Reviews

Book Review: The Noise by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

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Release Date: August 16, 2021

If you hear it, it’s too late. Can two sisters save us all?

In the shadow of Mount Hood, 16-year-old Tennant is checking rabbit traps with her eight-year-old sister, Sophie, when the girls are suddenly overcome by a strange vibration rising out of the forest, building in intensity until it sounds like a deafening crescendo of screams. From out of nowhere, their father sweeps them up and drops them through a trapdoor into a storm cellar. But the sound only gets worse….

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My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from J.D. Barker and Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

J.D. Barker is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read most of his books, and when I have the chance to read another one, I get so excited! The last book I read that he co-authored with James Patterson was very good so I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store this time. I wasn’t disappointed.

You never know what you’re going to get when these two authors team up. The one thing you can count on is that you’re not going to be able to put the book down. The Noise began with Tennant and Sophie checking rabbit traps on a normal day and that’s the only “normal” in the book. The noise, the vibrations, changed their lives forever. Not only were they the only survivors in their community, but the noise changed them. I kept wondering why they weren’t affected like the others and I did find out…eventually.

The team that was put together by the government consisted of civilians and Fraser, a military officer. It was frustrating for the members of the team (and me) because it was apparent that they weren’t given all of the information about what was going on. And teams of soldiers kept disappearing when they went to the area of what was named the “anomaly.”

The action was nonstop as was my anxiety. It’s been a long time since I read a book that made me feel so stressed! It reminds me of early Stephen King, where regular people end up in weird situations. Only this situation is feasible, I think? That makes it that much scarier.

I definitely recommend The Noise. I can’t wait for their next collaboration!

About the Authors

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created many enduring fictional characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and I Funny. Among his notable literary collaborations are The President Is Missing, with President Bill Clinton, and the Max Einstein series, produced in partnership with the Albert Einstein Estate. Patterson’s writing career is characterized by a single mission: to prove that there is no such thing as a person who “doesn’t like to read,” only people who haven’t found the right book. He’s given over three million books to schoolkids and the military, donated more than seventy million dollars to support education, and endowed over five thousand college scholarships for teachers. The National Book Foundation recently presented Patterson with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and six Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family.

Website http://www.jamespatterson.com/
Twitter JP_Books

J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.

Website: https://jdbarker.com/

Audiobook Review & Giveaway: The Ninth Session by Deborah Serani

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The Ninth Session Audiobook
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Published by: TouchPoint Press
Publication Date: September 26th 2019
Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
Purchase Links: 
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
Visit Audible to listen to a sample!

An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that brings a unique mix of psychotherapy and sign language and Coda culture. Just when you think you have it figured out, think again!

Dr. Alicia Reese takes on a new patient. Lucas Ferro suffers with crippling anxiety, and as sessions progress, he begins to share the reasons why he’s struggling. As Ferro’s narrative becomes more menacing, Reese finds herself wedged between the cold hard frame of professional ethics and the integrity of personal truth. And, finally, when Ferro reveals his secrets, Reese learns how far she’s willing to go, willing to risk and willing to lose to do the right thing.

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Alicia Reese is a widow and dealing with her own issues when she starts seeing Lucas Ferro. Lucas seems like a nice person who wants to get a handle on his anxiety. Even though Lucas soon tells her some disturbing things about his past, she believes that he trusts her and won’t harm her. I understood from their sessions why she thought this, but her thoughts and feelings when not in his sessions didn’t match her clinical observations.

The Ninth Session kept my interest throughout. I wanted to know what was going to happen in the next session and if Alicia was going to be able to help Lucas before it was too late. There were a couple of twists that I expected but one that I didn’t see coming. I felt cheated by the ending. I understand that life goes on and that was probably the reason the book ended like it did, but there were a couple of things that I would have liked closure on.

Authors narrating their own books often doesn’t work out too well but Deborah Serani did a fairly good job. The only thing that I felt was missing was the sound of anxiety, etc., in Alicia or Lucas’s voice.

If you like psychological thrillers, I recommend The Ninth Session. You won’t be disappointed.

About the Author

Deborah Serani, Psy.D. is psychologist in practice 30 years. She is also a senior professor at Adelphi University and has been published in academic journals on the subjects of depression and trauma. Dr. Serani is a go-to expert for psychological issues. Her interviews can be found at ABC News, CNN, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Reader’s Digest, The Washington Post and USA Today, and affiliate radio station programs at CBS and NPR, just to name a few. She is also a TEDx speaker and has lectured nationally and internationally. Dr. Serani has worked as a technical advisor for the NBC television show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – where a recurring character, Judge D. Serani, was named for her. Dr. Serani is an award-winning author, writing about psychological topics in many genres.

Catch Up With Deborah:
www.DrDeborahSerani.com
Goodreads
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Twitter – @DeborahSerani
Facebook – @Dr. Deborah Serani

& Find out what’s new on Instagram – #deborahserani

Enter Below to WIN The Ninth Session:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Deborah Serani. There will be ONE winner who will receive (1) Audible promo code for The Ninth Session (U.S. addresses only). The giveaway runs from August 9 through August 30, 2021. Void where prohibited.

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Book Review: Down with the Dance by C.T. Walsh

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Meet Austin Davenport, whose fabulous luck landed him on this earth only eleven short months after his brother, Derek, putting them in the same grade. While Austin’s brain power is unmatched, it appears as if his brother got all the athletic gifts and the family butt-chin, meaning their parents love Derek more than Austin, or so it seems. 

Join Austin on his journey through the tumultuous waters of middle school as he navigates the swampy and undeodorized hallways and explores the depths of the cafeteria’s seafood surprise. 

Oh, and someone is plotting to take down the Halloween Dance, the one that Austin has his sights set on, so he can take Sophie Rodriguez, a girl way out of his league, but who doesn’t seem to know it.  

Can he stay one step ahead of the new principal who has it out for him? Will Austin figure out who the perpetrators are? Will he save the dance in time? Will he wear a diaper on a stakeout?  

This first in a planned series of twelve will have you ROFLing like you never have before.  

The funny and fast-paced nature of this series is meant for middle grade and early young adult readers.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1950826015

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1950826015

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Down with the Dance is a middle grade book that is a fun read even for an adult. It’s a funny, quick read, and middle grade readers will relate to Austin. He has to deal sibling rivalry, first love, and a principal who makes it clear that he doesn’t like Austin, all while trying to navigate the horror of middle school.

I love the humor in this book. The first thing that tickled me was that Austin describes his brother’s chin as a butt-chin. Derek, his brother, is 11 months older than Austin and his opposite. Can you imagine having your older brother in the same grade? Derek is all about sports and is a favorite at school and at home. He is a bully and does his best to make Austin’s life miserable.

The characters include bullies (Derek and the new principle), Austin’s crush, Sophie, and Austin’s best friend, Ben. It was easy to dislike Derek and the principle and to root for Austin not only when dealing with the bullies but when trying to save the dance. All he wanted was to take Sophie to the dance!

This is definitely a book that middle school readers will enjoy. The the writing is easy to follow and the humor is great!

About the Author

Besides writing fun, snarky humor and the occasionally-frequent fart joke, I love spending time with my family, coaching my kids’ various sports, and successfully turning seemingly unsandwichable things into spectacular sandwiches, while also claiming that I never eat carbs. I assure you, it’s not easy to do. I know what you’re thinking: this guy sounds complex, a little bit mysterious, and maybe even dashingly handsome, if you haven’t been to the optometrist in a while. And you might be right.

My goal with my writing is to engage young readers with fun and adventure. With so many competing forms of entertainment available to our kids (and so many of them mindless), I really try to provide a reading experience like no other.

I value the importance of combining fun with learning and life values. My stories are humorous and adventurous with strong characters and solid life lessons with some potty humor sprinkled in. You gotta give the kids what they want…Hey, it’s better to read fart jokes than to play video games, right?

https://www.facebook.com/ctwalshauthor

https://www.instagram.com/ctwalshauthor/

Book Review: Gratitude is my Superpower by Alicia Ortego

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Do you want to teach your children how to be grateful for the things they already have?

Little Betsy will learn that happiness is made up of simple things in life, both small and big. With the help of the magic stone, she will begin to feel gratitude for her parents, friends, and toys. But what happens when little Betsy forgets to use the magic of her stone? She will realize that the power of gratitude is hidden in her heart.

“Gratitude is my superpower” will teach your little ones to appreciate the warmth of home, time spent playing with friends, and family relationships.

This book will help your kids in many ways:

  • they will focus on the blessings they receive every day,
  • they will begin to appreciate what others do for them,
  • they will feel true happiness when they realize that they have everything they need.

Amazon

My Review

I have read other superpower books by this author and they’re great books for children, so I was happy to read this book as well.

Gratitude is My Superpower is about a girl whose mom teaches her that rather than being sad or upset about what she can’t change, she should be grateful for the things she has in her life. Her mom gives her a stone that she’s to use to remember to be grateful. One example of how she uses the stone is that on a rainy day when she can’t play outside, she uses the stone to realize that the rain is needed for plants to grow and animals to live. By using the stone often, she soon realizes that she has learned to be grateful without the stone!

The story is told in rhymes and the rhyming words are bold, making it easy for children to connect them. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. A fun book to read!

This is a wonderful way for children to learn about gratitude. It is so important to be grateful and it is a lesson that everyone nowadays needs to embrace.

About the Author

A school teacher and an avid children’s book author, Alicia Ortego, has a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years working with children. Since she was young, Alicia had nurtured a passion for telling stories, which inspired her to start writing stories for children. She writes in a simple, easily understandable language, and an entertaining style that keeps children hooked to her books while learning vital lessons about virtues.

Alicia lives in New York and in her free time, enjoys spending quality time with her family and drawing.

Stay updated at her author website: www.aliciaortego.com.

Book Review & Giveaway: Odyssey of Ashes by Cheryl Krauter

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Odyssey of Ashes: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Letting Go by Cheryl Krauter

Publisher:  She Writes Press, (July 20, 2021)
Category: Memoir, Grief, Loss, Healing
ISBN: 978-1647421328
Available in Print and ebook, 168 pages

Odyssey of Ashes: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Letting Go begins with the sudden death of Cheryl Krauter’s spouse. Five months later, in a stroke of irony and magic, her husband wins a long-desired guided fly-fishing trip in a raffle―and Cheryl decides to go in his place, fulfilling a promise to scatter his ashes by a trout stream.

Part I of this memoir is an account of the first year after Cheryl’s husband’s death, where she becomes an explorer in the infinite stream of grief and loss, a time traveler between the darkness of sorrow and the light of daily life. Part II concludes with stories of the poignant and humorous adventures she had during the ensuing year. Tying it all together and woven throughout is Cheryl’s account of the creation of an altar assembled during the three-day ritual of Los Días de los Muertos.

Poetic and mythological, Odyssey of Ashes is a raw story of loss and the deep transformation that traveling through darkness and returning to light can bring.

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Guest Review by Sal

A stunning, emotional memoir about one woman’s struggle with grief, acceptance and the life beyond both.

Cheryl Krauter’s husband, John, died suddenly of a stroke one night in their home. Having only recently recovered from a bout of breast cancer that almost took her own life, Cheryl is devastated and overwhelmed by the loss.

A few months later, while her world is still in upheaval, Cheryl is shocked to discover that John has won a raffle for an all expenses paid fly fishing trip that he had always wanted to go on. When he was alive, John was an avid fly fisher and although, in the beginning of her marriage Cheryl wasn’t too keen on the sport, she began enjoying it as therapy while recovering from cancer.

Knowing that her husband had always said he wanted his ashes scattered in a fly-fishing stream, Cheryl decides to go on the prized trip in order to fulfill that final wish for the man that she loved. What follows is a touching and sometimes downright funny trip into the wilds of Montana that any memoir-lover will enjoy.

Cheryl Krauter’s writing is marvelous. As an avid Buddhist, she shares many quotes and meditations from her religion as well as quotes from famous authors, musicians, and other sources.

The book is divided into two parts, the first of which gives more of a background on John and Cheryl’s life together. The second contains most of her fly-fishing adventure in Montana.

This was both a poignant and beautiful book and one that I know I will remember for a long time to come. Cheryl’s take on grief and healing are so universal that anyone can relate to them and she writes with the conviction of a woman who has been through the worst and come out the other side.

About the Author

CHERYL KRAUTER is a San Francisco bay area psychotherapist with more than forty years of experience in the field of depth psychology and human consciousness. A cancer survivor, she is the author of Surviving the Storm: A Workbook for Telling Your Cancer Story (Oxford University Press, 2017) and Psychosocial Care of Cancer Survivors: A Clinician’s Guide and Workbook for Providing Wholehearted Care (Oxford University Press, 2018). She lives with her personal assistant, a cat named Amie.

Website: http://www.cherylkrauter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellingcancerstories
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CherylKrauter

Giveaway

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and ends on September 4, 2021 at 12 am, PST. Entries are available via Rafflecopter only.

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Audiobook Review: Yestertime by Andrew Cunningham

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Author: Andrew Cunningham
Narrator: Greg Hernandez
Length: 7 hours 34 minutes
Publisher: Andrew Cunningham⎮2021
Genre: Science Fiction; Thriller
Release date: Jun. 19, 2021

“I’m going to die a hundred years before I was born….”

The handwritten note was in a dusty trunk that sat in a cave untouched for 150 years. What did the words mean? When journalist Ray Burton finds the trunk near the Arizona ghost town of Hollow Rock, his life changes in an instant.

Something in the trunk shouldn’t be there.

This begins a dangerous journey of discovery bordering on the impossible. A discovery that will affect the past, the present, and the future.

Buy Links

Buy on Audible

My Review

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

I’ve read other books by Andrew Cunningham and especially enjoyed the Eden Rising series, so I was happy to listen to this book. Yestertime is a time travel novel and it was pretty good, but not my favorite one by the author.

The problems with time travel are explored in this book. The premise is a good one but it was difficult for me to keep track of all the different characters and where and when they were originally from. I did find the idea of portals and portal finders interesting.

Many of the characters are supposed to be professionals working on the secret of time travel but they have a lot of trouble keeping the secret which didn’t seem probable to me.

The narrator did a good job. His tone and pace were good, and he has narrated other books that I’ve listened to. That’s always a plus in my opinion especially in his case. It took me a while the first time I listened to him to get used to his style, but since I’m familiar with him now, it worked for me.

About the Author Andrew Cunningham

I’m the author of novels in several genres, including, mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R. Cunningham, I’ve also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for children.

I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.

​I have been gratified by the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of 2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.

In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That’s what it’s all about for me.

I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email me with your comments.

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Amazon

About the Narrator Greg Hernandez

Author-preferred Narrator of Mysteries & Thrillers

Narrating audiobooks is highly gratifying.  I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to life for the listener.  I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several years. His books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me turning the pages.

I also work as a background actor in movies and TV shows.

For more than 20 years, I worked as a radio news reporter and news writer.  I spent half of my broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau.  I covered all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment industry news.

For nearly 24 years, I worked as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

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Tour Schedule

Click here to view the full tour schedule!

Book Review: Remember Me When… by Todd Williams

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How do we help children to grieve and remember the loved ones they’ve lost? With engaging full-page color illustrations reflecting the wondrous diversity of God’s creation, Remember Me When… celebrates the moments children have shared with family and friends – playing in mud, sledding down a hill, enjoying a snow cone, blowing dandelion seeds, and more – as it simultaneously mourns those who can no longer join us for future memories. In a season where grief from the COVID-19 pandemic will become more public and a shared international experience, Remember Me When… will empower families to mourn in healthy, positive ways. This legacy book also includes a blank page for writing in your own remembrance.

Amazon

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Remember Me When... is a book written to help children learn to mourn in a positive way. It shows moments when a child may have a memory of their friend or loved one, and they are encouraged to remember them when they’re doing everyday things.

The first example is to “Remember me when you see butterflies flutter in the sky,” and the second example is, “Remember me when you laugh out loud.” I found it interesting that those are two things that bring memories of my mom, so these are also good suggestions for adults. The last page even has a place for the person who gave the book to the child to put in a memory of their own.

The illustrations are great. They’re bright and colorful and impressive. Ciara Compton helps the book to come alive.

It is always important to talk to our children and grandchildren about death, that it’s part of living and that even though our body is no longer here, we are still here in spirit. This is an important book especially during the pandemic.

About the Author

Todd Williams attended Indiana University, Bloomington, received his Masters of Divinity Degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and later, worked as a chaplain in the Heart and Vascular Center with the Memorial Hermann hospital system.

Prior to becoming a Hospice Chaplain at Essential Hospice, Webster, TX, he was a Chaplain with Houston Hospice, Houston, TX. He is also the Stated Supply at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Galveston, TX.

He is married to Quincy, and they have two grown children, as well as, two grandchildren.

Book Review: A Killer’s Cell by Angela Kay

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A killer broadcasts his murders on every news station. Will they find him before more fall victim to the water torture chamber?

Special Agent Aidan O’Reilly can face the worst of criminals. But work and fear give him pause when it comes to marriage. Yet he summons the courage to break through the anxiety and pop the question. His flicker of euphoria is quickly snuffed when the dedicated FBI agent races against the timer set by a merciless killer.

With five lives terminated by the hooded madman, Agent O’Reilly leaves no stone unturned in his hunt for the killer. But the investigation soon leads him toward a path of someone more sinister and it’s a door he can’t keep open.

Will he put the pieces of the puzzle together and unmask the killer or go after someone else?

The third installment of The O’Reilly Files brings you a taut storyline, devious killer, and a heart-racing conclusion.

Previously published as I Can Escape. 

Amazon

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I’ve read several novels by Angela Kay. I really like her writing and the first book in this series, I Can Kill (renamed A Killer’s Mark), is my favorite. Aidan O’Reilly is an FBI agent who tracked a serial killer, The Carnations Killer, for 10 years before he put him away. Even though the killer is in prison, he’s often on Aidan’s mind. Many think he’s too obsessed, but they learn that’s not the case since he escaped several months ago.

The Carnations Killer is not part of the main plot of this book, though. There’s another serial killer on the loose who isn’t as elusive or experienced so the case is pretty much routine, if routine is a word that can be used in a serial killer case.

This wasn’t the on the edge of your seat page-turner that I usually associate with Aidan O’Reilly but it was still a good read. I enjoy Angela’s writing and will continue to read her books. I’m hoping that The Carnations Killer figures more prominently in the future! This book also needs editing.

About the Author

Equipped with a professional writing degree from Augusta State University, Angela Kay is a southern lady who spends her days and nights dreaming up new ways to solve dark murders of normal people.

Angela Kay is one of 23 across the United States to win a 2009 playwright contest for her one-act entitled “Digging Deeper.” Because of this, she was able to spend a week in Atlanta at the Horizon Theater Company.

She lives in Augusta, Georgia with her crazy calico, Maggie.

Angela Kay (fantasticfiction.com)

Book Review & Giveaway: The Red Fence by Ed Damiano

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Book Title:  THE RED FENCE by Ed Damiano
Category:  Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7),  38 pages
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:   July, 2021
Content Rating:  G for everyone.


Book Description:

In the uniform town of Vanderloo,
Everyone, everywhere has the same view.
What happens when Astred, tiny Todd, and Ned
Decide to paint their white fence red?


Children’s author and Mom’s Choice Award winner Ed Damiano delivers a poignant message about community and creativity in The Red Fence.


Buy the Book:
Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

What a fun book to read! It reminds me of reading a Dr. Seuss book with the rhyming and the crazy words such as Vanderloo which, by the way, is in the land of Dimble De Doo. The illustrations by Jenn Polk are as good as the text. They are vibrant and are an excellent addition to an already great story.

Not only is this book fun to read, but it teaches that it’s okay to be different. In fact, when and entire community agrees to be different, then everyone is accepted just as they are. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that’s how our world was?

I definitely recommend The Red Fence and can’t wait to read it to my grandchildren.

About the Author

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Damiano has a passion for creativity, and his stories always contain a positive message. He also wrote The Christmas Blanket, which earned him a Mom’s Choice Award. In The Christmas Blanket, his character EJ realizes the true meaning of Christmas, which is not about getting presents, but about giving back to others.

connect with the author: goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a signed copy of THE RED FENCE! (one winner/USA only)

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Follow the Tour

July 26 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
July 27 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
July 27 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review /guest post / giveaway
July 28 –  Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review / giveaway
July 29 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review
July 29 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
July 30 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
July 30 – Sandra’s Book Club – book review
Aug 2 – Books for Books – book review
Aug 3 – Westveil Publishing – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 3 – icefairy’s Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Aug 4 – I Read What You Write – book review / guest post  giveaway
Aug 4 – Pick a Good Book – book review / giveaway
Aug 5 –Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 6 – Lisa’s Reading – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 9 – @twilight_reader – book review
Aug 10 – Kam’s Place – book review
Aug 11 – The Avid Reader – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 12 – Reading is My Passion – book review
Aug 13 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review / giveaway
Aug 16 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 16 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 17 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 18 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 18 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 18 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Aug 19 – Laura’s Interests – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 20 – The Phantom Paragrapher – book review

Book Review: Haunted by Tessa Buckley

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Alex doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he is about to have his beliefs challenged…

When Jimmy Devlin asks the twins to investigate the strange things that have been happening at The Priory, Alex seizes the opportunity to prove to his sister that there is no such thing as ghosts. However, it soon becomes clear that unquiet spirits are not the only problem facing the Devlin family.

Are the family servants hiding secrets? Has a valuable ring been stolen, or just mislaid? And what has happened to Jimmy’s missing elder brother, Harry? As the twins and Jimmy try to solve the many mysteries of The Priory, they discover they are dealing with a very dangerous enemy…

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eye-Spy-II-Tessa-Buckley-ebook/dp/B074CCDN3W/

US – https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Spy-II-Tessa-Buckley-ebook/dp/B074CCDN3W/

https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/young-children/haunted/

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Twins Donna and Alex formed their own detective agency because they’re such good sleuths. Unfortunately, they’re also good at getting into trouble. When their friend Jimmy asks them to investigate strange occurrences at his new home, they’re happy to. Alex is determined to prove to Donna that ghosts don’t exist and they’re able to attribute everything to humans…well, almost everything.

Haunted is a great story for middle school readers. It has mystery, suspense, and action. It even gets scary once or twice. The characters are well-developed and it’s easy to get caught up in the mystery. The staff at the Priory (Jimmy’s house) are all a bit odd and well described.

This is a good book and one that I’m going to recommend to my niece. She’s the right age to read it and I think she’ll like it!

About the Author

Tessa Buckley was an inveterate scribbler as a child, and spent much of her time writing and illustrating stories. After studying Interior Design, she spent fifteen years working for architects and designers. She took up writing again after her young daughter complained that she couldn’t find enough adventure stories to read. This led, in 2016, to the publication of  Eye Spy, the first in a series of detective stories for 9-12 year olds, designed to encourage reluctant readers. The second book in the series, Haunted, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2017. 

Tessa lives with her husband and a large white cat called Pippa. in a town on the Thames estuary, which inspired the seaside setting for the novels. She also writes about health and nutrition, and family history, which has been her passion for many years.

Social Media Links –  

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