 

The plan is an easy one, but there’s something about Mickey that’s making it more and more difficult.  

A familiarity I can’t place. A need I can’t explain. 

A want I have to deny. 

After all, she’s not mine to keep. She’s a tool. My pawn.

My sacrifice.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2U0Bsdz

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2UlWdiV

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/PikeTM

Nook: http://bit.ly/2IZIBVg

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2IUH1DN

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WrlXNk

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2vvrOWL

Pre-order Pawn, the stunning conclusion, today!

Releasing April 28th

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ano48Q

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/PawnTM

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2Wwehtj

Nook: https://bit.ly/2vDiDnc

Kobo: https://bit.ly/33AKfGi

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WGVAmu

Excerpt

I raise the gun in both hands, aiming it at his chest. “I have to go. You can’t stop me,” I say, with all the resolve I have left. “You’re going to trade me and ambush them, but don’t you think they have the same plans for you? I have to go, and that way, fewer people will die. YOU won’t die. So, just let me leave. I have a plan. It will work. I’ll take them down for both of us.”

“No.” Pike looks from me to the gun. “And as I’ve told you before, you’re not going anywhere.” His words are dark and menacing. An amused smile turns up the corners of his lips.

It’s infuriating. He’s infuriating.

I straighten my shoulders. “What’s so funny?” I ask, swallowing down the rising fear in my throat. I remind myself of one important fact to keep from choking on that fear.

I’m the one holding the gun.

Instead of freezing or retreating as one would do in this situation, Pike takes a bold step forward, catching me off guard. I stagger backward, but I’m not fast enough. He reaches out, and at first, I think he’s going for the weapon, but he doesn’t. He confuses me as he wraps his hands around mine, tightening my grip around the gun. He lifts my hands and bends slightly at the waist, forcefully pressing the barrel against his forehead. “You wanna shoot me, Mic? Then, fucking shoot me,” he dares, with wild blood shoot eyes.

My mouth drops open, but words don’t come out. I expected Pike to defend himself. To come at me. To step aside and let me leave, even though it was the least possible of all the outcomes. I didn’t plan for this.

I can do this. I have to do this.

“Not what you were expecting?” His tone is both mocking and rage-filled. “I know what that pretty brain of yours is thinking. You want me to attack you and make pulling the trigger easier on that conscious of yours.” He bites out a laugh. “Not gonna happen. If you want to do this, I’m not going to stand in your way, but you’re not fucking leaving either. So, come on. Shoot me. Go ahead. Do what you planned to do.” His eyes narrow with determination. My hands shake in his. “Pull the fucking trigger!”

The air around us is thick and charged. My skin breaks out in a sheen of sweat. My adrenaline spikes and I feel all too alert. Too aware of what’s taking place between us.

I grip the gun tighter and gaze into his dark eyes, his pupils are large and covering every hint of color within them. Behind the anger and determination, there’s something else that I didn’t expect. Something that I’m all too familiar with. Hurt. Pain that mirrors my own. Desperation that calls out to me like a piece of my soul trapped within Pike.

“Shoot me!” he cries, his face red with anger, teeth bared like a wild animal. “Fucking shoot me!”

With those words, my fiery resolve dissolves into ash.

I step back, needing to put some distance between us, but Pike doesn’t have the same thought. He follows me backward, keeping his grip tight on my hands and the gun between them.

“I…I can’t do this,” I whisper, releasing my grip on the gun.

Pike releases his hold on me, catching the gun before it can fall to the floor.

Shit.

I look to the window, but it’s too high, and Pike is directly in front of the only door. There’s no escape. So much for being brave. Instead, I’ve signed my own death warrant. My heart races erratically with the realization that this is it. It’s over.

I’m over.

“This was a really stupid fucking move for someone who claims to be so smart, ” Pike sneers. He raises the gun.

I pinch my eyes shut, waiting for the feel the bullet of his wrath to pierce my skin. I hear a thud, and my eyes fly open and land on the carpet where Pike’s tossed the gun to the floor.

My eyes meet his in silent question. Why?

He answers by charging, a one-man stampede I can’t avoid as he barrels toward me. His chest crashes against mine, and my head connects with the wall with a thud that rattles my bones. I’m dizzy as fear lands in my gut like a ball of fire. My pulse races as his closeness consumes me. The smell of cologne and cigarettes lingers between us—a trace of whiskey on his breath.

“You’re going to regret not pulling that trigger,” he sneers. The darkness in Pike’s eyes tells me that, gun or no gun, I’m not getting out of this unpunished.

Or possibly even alive.

I swallow hard.

He cages me in with his hands against the wall beside me, engulfing me in the heat and rage radiating from his hard body. I feel his heart beating fast beneath his chest now pressed against mine. “What to do with you now?” Pike muses, his breath ragged. His voice full of promise and warning. He brushes his lips over my temple. I tremble at the contact. “You’re going to pay for that little stunt, Mic.”

He’s close. Too close. I’m entirely rigid, frozen in place. This wasn’t supposed to happen. How did I let this happen? I’m the most terrified I’ve ever been, and yet there’s something else I can’t understand. Something else between us that’s charging the air, causing me to shake, and it’s not just from fear. Hatred mixed with need. The yearning I’ve denied for him is no longer lying dormant. It’s as real as the ache growing in my stomach, the wetness between my thighs. If I thought the room felt charged before, it’s damn near on fire now. The flames of desire and hate lick at the walls around us, setting everything ablaze, making the small room feel smaller, closing in around us.

My nipples harden as they brush against his chest. I suck in a gasp.

He doesn’t miss my reaction. He looks to where my nipples are straining against my shirt with heated eyes.

The only sound in the room is our mutual heavy breathing as he slowly pulls his gaze from my chest. His eyes lock on mine. For a few seconds, we just stare at each other—foreheads lined with confusion and anger.

A silent dare.

My mind, on the other hand, is anything but silent.

“Should I kill you or fuck you?” he muses. And I’m honestly not sure what scares me more. His anger or his desire. He brushes the backs of his knuckles against my jaw. “Maybe, both.”

“What do you—” I don’t have time to finish my question because his lips are on mine. He hoists me in the air, and my legs wrap around his waist on instinct.

It’s an angry joining of clacking teeth and biting lips. A war we are still fighting both with each other and ourselves. He growls at me when I pierce his lip, drawing blood. He licks the blood with his tongue then kisses me again, this time harder. A punishing kiss that has me growling at him in return. His coppery blood on my tongue tastes like victory. He licks his way between my lips, pushing his tongue into my mouth, licking and devouring with rough determined strokes. With a jerk of his hips, he presses the massive erection beneath his jeans between my legs, the pleasure that courses through me has me momentary seeing stars. I grind down on him in return.

He hisses in response, baring his teeth against my lips. “You’re going to pay for that, Mic,” he warns, taking my mouth in another kiss that has us grunting and growling at one another like starved animals fighting over the last scrap of food. But neither of us is about to give up. He pushes me back onto the bed, falling with me over my body, my legs splayed on both sides of his hips as he presses his cock again between my legs. I arch my back, needing to feel more. Needing for there to be nothing between us but desire. For each other, and to win. But, this is no longer a game we’re playing. It’s a battle. A war neither of us can win.

But, one in which we will both go down fighting.

About T.M. FrazierT.M. (Tracey Marie) Frazier never dreamed that a single person would ever read a word she wrote when she published her first book. Now, she is a five-time USA Today bestselling author and her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world. T.M. enjoys writing what she calls ‘sexy wrong side of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines. Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay. She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she’s not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

Connect with T.M. Frazier

Facebook: http://bit.ly/TMFRAZIERBOOKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JWHAv8

GoodReads: https://amzn.to/2OjmESr

Join Frazierland:http://bit.ly/frazierland

Instagram: https://bit.ly/2U8gmtH

BookBub: https://bit.ly/2xtlQ4u

Twitter: @TM_Frazier

Stay up to date with T.M. by signing up for her mailing list: http://bit.ly/TMFrazier Website: http://www.tmfrazierbooks.com

For Text Alerts: TEXT “TMFRAZIER” TO 77948

*Standard text messaging rates apply*

March 26, 2020March 25, 2020

Jacquie Biggar2 Comments

Sugarcoated by @ErinNicholas #NewRelease #Romance

“Sugarcoated is hot, funny, and so adorably swoon-worthy, it’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!” – Katana Collins, author

Sugarcoated, an all-new sweet and sexy standalone romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is available now!

A hot, funny brother’s best friend rom com…with sugar on top!

She’s his best friend’s little sister. He’s known her all his life. He’s practically part of the family. There is nothing either of them could do to surprise the other at this point.

Then she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card.

Now, that was a surprise.

Aiden is pretty sure Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no.

To say that he didn’t handle it well would be a massive understatement. Almost as massive as the amount of work he’s going to have to do now to convince her that he wants her. Forever.

Right after he tells her that he’s bought the company that’s her bakery’s biggest competitor.

Maybe if he tells her he’s in love with her first, that will help sugarcoat the whole we’re-rivals-in-business-now thing.

So, first “I’m in love with you”, then “take off your clothes”, then “I’m now your business adversary”.

Piece of cake.

Download your copy today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bjel3L Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/sugarcoated Apple Books: https://apple.co/36BvxzB Nook: http://bit.ly/39UU6t5 Kobo: http://bit.ly/37Lz6Dk Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Wxondp Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/36Etef8

About Erin Nicholas

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Connect with Erin

Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF Facebook: http://bit.ly/2tdTM8e Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QLd1Pr Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3a3rnm4 Instagram: http://bit.ly/36NqV9y Website: http://bit.ly/2FM3Doo Stay up to date with Erin Nicholas by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/38a5Fv5

March 24, 2020March 23, 2020

Jacquie Biggar4 Comments

#TuesdayBookReview- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton #YANovels

No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he’s got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.

The Outsiders is a dramatic and enduring work of fiction that laid the groundwork for the YA genre. S. E. Hinton’s classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published.

“The Outsiders transformed young-adult fiction from a genre mostly about prom queens, football players and high school crushes to one that portrayed a darker, truer world.” —The New York Times

Biography

Susan Eloise Hinton’s career as an author began while she was still a student at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Disturbed by the divisions among her schoolmates into two groups–the Greasers and the Socs–Hinton wrote The Outsiders, an honest, sometimes shocking novel told from the point of view of an orphaned 14-year-old Greaser named Ponyboy Curtis. Since her narrator was male, it was decided that Hinton use only her first initials so as not to put off boys who would not normally read books written by women. The Outsiders was published during Hinton’s freshman year at the University of Tulsa, and was an immediate sensation.Today, with more than eight million copies in print, the book is the best-selling young adult novel of all time, and one of the most hauntingly powerful views into the thoughts and feelings of teenagers. The book was also made into a film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and featuring such future stars as Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, and Tom Cruise.Once published, The Outsiders gave her a lot of publicity and fame, and also a lot of pressure. S.E. Hinton was becoming known as “The Voice of the Youth” among other titles. This kind of pressure and publicity resulted in a three year long writer’s block.Her boyfriend (and now, her husband), who had gotten sick of her being depressed all the time, eventually broke this block. He made her write two pages a day if she wanted to go anywhere. This eventually led to That Was Then, This Is Now.In the years since, Ms. Hinton has married and now has a teenaged son, Nick. She continues to write, with such smash successes as That Was Then, This Is Now, Rumble Fish and Tex, almost as well known as The Outsiders. She still lives in Tulsa with her husband and son, where she enjoys writing, riding horses, and taking courses at the university.In a wonderful tribute to Hinton’s distinguished 30-year writing career, the American Library Association and School Library Journal bestowed upon her their first annual Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors authors whose “book or books, over a period of time, have been accepted by young people as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions, giving insight into their lives.”

My Review

An incredibly intimate portrayal into the lives of teenagers from ‘both sides of the track.’

I was hooked from the opening line:

WHEN I STEPPED out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.
The Outsiders- S.E. Hinton

Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers, Darry and Sodapop, are getting by after the deaths of their parents, but life isn’t easy. Darry had to quit school in order to care for his younger brothers, determined to keep his family together even though money is tight and trouble never far away.

The boys and their friends are known as greasers, often preyed upon by the rich socs who take pleasure in taunting them with all that they don’t have.

They had me down in a second. They had my arms and legs pinned down and one of them was sitting on my chest with his knees on my elbows, and if you don’t think that hurts, you’re crazy.
The Outsiders- S.E. Hinton

Life on the streets is brutal. Either you protect one another, or perish. The author does an incredible job of drawing the reader into Ponyboy’s life. It’s impossible not to have empathy for these tough, loyal, misunderstood young men.

“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .” The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died. You read about people looking peacefully asleep when they’re dead, but they don’t. Johnny just looked dead. Like a candle with the flame gone.
The Outsiders- S.E. Hinton

I first read this book as an English assignment way back in grade eight and it has stayed with me all of these years. This is a timeless story of disparity and inequality, never more important than in these uncertain times.

A must-read!

March 24, 2020March 23, 2020

Jacquie Biggar20 Comments

Frozen Stiff Drink: A Kellan Ayrwick Cozy #Mystery by @JamesCudney4 #NewRelease

I’m excited to share one of my blogging buddie’s new releases- Frozen Stiff Drink by James. J. Cudney!

I’ve read, and enjoyed, many of Jay’s books (you can check out my review for Haunted House Ghost here, Academic Curveball here, and Father Figure here. Needless to say, I’m a fan!

A winter blizzard barrels toward Wharton County with a vengeance.

Madam Zenya predicted the raging storm would change Kellan’s life, but the famed seer never could’ve prepared him for all the collateral damage. After Nana D disappears, one of her patients turns up dead and a second body is discovered beneath the snowbanks, Kellan must face his worst fears.

Between finding Nana D and solving the scandalous murder of another prominent Braxton citizen, Kellan and April’s worlds explode with more turmoil than they can handle. Unfortunately, neither one of them knows what to do about the psychic’s latest premonition.

Can Kellan find Nana D – and who is the killer terrorizing the town?

What Readers are Saying

As this series moves along, we watch the characters grow and learn life’s lessons. An air of mystery shadows this story and I feel it may run into the next story, though all the stories in this series are stand-along if you wish to read them that way.
Cudney builds an exciting story around these events, with occurrences and surprises we don’t see coming.
Amazon Reviewer

Book 6 in James J. Cudney’s Braxton Campus Mysteries is another page turner, a shell-shocker and will most certainly leave you gasping, “What?” but in a good way!
Amazon Reviewer

Biography

James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in New York City, but I’ve traveled all across the US (and various parts of the world). After college, I began working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment and media industries. Although I enjoyed my job, I wanted to re-focus on my passions: telling stories and connecting people through words. In 2017, I published my debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. From there, I wrote another family drama novel, Father Figure, and created the Braxton Campus Mysteries, a light investigation series about a humorous guy dealing with murders and the drama of a small town. Many of my books are available in print, electronic, and audiobook formats, and we are beginning to release foreign language translations. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com.

Outside of writing, I’m an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have over 1,000 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I share several fun features, including the Book Bucket List, Tips & Advice, Author Spotlights & Book Alerts, and the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. You’ll find tons of humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers… where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

A bit of humor: Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment, where more than just my cooking is on display! As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs & animals) inspire me to write. Baxter, a two-year-old shiba inu, constantly tries to stop me from writing so I can play with him and keep him amused. How else can you pen the best story possible without these things by your side?

March 20, 2020March 19, 2020

Jacquie Biggar6 Comments

WWW Wednesday #Read #amreading

WWW Wednesday is a meme from Sam at Taking On A World Of Words

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

This looks like a fun challenge, so I decided to join in.

What am I currently reading?

I came across this ebook on sale the other day, and while I have a dog-eared paperback in my library I decided to make the purchase anyway. You can’t have to many copies of The Outsiders!

This book is every bit as good now as it was the first hundred times I read it!

50 years of an iconic classic! This international bestseller and inspiration for a beloved movie is a heroic story of friendship and belonging.

What Book did I Recently Finish Reading?

If you’re looking for a lighthearted story to rid you of the virus blues, this one will do the job! You can check out my review here.

In search of something ugly…

All Brady Conrad wants to do is earn a few merit points with his artist girlfriend, so he volunteers to cover her gallery when she leaves town. What should be an easy day of sales goes belly up when he mistakenly sells a cherished painting.

With the clock ticking toward Vanessa’s return, Brady has less than a day to track McDoogal down. He coerces his friend Declan to tag along for moral support. How difficult can it be for an investigator and the director of a renowned institute to find a single painting in a town the size of a postage stamp?

Neither Brady nor Declan counted on a suspicious sheriff, rival baseball teams with a longstanding grudge, or a clueless kid trying to win his girlfriend with all the wrong gifts.

McDoogal is smack in the middle. But Brady’s biggest dilemma isn’t the disastrous hunt. It’s confessing to Vanessa her painting is the ugliest thing he’s ever seen.

What Am I thinking of Reading Next?

I have two books on my reading list for this category.

I’ve been reading rave reviews for Warning Signs and can’t wait to start it myself!

Karen Robards is one of my go-to authors. She has an uncanny knack for combining suspense and humor to her stories- I love them!

With her back against the wall, everything’s on the line for Bianca St. Ives. She’s either going to save the world—or die trying.

It took one hell of an effort for the authorities to finally get the jump on master manipulator Bianca St. Ives, but now that they have, it’s far from the capture she expected. Instead of taking her in, there’s an offer on the table, a one-shot deal that would allow Bianca to walk away scot-free as if they’d never found her. And all she has to do is run one last mission—the kind she might never return from. But if Bianca wants to go back to her normal life in Savannah, it’s not like she has a choice.

An intelligence operation is already under way in North Korea, one that’s poised to end the country’s existing tyrannical regime for good. But first, the US need one of their own to go undercover as the female hacker who recently stole top secret intel from NORAD. Enter Bianca. After everything she’s seen, Bianca knows feeding fake information directly into the belly of the beast is about as dangerous as it gets. It could mean torture or endless imprisonment—assuming she survives. But it might also ignite the kind of chaos that forces a revolution. It might just change the world. Besides, if Bianca has to go down, she’s gonna go down swinging…

If we have to stay home, at least we have our fictional (and blogging) friends to keep us company 🙂

March 18, 2020

Jacquie Biggar17 Comments

#BookReview- In Search of McDoogal by @MaeClair1 #RomCom

In search of something ugly…

Neither Brady nor Declan counted on a suspicious sheriff, rival baseball teams with a longstanding grudge, or a clueless kid trying to win his girlfriend with all the wrong gifts.

McDoogal is smack in the middle. But Brady’s biggest dilemma isn’t the disastrous hunt. It’s confessing to Vanessa her painting is the ugliest thing he’s ever seen.

Biography

A member of the Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, Mae Clair is also a founding member and contributor to the award-winning writing blog, Story Empire. She has achieved bestseller status on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with several of her novels chosen as book club selections.

Mae writes primarily in the mystery/suspense genre, flavoring her plots with elements of urban legend and folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail, and cats.

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.com

My Review

The things we do for love…

When Brady Conrad inadvertently sells his girlfriend’s prized painting of her beloved feline, he talks friend Declan into helping in its recovery.

They follow a vague trail of clues leading them to a small town with a suspicious sheriff and a calamity of events that make for entertaining reading. Brady and Declan act more like brothers with their witty dialogue and unending support and the supporting characters are a hoot!

The more we learn of this painting, the curiouser it gets and was a highlight of the story for me.

If you’re looking for a little lighthearted relief from the current world crisis, this book fits the bill!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

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March 18, 2020March 17, 2020

Jacquie Biggar48 Comments

#BookReview- Incriminating Evidence by @RachelSGrant #Suspense

From enemies to allies…
When archaeologist Isabel Dawson stumbles upon an unconscious man deep in the Alaskan wilderness, her survival skills are put to the test. She tends his wounds and drags him to shelter, only to discover she’s saved the life of Raptor CEO Alec Ravissant—the man who may have covered up her brother’s murder to save his senatorial campaign.

With no memory of the assault that landed him five miles deep in the forest, Alec doesn’t know what to believe when he wakes in the clutches of the beautiful redhead who blames him for her brother’s death, but he quickly realizes he needs her help to uncover the truth about his lost hours.

Isabel never imagined she’d find herself allied with Alec, and he’s the last man she ever expected to find attractive. But the former Army Ranger-turned-politician proves seductively charming, and he’s determined to win much more than her vote. When their quest for answers puts Isabel in the crosshairs, Alec must risk everything—his company, his campaign, and his life—to protect her.

Biography

USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist and mines her experiences for storylines and settings, which are as diverse as excavating a cemetery underneath an historic art museum in San Francisco, survey and excavation of many prehistoric Native American sites in the Pacific Northwest, researching an historic concrete house in Virginia, and mapping a seventeenth century Spanish and Dutch fort on the island of Sint Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children and can be found on the web at http://www.Rachel-Grant.net.

Photo by Northwoods Murphy on Pexels.com

My Review

Isabel Dawson is on a mission to find out the truth behind her brother’s death in the Alaskan backcountry. She uses her job as an archeological surveyor to comb the land searching for clues and butting heads with the owner of the secretive military organization her brother worked for- Raptor.

One minute CEO Alec Ravissant is driving towards the Raptor compound and the next he awakens with a pounding head and a feisty woman single-handedly pulling him by travois to a cabin in the woods. Not only that, she’s the firebrand ruining his chance at running for senator by accusing him of murder.

While the attraction runs hot, trust doesn’t come easy between these two, but when danger erupts around them they turn to each other to stay alive and find the answers before a killer finds them.

This is a action-packed suspense with futuristic weapons and plenty of red herrings. I think the romance was a little over-the-top considering the situation, but overall a good read.

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

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March 17, 2020March 16, 2020

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

#BookReview- Long Shot by KeNnedy Ryan #SportsRomance @KennedyRWrites

★ A Top 30 Amazon Bestseller & RITA® Winner ★

A FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA… .

Think you know what it’s like being a baller’s girl?
You don’t.
My fairy tale is upside down.
A happily never after.
I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud.
I was a fool, and his love – fool’s gold.
Now there’s a new player in the game, August West.
One of the NBA’s brightest stars.
Fine. Forbidden.
He wants me. I want him.
But my past, my fraudulent prince, just won’t let me go

*Contains domestic/sexual abuse not involving the hero

https://amzn.to/2U6o9H9

Biography

A RITA® Award Winner and USA Today Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.

Kennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour and many others. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but has a special passion for raising Autism awareness.The co-founder of LIFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for ASD families. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son.

Stay In Touch!

Facebook: facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor
Book Group: facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/
Twitter: @Kennedyrwrites
Instagram: @kennedyryan1
BookBub: bit.ly/KRBookBub
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/7429243.Kennedy_Ryan
Google +: plus.google.com/u/0/+KennedyRyanAuthor/posts
New Release Text Alerts: Text Kennedy Ryan 797979

My Review

A raw, insightful story of survival against domestic abuse.

When August enters a quiet bar on the eve of the biggest night of his college basketball career, he doesn’t expect to meet the woman who will change his world.

Iris is fascinated by the shy, handsome baller who joins her for a drink, but she is in a committed relationship, so regretfully says goodbye at the end of the evening, never expecting how her life is about to change.

When I told my story, some said I was a hero. I’m not. I’m just a woman who ended up in a bad relationship with a bad man and had to fight my way out of it. I did what I had to do to protect my daughter and to protect myself. That doesn’t make me special, but it does make me a survivor.
Ryan, Kennedy. Long Shot (HOOPS Book 1) . Kindle Edition.

When Iris becomes pregnant(unplanned on her part) and is forced into bedrest, her dreams of a career and independence are placed on hold. Without her realizing how it happened, Caleb- her boyfriend- slowly and inexorably separates her from family and friends under the guise of love. A chance encounter with August reminds her of the friendship/attraction she’d given up and draws a jealous reaction from Caleb she doesn’t expect.

I’ve never been hit in the face. My mother didn’t bother disciplining me. Though I saw men hit her and my aunt from time to time, no man has ever hit me, so I didn’t know. I couldn’t have known that the first hit, that baptism into violence, doesn’t just sting the flesh. It startles the soul.
Ryan, Kennedy. Long Shot (HOOPS Book 1) . Kindle Edition.

I’m not going to lie, this is a brutal read. But, it’s also an important story- one that needs told. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of death for women, and in many cases either goes unreported, or is swept under the carpet by an overworked law enforcement.

Women are victims of intimate partner violence more often and more severely than men

79% of police reported intimate partner violence is against women Women were victims of intimate partner homicide at a rate four times greater than men

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/problem-canada.html

Crisis Lines (24/7):

Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1 888 494 3888

Women Against Violence Against Women: 1 877 392 7583

Battered Women’s Support Services: 604 687 1867

We need books like this to show us, we CAN WIN. Don’t give up the fight!

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March 16, 2020March 14, 2020

Jacquie Biggar8 Comments

#BookReview- Parental Guidance by @AveryFlynn #SportsRomance

“A fantastically fun, HOT love story.” – Kendall Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
It wasn’t me.

It was my team.

But as almost co-captain I raised my hand to fix it.

Never imagined they’d arrange a PR stunt to make me look like Mr. Right to someone my mom picks out on some new dating app.

Then my salvation walks into the restaurant.

Zara Ambrose.

The five-foot-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches that I convinced to go on five dates with me for all the world to see.

She’s got her own reasons for our set up–and her own rules.

But somewhere between the couples’ obstacle course, wrestling matches with her Great Dane, and fights over mashed potatoes, Zara went from means-to-an-end to something so much more.

What happens when you start to fall for the one girl you can’t have…on live TV?

Biography

Avery Flynn is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Find out more about Avery on her website (averyflynn.com), follow her on Twitter (@AveryFlynn) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/AveryFlynnBooks), and like her on her Facebook page (facebook.com/AveryFlynnAuthor).

Join her street team, The Flynnbots, and receive special sneak peeks, prizes and early access to her latest releases!

Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she’ll be your best friend for life.

Contact her at avery@averyflynn.com. She’d love to hear from you!

My Review

Get a group of alpha males together and the trash talk is bound to flow. Such is the basis for this fun, yet insightful story about NHL player Caleb Stuckey and Zara Ambrose.

A recorded cab trip with some of the rookie’s on his team goes viral overnight after the guys brag about their luck on and off the ice. Caleb’s mother comes up with the idea of showing her son’s remorse by having him date a woman she picks out via a new app called Bramble. Caleb just wants to get back to playing hockey.

Zara is a miniatures artist and a self-professed workaholic. She has zero interest in dating men (bad experience with a flighty father), but gives in to her friend’s pressure after a few too many drinks and adds a racy bio to the Bramble website, never expecting a call to come through. When it does, her father begs her to try it as a way for him to get his SAG card through the TV segments.

Caleb and Zara’s first meeting is awkward. Neither one wants to be there, but are determined to make the best of a bad situation. They decide on the required five dates, and done.

Too bad their attraction is off-the-charts!

Favorite Lines

What was wrong with her? He hated mashed potatoes. Only sociopaths hated mashed potatoes. It was a sign on top of all the other ways they were total and complete opposites
Parental Guidance- Avery Flynn

“Life is like hockey—you put in the preparation, you put in the work, and you pray like hell that the calls will go your way.”
Parental Guidance- Avery Flynn

This is a fun read! I give Parental Guidance 4 lovely kisses.

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March 12, 2020March 11, 2020

Jacquie Biggar18 Comments

High-Tech Crime Solvers Presents Virtually Gone by @Jacqbiggar #Suspense #Read

Virtually Gone: in the crosshairs of a serial killer

I’m thrilled to present the new multi-author series High-Tech Crime Solvers and my novel, Virtually Gone…

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Jacquie Biggar, comes a gripping techno-thriller, part of a multi-author series tied together by an interlocking cast of characters, all centered around the fantastic new promise of high technology and the endless possibilities for crime that technology offers, in a world where getting away with murder can be not only plausible, but easy…if you just know how..

Investigative reporter Julie Crenshaw stumbles upon the case of a lifetime–one that could cost her everything.When Julie is called on to investigate a string of sexual abuse cases, she doesn’t expect to land in the crosshairs of a serial rapist. Soon she’s in a race to find the facts before a killer makes her the headline.

Detective Matthew Roy is frustrated with his inability to track a rapist terrorizing his city. Added to that, his partner’s reporter girlfriend is dogging his every step and won’t heed his warnings. Time is ticking with the perpetrator escalating his crime to murder. Matt needs to find the killer soon, or chance losing someone he cares for-the question is, how?

★★★★★ “This author is an auto-buy for me. Each of her novels including this one is a perfect mix of angst, suspense, humor, and steaminess.”

Virtually Gone

(Volume II of High-Tech Crime Solvers)

Preorder now… Be the first to read it!
When Detective Matthew Roy and reporter Julie Crenshaw are called on to investigate a string of sexual abuse cases, they don’t expect Julie to land in the crosshairs of a serial killer.

Excerpt

“Hey, Detective, got a minute?”

Matt closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. He liked and admired his partner’s girlfriend, but the last thing he felt like doing was playing nice for the press right now.

“Can’t, Jules, I’m busy.” He didn’t have to turn his head to see her disapproval, it bore a hole through his shoulders.

“C’mon, Roy. The public have a right to know what’s going on. They need to be notified.”

That did it. He rose and swiveled on his feet to stomp over and get in her face, heedless of the camera crew waiting in the wings. “What in the h-e-double-l do you think we’ve been doing?” he roared. Connor had warned him about taking cases like these personally, but dammit, it was personal. This young woman had a family somewhere, maybe even a husband and children who would never get to see her or tell her how much they loved her again.

Damn right, it was personal.

Julie gazed at him with worried eyes before turning to her crew and slicing a hand across her throat. “Give us a minute, guys. I’ll call you when I’m ready.” They looked at each other, shrugged and gathered their gear, moving to stand beside the VIBS News van. When she returned her attention to Ray, determination overrode the concern. “You want to tell me what has you so riled up?” She raised her hand. “And yes, it’s off the record.”

No, he did not want to tell the pretty reporter the story of his life, thank you very much. He trusted Julie as much as he did most of the individuals in his life, with the exception of Connor—which was to say, with a bag of salt. He’d found people tended to say what they thought you wanted to hear, not what they actually meant. In his line of work, there was a stark contrast between the two. Which meant he kept to himself, safer that way.

On the other hand, this was Jules and she’d been through some tough times of her own, so he made an effort to tone down his frustration. “I don’t like when I can’t keep my city safe,” he admitted. He angled sideways so he could keep an eye on the techs. “This guy, it’s like he’s always one step ahead of us, you know?”

She leaned over the yellow ribbon and patted his too-tense arm. “You’ll get him, Matt. I know you will.” Then she straightened and donned her investigative reporter face. “Can VIBS get a short statement from you? It doesn’t have to give away anything, just let the public know you’re working on it, okay?”

Matt sighed. She was like a Pitbull with a piece of meat.

From a power team of bestselling authors comes a gripping series tied together by an interlocking cast of characters, all centered around the fantastic new promise of high technology and the endless possibilities for crime that technology offers, in a world where getting away with murder can be not only plausible, but easy…if you just know how.

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020

Jacquie Biggar26 Comments

#BookReview- Moments We Love by Balroop Singh #Poetry @BalroopShado

Moments of fragrant love that stand frozen in time, of dreams that dare not unfold, of passion that fleets by, of erratic joy that we meet at the crossroads of life; butterflies of time that add color to our dark moments to scare the demons away – I have gathered all of them in this book. Some of them whisper softly to create a magical aura while spring of life sings with them, trying to wipe silent tears. Mother Nature steps in with all her grandeur to breath quiet messages of tranquility.

Each poem would soothe your emotions with élan and add a dash of color to your life. Life – that doesn’t halt for your sad moments; it just floats by. You just need to dive in to soak in myriads of moments to discover how they could ignite positive tones. All the poems in this collection are imaginary but inspired from people around me, some of whom chose to share their frustrations and tremors with me. My imaginative muse transformed them into poetry.

Memories and moments merge here
Today when I return to share
The glow of rainbows,
Embers of emotional entreaties
And smoldering debris.

Biography

Balroop Singh, an educationalist, a poet and an author always had a passion for writing. She would jot down her reflections on a piece of paper and forget about them till each drawer of her home started overflowing with poetic reminders, popping out at will! The world of her imagination has a queer connection with realism. She could envision the images of her own poetry while teaching the poems. Her dreams saw the light of the day when she published her first poetry book: ‘Sublime Shadows Of Life.’ She has always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling of leaves and the sound of waterfalls. She lives in San Ramon California. You can visit her blog at http://balroop2013.wordpress.com

Photo by Andreas Wohlfahrt on Pexels.com

My Review

A rich tapestry of emotion guides the reader through first love through the pain of loss and poignant memories in Moments We Love by Balroop Singh.

The words flow like a warm breeze, inspiring us to think about the moments that change our lives.

My Favorite Lines

From Rift

We lie trapped in darkness
In the shadows of stillness
Butterflies of hope are fluttering
With tears in silent eyes.
Moments We Love- Balroop Singh

From Rooted in Love

Love is not just growing together
It is weathering storms
Smiling through gales
Reaching out to each other
Making memories
That could be cherished.
Moments We Love- Balroop Singh

From I Feel Most Like Me

I feel most like me
When random memories make me smile When rain drains away emotional dust That gathers unawares
When my grandson hugs me tight
And whispers, “I love you.”
Moments We Love- Balroop Singh

A refreshing look at life and love. I give Moments We Love 5 lovely kisses!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

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March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Jacquie Biggar25 Comments

#BookReview- Lawless by @TM_Frazier #MCRomance

Ruined. BROKEN. LOST.

Thia’s lost it all. With no options left she turns to the biker she met as a kid to cash in the favor he swore to return all those years ago.

Bear’s best friend is dead. His old man wants to put him to ground.
He has bigger things on his mind than the pink-haired girl from the
gas station he never thought he’d see again.

Until her battered body is tossed onto his doorstep.

Keeping his promise to Thia means Bear has to be willing to risk everything, including his life…and what’s left of his heart.

Thia’s bruised and battered.
Bear’s leather and lawless.
It will never work between them.
It’s a lie they ALMOST believe

LAWLESS is book THREE in the King Series and meant to be read after KING & TYRANT.

Biography

T.M. Frazier lives in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and daughter. She dreamed of being a writer since the day she learned how to read. After spending many years working in real estate she decided could no longer ignore that dream.

She published her first book, The Dark Light of Day, in 2013 and has since become a USA Today bestselling author several times over. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world.

T.M. enjoys writing what she calls ‘wrong side of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines.

Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay.

She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she’s not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

Join T.M. in Frazierland! http://www.facebook.com/groups/tmfrazierland

My Review

When young Thea is given a promise ring in exchange for silence, she doesn’t expect to use it as protection many years later.

Thea returns home one day to her worst nightmare. Her mother has shot her father and intends to turn the gun on both of them, so they can all go to Heaven to be with Thea’s brother. Problem is, Thea’s not ready to die. Left with no choice, she shoots and kills her mother. Panic-stricken, she turns to the only help she can think of- the tall, handsome biker who’d given her a ring to cash in if she ever needed anything in exchange for silence in a botched robbery by one of his brothers-at-arms.

Unfortunately, Bear isn’t part of the MC gang anymore, but his father is happy to leave him a message at Thea’s expense. Hurt and abused, she is rescued from rape by an unlikely source and ends up in Bear’s hands, but he’s not the kind, funny man she remembered.

Bear lives one day at a time. He’s seen, and done, horrible things in his life and now his only goal is revenge against the man who raised him and subsequently turned on him- his father- leader of the MC.

That becomes more complicated when a beautiful young woman turns up on his doorstep, frightened and beaten by his dear old dad, spouting a tale of him owing her a favor from years ago. He’d only given her his ring at the time to keep her quiet, and was surprised she’d taken him seriously. He should get rid of her, but the broken look in her eyes and the undeniable chemistry between them keeps him from letting her go.

Driven by a need to protect Ti at all costs, Bear soon finds himself fighting the MC, the law, and Thea herself while battling feelings he’s never had before- love and tenderness for someone he doesn’t deserve.

This is a raw, emotional story of biker life and an unlikely hero who will engrave himself on your heart.

Favorite Lines:

Silence. Scarier than any gun blast or cannon fire. Louder than thunder and ten times more terrifying.
Lawless- T.M. Frazier

He cupped his hands around my face and kissed me like he was screaming at me, punishing me for disobeying him, for being in his life, for not being in his life.
Lawless- T.M. Frazier

I give Lawless 4 lovely kisses- Heart-wrenching!

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March 4, 2020March 2, 2020

Jacquie Biggar20 Comments

#BookReview- Viral Blues by C.S. Boyack #Suspense @Virgilante

Someone knows about the hat. The creature from another dimension that helps Lizzie fight against the creatures of darkness.

They are summoned to a cryptic meeting with a secret society, where they meet other people with enhanced skills. It turns out someone, or something, has been tampering with the world’s vaccine supply. The goal doesn’t appear to be political or financial, but biblical pestilence.

Can this group of loners come together in time to make a difference when even the proper authorities are obstacles?

Check out Viral Blues, for your dose of paranormal adventure, with a strong sample of dark humor. And in recent superhero style, don’t miss the secret last chapter after the back material.

Biography

I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I’m not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.

I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century, and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.

I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Craig

My Review

When an underground organization tampers with the world’s vaccine supply, endangering thousands of lives, Lizzie and The Hat are brought in to help a group with supernatural abilities to find, and stop, whoever is behind the scheme.

Using their band as a way to infiltrate local hangouts in a search for the culprits, Lizzie is joined by a robotic covergirl, a guy who can turn himself into fog, a take-no-prisoners thug who likes to break knees and ask questions later, along with a few more interesting characters.

They are faced with zombies, mobsters, and a demon intent on annihilating the world.

The pacing is fast in this highly inventive story of the battle between good and evil. The author added a number of twists and turns that kept this reader guessing what would happen next!

If you like supernatural suspense thrillers, Viral Blues is a must-have addition to your #readinglist!
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I give Viral Blues 5 lovely kisses- Imaginative storyline!

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March 3, 2020March 2, 2020

Jacquie Biggar44 Comments

#BookReview- Simple by Anita Dawes #Suspense @jaydawes2

SHADES OF DELIVERANCE MEETS THE WALTONS…
Simple’s life is a painful nightmare.
He is one huge bear of a man, but with the heart and mind of an innocent child. He suffers terrible abuse from his vicious and uncaring backwoods family.
Together with his half-sister Leanne, they are hunted like wild animals and suffer the terror of nearly being burned alive as they try to escape.
Will they ever discover the joy of freedom?

My Review

Life in the backwoods of Eastern USA is not easy. The hardscrabble country folk live by their own set of tough rules and there is a price to pay for breaking them.

Leanne’s family are as much a part of the woods as the trees and carnivores of the forest. They are rough, cruel, and frightening except for Simple, a big brute of a man with a soft heart and the mind of a child. Leanne would have run away long ago, but she was too scared of what her Uncle Jimmy would do to Simple to leave him behind.

When trouble comes to the mountain, Leanne is forced to make decisions for her and Simple or die.

This is a gripping suspense with intense scenes and complex characters who practically leap off the page. Uncle Jimmy, Jack, Granny are all people I would NOT want to meet in a dark alley!

Favorite Lines

When Simple got worked up his words stuck, stretched out like an echo rebounding around the woods before finding the end of it.
Simple- Anita Dawes

Putting on a face, Gran always said, don’t mean you can hide what you are.
Simple- Anita Dawes

I fell asleep, listening to the rain and Simple’s mind spilling out on to the dry leafy floor.
Simple- Anita Dawes

This book is the haunting story of one young girl’s journey to a new life. It is the story of survival.

I give Simple 5 lovely kisses- Unpredictable!

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February 25, 2020February 24, 2020

Jacquie Biggar49 Comments

#BookReview- Amanda in Alberta by Darlene Foster #ChildrensMystery @SuperMegaWoman

Amanda is delighted to show Leah aaround Alberta during her visit from England. They take in the Calgary Stampede, go on a cattle drive, visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, spend time with the dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and explore the crazy Hoodoos.When Amanda finds a stone with a unique mark on it, she doesn’t think it’s important until everyone seems to want it – including a very ornery cowboy. Is this stone worth ruining Leah’s holiday and placing them both in danger?Spend time with Amanda as she explores her own country while attempting to decipher the mysterious writing on the stone and keep it from those determined to take it from her.

My Review

Amanda is excited to show her friend, Leah (visiting from England), the sites in southern Alberta.

While at the Calgary Stampede Parade, a clown drops a stone with strange markings. Amanda rescues the stone from the road and tries to get the clown’s attention, but he’s gone. She decides to hang onto the rock to see if her Great-Aunt Mary, a famous paleontologist, might know what the markings mean.

Strange and frightening encounters occur while the girls are sightseeing the Stampede, a working cattle ranch, Drumheller with its world-famous dinosaur museum, and Writing on Stone Park- a Unesco World Heritage site. Someone wants the stone back and they aren’t above hurting the girls to get it!

Amanda in Alberta is a fun, page-turning mystery with interesting tidbits of indigenous history along with Alberta landmarks thrown in.
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While geared toward the pre-teen age group, this book has something for every reader to enjoy.

I give Amanda in Alberta four lovely kisses- Traveling with Amanda is an adventure!

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February 24, 2020February 23, 2020

Jacquie Biggar39 Comments

Sam’s Folly by Carmen Desousa #NewRelease #RomSuspense @Author_Carmen

Sam’s Folly Book Description:

When a bigwig fight promoter needs someone to search for his missing fiancée, he hires expert tracker Sam Belgarde and his search dogs. Sam is more than a little reluctant. His family’s company, Search and Rescue Alaska, is in financial trouble, though, so if searching for a spoiled socialite will save it, then he’s willing to break the rules–just this once.

After witnessing a murder, Nora Molina needs to get away–fast–and her best hope to escape without her passport is Alaska. A native of Argentina, Nora’s accustomed to harsh winters and high elevation, so she gets more than a little irritated when some tracker thinks she needs rescuing. Even if he is get-out sexy. And even if he’s the guy she stood up before leaving town. It’s going to be a long few days.

When an unexpected storm rolls in, Sam and Nora find themselves in each other’s arms–to keep warm. Things get a little too hot when it’s clear someone wants the two of them to stay lost–permanently.

Series Description:

Five brothers risk their lives to rescue those caught in the death grip of the Alaskan wilderness…and find their hearts in danger of falling for women as tough as the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Short Book Description:

The last thing Sam Belgarde has time for is to tramp through the Alaskan wilderness chasing a spoiled socialite, especially when he discovers she’s the mystery woman who stole his heart then stood him up. But the $100,000 reward her fiancée offered will save his family’s struggling search & rescue company, so he’ll bend the rules just this once. Once he finds Nora Molina, however, things get tricky. They’re both keeping secrets, she’s obviously running from something—or someone—and they’re having trouble fighting the heat between them. And making matters worse, someone wants them to stay lost in the wilderness…permanently.

One Liners:

The Midnight Sons ~ Men as Wild and Rugged as The Last Frontier Itself

Links:

Amazon:

B&N:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sams-folly-carmen-desousa/1134089451

iBooks:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sams-folly/id1483563173

Play:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Carmen_DeSousa_Sam_s_Folly?id=ODW2DwAAQBAJ

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sam-s-folly

Biography

Carmen DeSousa’s stories overflow with romance, suspense, a hint of humor and, of course, a few Kleenex moments. After all, what would a great story be without an emotional event setting the stage? All of her novels are sensual but not erotic, gripping but not graphic, and will make you cry, laugh, love, and hope. Although some of her books include supernatural or ghostly beings, her stories dance on the edge of make believe.

As most authors, Carmen blames her leap into a full-time career as a professional writer on her love of reading. She states that reading has always been an escape for her. When life was rough as a child, she could always disappear into a book. But she found something else too… She discovered that writing out her thoughts was therapeutic. Not only could she create hope for her protagonists, but she could also do away with her antagonists—legally.

Carmen currently lives in “The Heart of Arizona” with her husband of twenty-nine years and a very spoiled “rescued” calico they lovingly refer to as “Baby Kitty,” even though she’s twelve years old. Carmen and her husband love to experience different areas, so they move a lot. They’ve lived on both of Florida’s coasts: Cocoa Beach and Tampa Bay; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Bullhead City, Arizona, the Northern Central Valley of California, and now Arizona’s high desert. They’re always looking for their next adventure, so they travel every chance they get. If you’ve read about a place in one of Carmen’s stories, she’s been there!

Most of her novels share her favorite hobbies, mostly, anything to do with the great outdoors. Both Carmen and her husband not only write, but also love to read outside—or a coffee shop if it’s raining. And if the weather is really nice, they enjoy kayaking and hiking. Carmen says they rarely spend their days off at a movie theater or the mall. In fact, she hates shopping, and her husband would rather do anything than take her to a movie when she’s already read the book.

February 11, 2020March 19, 2020

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

Book Review- Red Eyes in The Darkness by D. L. Finn #Suspense #amreading @DLFinnAuthor

What happens when you’re living the good life after retirement and your world suddenly turns upside down? Will and Cass Henderson learn the truth after a family member is murdered, but no one believes them because they’re the prime suspects. The Hendersons have a red-eyed killer in the family, and they’re next on its kill list.

Biography

D.L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to the Sierra foothills in Nevada City, CA. She immersed herself in reading all types of books, but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, being surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations vary from children’s books, young adult fantasy, and adult paranormal romance to an autobiography with poetry. She continues on her adventures with an open invitation for her readers to join her.

Photo by Joonas kääriäinen on Pexels.com

My Review

When Cass Henderson’s sister is murdered, she and her husband are confronted by the killer- Cass’s husband- and he admits to the crime. Unfortunately, no one else hears him and the police don’t believe the Henderson’s story.

It, as Cass thinks of him, created an airtight alibi for himself while leaving supposed clues that make Cass and Will the chief suspects. Family and friends turn their backs on the couple, leaving them alone and vulnerable to a murderer’s master plan.

But, he wasn’t prepared for Cass.

This is a fast-moving story with all the right elements of suspense and a touch of paranormal thrown in to create a book you won’t be able to set aside!

I give Red Eyes in The Darkness 5 lovely kisses- Scary good!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

February 11, 2020February 9, 2020

Jacquie Biggar32 Comments

#BookReview- Malice by @PintipDunn #YAFantasy

What I know: a boy in my class will one day wipe out two-thirds of the population with a virus.

What I don’t know: who he is.

In a race against the clock, I not only have to figure out his identity, but I’ll have to outwit a voice from the future telling me to kill him. Because I’m starting to realize no one is telling the truth. But how can I play chess with someone who already knows the outcome of my every move? Someone so filled with malice they’ve lost all hope in humanity? Well, I’ll just have to find a way—because now they’ve drawn a target on the only boy I’ve ever loved…

Biography

Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B., and received her J.D. at Yale Law School.

Her novel FORGET TOMORROW won the 2016 RWA RITA® for Best First Book, and SEIZE TODAY won the 2018 RITA for Best Young Adult Romance. Her books have been translated into four languages, and they have been nominated for the following awards: the Grand Prix del’Imaginaire; the Japanese Sakura Medal; the MASL Truman Award; the TomeSociety It list; and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award.

Her other titles include REMEMBER YESTERDAY, THE DARKEST LIE, GIRL ON THE VERGE, STAR-CROSSED, and MALICE.

My Review

Riveting! Time travel meets end of world prophecies in this spellbinding #fantasy by Pintip Dunn.
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Alice is a normal teenage girl going about her life until one day, a voice from the future informs her that she’s been chosen to save the world from a deadly virus.

Farcical?

The voice has a way of insisting that’s hard to ignore. Before long, Alice is on a life and death mission where every person is a suspect and murdering someone she cares about may be the only answer to solving a global annihilation.

There are so many elements to this story. The author does such a magnificent job of juggling them all into believable theories that she left me guessing to the very end how it would all turn out.

Favorite Lines

“Try.” The word is wrapped around a smile. “Reach for me. I’m waiting.”
Malice- Pintip Dunn

“I trust you because I noticed you long before you ever approached me on that basketball court,” he says quietly. “Because you bring two lunches to school every day, one for you and one for your brother. Because when I talk to you, sometimes you forget to blink. And so help me, that makes me feel like the most important person on the planet.”
Malice- Pintip Dunn

I love the depth and breadth of these characters. It’s impossible not to get caught up in their desperate fight to survive, and yet, it’s those quiet, intense moments like the one above that made my heart flutter.

I give Malice 5+ lovely kisses- Poignant and heart wrenching!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!

February 7, 2020February 6, 2020

Jacquie Biggar22 Comments

#BookReview- Twenty Years After “I Do” by D.G. Kaye #Memoir @pokercubster

May/December memoirs.

In this personal accounting, D.G. Kaye shares the insights and wisdom she has accrued through twenty years of keeping her marriage strong and thriving despite the everyday changes and challenges of aging. Kaye reveals how a little creative planning, acceptance, and unconditional love can create a bond no obstacle will break. Kaye’s stories are informative, inspiring, and a testament to love eclipsing all when two people understand, respect, and honor their vows. She adds that a daily sprinkling of laughter is a staple in nourishing a healthy marriage.

Twenty years began with a promise. As Kaye recounts what transpired within that time, she shows that true love has no limits, even when one spouse ages ahead of the other.

Biography

D.G. Kaye was born and resides in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of Conflicted Hearts – A Daughter’s Quest for Solace From Emotional Guilt, Meno-What? – A Memoir, Words We Carry, Have Bags, Will Travel, P.S. I Forgive You, and her newest release – Twenty Years: After “I Do”. Kaye is a nonfiction/memoir writer and writes about her life experiences, matters of the heart and women’s issues.

Kaye writes to inspire others. Her writing encompasses stories taken from events she encountered in her own life, and the lessons that were taken from them. Her sunny outlook on life developed from learning to overcome some of the many obstacles that challenged her. From an emotionally neglected childhood, to growing up with a narcissistic mother, leaving her with a severely deflated self-esteem, D.G. began seeking a path to rise above her issues. When she isn’t writing intimate memoirs, Kaye brings her natural sense of humor into her other works.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became tools to express her pent-up emotions during a turbulent childhood. Her writing began as notes and cards she wrote for the people she loved and admired when she was afraid to use her voice.

Through the years, Kaye journaled about life, writing about her opinions on people and events and later began writing poetry and health articles for a Canadian magazine as her interest grew in natural healthcare. Kaye became interested in natural healing and remedies after encountering a few serious health issues. Against many odds, D.G. has overcome adversity several times throughout her life.

D.G. began writing books to share her stories and inspiration. Her compassion and life experiences inspire her to write from the heart. She looks for the good and the positive in everything, and believes in paying it forward.

“For every kindness, there should be kindness in return, Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

D.G.’s Favorite Saying: “Live. Laugh. Love …and don’t forget to breathe!”

When D.G. is not writing, she’s reading. Her favorite genres of reading are: biographies, memoirs, writing and natural health. Kaye loves to read about people who overcome adversity, victories and redemption and believes we have to keep learning–there is always room for improvement! She loves to cook, travel, and play poker (when she gets the chance).

You can find D.G. on social media and her author and blog pages:
http://www.dgkayewriter.com
http://www.goodreads.com/dgkaye
http://www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7
http://www.twitter.com/@pokercubster
http://www.facebook.com/dgkaye
http://www.about.me/d.g.kaye.writer
http://www.google.com/+DebbyDGKayeGies
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dgkaye7

My Review

Honest. Heartfelt. Compelling. D.G. Kaye’s memorable memoir is a must-read!
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Falling in love wasn’t in her plans. Falling in love with an older man changed her life.

What happens when you meet your other half in the twilight of his life? The author walks us through the thrill of falling in love, the reality of living with health issues, and the responsibility of becoming your husband’s caregiver.

Love is the bond that transcends and it’s proven with this couple as they travel life’s joys and obstacles with grace and laughter.

Over the last few years, I’ve become my mom’s caregiver and could relate to many of the issues broached in this book. Doctor and specialist appointments, nagging over proper nutrition requirements, cleaning and laundry for two homes, wheelchair operations, and over it all, the fear that you aren’t doing enough to keep them with you for a few more years.

I won’t lie- it scares me every day.

Thank you to the author for her honesty. It helps to know we aren’t alone, whatever our individual situations.

I give Twenty Years After “I Do” 5 lovely kisses- An Inspirational Read!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

I love having guests on the blog. If you have a new release, a sale or just want to chat, send me an email via the contact page and we’ll set something up. Hope to see you soon!