mystery

Book Review & Giveaway: Twelve to Murder by Lauren Carr

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Book Title: Twelve to Murder by Lauren Carr
Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 7)
Category: Adult fiction (18+), 266 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: February 9, 2014
Content Rating: PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No F-Bombs!

Mac Faraday’s plan to spend a quiet weekend home alone with his lady love, Archie Monday, is shattered by murder.

A middle-aged couple are brutally murdered in their summer place on Deep Creek Lake. To any other detective, the case would be considered open and shut when it appears as if one of the victims has written her killer’s name in her blood—not so for Mac Faraday, who believes there is more to this case than meets the eye.

In Lauren Carr’s latest Mac Faraday Mystery former child-star and teen-idol Lenny Frost steps into a pub in Deep Creek Lake to see his face on the television over the bar with the announcement that he’s wanted for the murder of his agent and her husband!

How does Lenny Frost react to this sudden comeback into the headlines? He takes everyone hostage and gives Mac Faraday twelve hours to find the real killer or he’s going to kill everyone in the bar.

Will it be a fatal last call at midnight?

Buy the Book:   
  Audible ~ Amazon
B&N ~ BookBub
Add to Goodreads

My Review

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

I have read quite a few of Lauren Carr’s books and Mac Faraday is the first character of hers that I read about. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to read all of the books in order, so now I’m catching up. This is the seventh book in the series.

All poor Mac wants to do is spend a quiet weekend with his girlfriend, Archie. Unfortunately, he has to put that on hold when two people are murdered. This case starts out bizarre and just gets crazier. There are many suspects that David and Mac have to sift through, and one of the strangest hostage situations anyone could imagine. By the end of the book, I actually felt sorry for most of the suspects.

There are quite a few characters as is usual for Lauren Carr’s books. She always has a list of characters at the front of the book in case it’s needed, which is nice. In fact, I did use it once or twice this time. I like how the relationship between Mac and Archie is developing.

I definitely recommend Twelve to Murder. It has a great ending! If you like mystery and intrigue along with a touch of sweet romance and humor, this is the series for you. This book does stand-alone though.

“Twelve To Murder is a clever blend of comedy, mystery, and sappy love story. Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue.  And you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until the end.”– Review by Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

“This suspenseful book was filled with twists, turns, and lots of action! The Mac Faraday series is an amazing read for a mystery lover, but Twelve to Murder can stand alone if you have not read any other books in its series. Lauren definitely knows how to bring you into the story and leaves you wanting more!”– Review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. 

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.  

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. 

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

connect with the author: 

website  ~  facebook  ~  instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 PayPal gift card courtesy of the author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries!
(one winner)

Gleam

Continue reading →

Book Review & Giveaway: The Lady Who Cried Murder by Lauren Carr

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Book Title: The Lady Who Cried Murder by Lauren Carr
Series:  A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 6)
Category:  Adult fiction (18+), 286 pages
Genre:  Murder Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  January 2, 2014
Content Rating: PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex. There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No F-Bombs!

Determined to get her pretty face in front of the cameras, Khloe Everest fakes an abduction only to make a grand entrance in the midst of a press conference held by Spencer’s Police Chief David O’Callaghan.

Three years later, after failing to catapult her notoriety into a long-lasting celebrity, Khloe Everest returns to Spencer upon her mother’s sudden death and seemingly finds another weapon to propel her into the spotlight. Unfortunately, someone kills her before she can make this entrance.

In Lauren Carr’s sixth mystery, Mac Faraday and his friends come up against reality stars, politicians, has-beens, and wannabes. Mac also finds himself face-to-face with an old foe from his past who had managed to escape arrest during their last encounter. Now, Mac sees that his adversary has only become more powerful, and dangerous, with the passage of time.

Intent to not let this killer escape again, Mac and his friends need to put all of their talents together to put a stop to a cold-blooded lady killer. 

Buy the Book:   
  Audible ~ Amazon
B&N ~ BookBub
Add to Goodreads

My Review

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

I have read quite a few of Lauren Carr’s books and Mac Faraday is the first character of hers that I read about. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to read all of the books in order, so now I’m catching up. This is the sixth book in the series.

There are so many twists in this book it’ll make your head spin! Just when I thought I had something figured out, another bomb would drop. It starts with Khloe’s crazy antics and just gets crazier from there, but can you expect when dirty politicians and celebrity has-beens are in the picture?

There are quite a few characters as is usual for Lauren Carr’s books. She always has a list of characters at the front of the book in case it’s needed, which is nice. Gnarly remains my favorite character because he’s smarter and braver than many humans. Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates from the Lovers in Crime series make an appearance in this book. I like it when characters cross over between series.

I definitely recommend The Lady Who Cried Murder. I’m going to quit saying that the books are my favorite Lauren Carr book so far because it seems that each new one I read is better than the last. If you like mystery and intrigue along with a touch of romance and a lot of humor, this is the series for you. This book does stand-alone though.

“I recommend this book to all mystery lovers! The Lady Who Cried Murder was another heart-stopping thriller! While the mystery and the road to its solution was amazing, I truly enjoyed the cast and characters (they feel like family)! Another great hit and I look forward to reading the next installment of Mac Faraday and his gang and what kind of drama they end up in!” – review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. 

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.  

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. 

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

connect with the author: 

website  ~  facebook  ~  instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 PayPal gift card courtesy of the author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries!
(one winner)

Gleam

Continue reading →

Audiobook Review: Daisy McDare and the Deadly Judicial Affair by K.M. Morgan

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With a murder trial taking place in Cozy Creek, Daisy McDare is having trouble focusing on her interior decorating work.

The last thing she wants is for the defendant, Corey Kincaid, to get acquitted.

In Daisy’s mind, Corey is guilty. In fact, Daisy’s amateur sleuthing played a huge role in Corey’s arrest.

As Daisy nervously waits for the jury to reach a verdict, another big mystery begins to unfold in town.

And this new mystery comes with a twist that Daisy isn’t prepared for.

Things are really heating up in Cozy Creek. But will it soon get too hot under Daisy’s collar?

My Review

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

Daisy McDare & the Deadly Judicial Affair is a novella in the Daisy McDare cozy mystery series. I’m listening to them in order which isn’t necessary, but it does make the stories flow well. It’s been a while since I listened to one of these (I get sidetracked easily), and I had forgotten how short they are. I know, novella, duh, but I was just getting into it when it was over!

When court is over, Daisy’s husband, Gavin, sees the husband of her best friend in a compromising position. What should they do? Daisy knows she can’t keep this a secret, but she decides to investigate this mystery before going to her friend. Good choice! And what a twist!

I recommend Daisy McDare & the Deadly Judicial Affair to anyone who likes cozy mysteries and super quick reads.

About the Author

K.M. Morgan loves baking, crafts, cute cat videos, and reading mysteries.

Sign up for the K.M. Morgan new release mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/7Wt8L


You can contact K.M. with questions and/or comments here: kmmorgancozy@gmail.com

Book Review & Giveaway: Blast from the Past by Lauren Carr

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Book Title: Blast from the Past by Lauren Carr
Series:  A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 4)
Category:  Adult fiction (18+), 301 pages
Genre:  Murder Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  January 2, 2013
Content Rating: PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No F-Bombs!

A woman is killed when she falls down the stairs. Men die writhing in a little coffee shop.  Death may not be that unusual these days in Deep Creek Lake, but then someone tries to kill Archie, the woman Mac Faraday loves.

When she tells Mac the reason behind it and her secret is exposed, Mac and the entire police department will go to extremes to keep Archie safe.

That raises rather a lot of questions:

Who exactly are they protecting her from?
Could it be warring crime lords? Hit men?
Why does one particular couple keep showing up around town?
Just how many killers are there, anyway?
Is anyone who they say they are?

Gnarly plays a much bigger—and more effective–role this time round, and he is showing off his training whether he means to or not.  From taking down bad guys—he seriously knows how to do that– to protecting a little girl staying at Mac’s.  Not to mention that for a dog, he is a surprisingly good confidante when the right little person needs to talk.

Buy the Book:   
  Audible ~ Amazon
BookBub
Add to Goodreads

My Review

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

I have read quite a few of Lauren Carr’s books and Mac Faraday is the first character of hers that I read about. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to read all of the books in order, so now I’m catching up. This is the fourth book in the series.

Talk about intrigue and murder! It seems that Deep Creek Lake has become a hotbed of murders. And Archie is one person on the hit list. Luckily, she’s smart and capable and is able to defend herself. But what about next time? And why is she on a hit list? She has some explaining to do.

There are quite a few characters as is usual for Lauren Carr’s books. She always has a list of characters at the front of the book in case it’s needed, which is nice. Gnarly remains my favorite character especially since he’s capable of making a little girl feel safe and loved. He always makes things interesting!

I definitely recommend Blast from the Past. It’s my favorite Lauren Carr book so far! If you like mystery and intrigue, it’s one you don’t want to miss. Along with the murder mysteries there is a touch of romance and humor. It’s a stand-alone, but of course you’d get more out of it if you read the previous books in the series.

“Blast from the Past is a well-developed story full of intrigue that moves at a brisk pace. The characters are interesting, the villains varied, and the action is as quick as the humor. I have a feeling any of Lauren Carr’s mysteries would be pleasurable distractions, as well as entertaining.  Very Highly Recommended.” – Review by Lori L., Softly She Treads

“I must say, I truly enjoyed reading this book! I found myself waking up slightly early for work just to finish a couple chapters! Not only was this book captivating, I found myself laughing at Gnarly, the ever so lovable and rambunctious German Shephard! I look forward to reading the next book by Lauren Carr!”– Review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. 

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.  

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. 

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

connect with the author: 

website  ~  facebook  ~  instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 PayPal gift card courtesy of the author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries!
(one winner)

Gleam

Continue reading →

Audiobook Review & Giveaway: The Bones of Amoret by Arthur Herbert

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​Book Title: The Bones of Amoret – A Novel by Arthur Herbert
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 320 pages
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Publisher: Stitched Smile Publications
Release Date: April 2022
Length: 10 hours, 59 minutes.
Content Rating: PG-13 – no sex, explicit or otherwise; almost all violence is off-screen; mild profanity

Book Description:

In this enigmatic follow up to his critically acclaimed debut novel The Cuts that Cure, Arthur Herbert returns to the Texas-Mexico border with this saga of a small town’s bloody loss of innocence.

Amoret, Texas, 1982. Life along the border is harsh, but in a world where cultures work together to carve a living from the desert landscape, Blaine Beckett lives a life of isolation. A transplanted Boston intellectual, for twenty years locals have viewed him as a snob, a misanthrope, an outsider. He seems content to stand apart until one night when he vanishes into thin air amid signs of foul play.

Noah Grady, the town doctor, is a charming and popular good ol’ boy. He’s also a keeper of secrets, both the town’s and his own. He watches from afar as the mystery of Blaine’s disappearance unravels and rumors fly. Were the incipient cartels responsible? Was it a local with a grudge? Or did Blaine himself orchestrate his own disappearance? Then the unthinkable happens, and Noah begins to realize he’s considered a suspect.

Paced like a lit fuse and full of dizzying plot twists, The Bones of Amoret is a riveting whodunit that will keep you guessing all the way to its shocking conclusion. ​

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Audible
add to goodreads

My Review

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

I like the way this book is presented with Noah Grady recounting the story of crimes committed 40 years ago. He’s a doctor in a small Texas town and does his best to help everyone he can. As good of man as he is, he still has his secrets. I like how he is portrayed as a good man with flaws. His telling of the mysteries that occurred back then is engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down, but it was a book I had to finish.

There are quite a few characters and even more plot twists! I didn’t even try to figure out how the story was going to end because I knew I’d be wrong. I was surprised at how everything worked out, which is what I expected.

The narrator does a fantastic job with the voice of Noah Grady. He sounds like an old-timer telling a story. He’s got great timing and a good pace. I’m sure the book is just as good, but I’m glad that I listened to the audiobook.

I definitely recommend The Bones of Amoret which is the first book I’ve read by Arthur Herbert but hopefully not the last.

About the Author

Arthur Herbert was born and raised in small town Texas. He worked on offshore oil rigs, as a bartender, a landscaper at a trailer park, and as a social worker before going to medical school. He chose to do a residency in general surgery, followed by a fellowship in critical care and trauma surgery. For the last eighteen years, he’s worked as a trauma and burn surgeon, operating on all ages of injured patients. He continues to run a thriving practice.

He’s won multiple awards for his scientific writing, and his first novel, The Cuts that Cure, spent ten days as an Amazon #1 Best Seller. His second novel, The Bones of Amoret, will be released on April 1, 2022 through Stitched Smile Publishers. Arthur currently lives in New Orleans, with his wife Amy and their dogs.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ goodreads

Giveaway

Enter the Book Tour Giveaway ​for a chance to win
a signed copy of THE BONES OF AMORET
(three winners / USA only)

Gleam

Follow the Tour

May 2 – Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 3 –Kam’s Place – book spotlight
May 3 –Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook review / giveaway
May 4 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 5 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 5 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 6 – Books for Books – audiobook review 
May 9 –Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews – audiobook review
May 9 – Novels Alive – audiobook review 
May 9 – Novels Alive – audiobook blast / giveaway 
May 10 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review / giveaway
May 11 – Booking With Janelle – audiobook review / author interview / giveaway
May 11 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review / giveaway
May 12 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review / giveaway
May 13 – Bigreadersite – audiobook review / giveaway
May 13 – Faith and Books – audiobook review / giveaway
TBD –Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review / author interview / giveaway
TBD – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway

Book Review & Giveaway: Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr

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Book Title: Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr
Series:  A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 2)
Category:  Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages
Genre:  Murder Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  April 23, 2011
Content Rating: PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries.

In Old Loves Die Hard, Lauren Carr continues the rags-to-riches story of Mac Faraday, an underpaid homicide detective who inherits two-hundred-and-seventy million dollars and an estate on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, from his birth mother on the day his divorce becomes final.

Mac is settling nicely into his new life at Spencer Manor when his ex-wife, Christine, shows up—and she wants him back! Before Mac can send her packing, Christine and her estranged lover are murdered in Mac’s private penthouse suite at the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort built by his ancestors. The investigation leads to the discovery of cases files for some of Mac’s murder cases in the room of the man responsible for destroying his marriage. Why would his ex-wife’s lover come to Spencer to dig into Mac’s old cases?

With the help of his new friends on Deep Creek Lake, Mac must use all of his detective skills to clear his name and the Spencer Inn’s reputation, before its five-stars—and more bodies—start dropping!

There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No F-Bombs!

Buy the Book:   
  Audible ~ Amazon
B&N ~ BookBub
Add to Goodreads

My Review

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

I have read quite a few of Lauren Carr’s books and Mac Faraday is the first character of hers that I read about. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to read all of the books in order, so now I’m catching up. This is the second book in the series.

Mac’s ex-wife shows up and wants him back, but he wants nothing to do with her. She is murdered in his suite at his hotel so he, of course, helps his brother solve the case. This case is complicated and there are so many murders and twists!

There are quite a few characters as is usual for Lauren Carr’s books. I like Mac and Archie and their budding relationship. My favorite character has to be Mac’s dog, Gnarly. He is so smart!

I definitely recommend Old Loves Die Hard. If you like mystery and intrigue, it’s one you don’t want to miss.

“The plot gave a touch of crime drama to this cozy without losing the cozy charm. … There is suspense and twists that keep the pages turning. … I think Ms. Carr is just hitting her stride and I suspect that we shall see each new book surpass the last.” —review by Ariel Heart, Mystery and My Musings

“As in any good who-done-it, there are red herrings and plot complications in Old Loves Die Hard and fans of mysteries and police procedurals will get a kick out of Lauren Carr’s books.”– review by David M. Kinchen, Huntington News

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. 

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.  

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. 

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

connect with the author: 

website  ~  facebook  ~  instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 PayPal gift card courtesy of the author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries!
(one winner)

Gleam

Continue reading →

Book Review & Giveaway: Song Girl: A Mystery in Two Verses by Keith Hirshland

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Song Girl by Keith Hirshland

Song Girl: A Mystery in Two Verses by Keith Hirshland
Publisher:  Beacon Publishing Group (January 21, 2022)
Categories: Mystery Thriller, Detective/Police Procedural
Tour Dates April and May, 2022
ISBN: 978-1949472400
Available in Print and ebook, 388 pages

Song Girl

Description

Detective Marc Allen is ready to leave the Raleigh, North Carolina, Police Department. Two murders that happened on his watch have apparently been solved thanks to a suicide note confession written by a distraught father. But Allen isn’t buying it. He’s convinced that the man’s adopted daughter, Teri Hickox, is the one responsible for the heinous crimes. With his personal life a muddle and his professional career unsettled he decides the best thing for him is a change of scenery. The detective, now in Colorado Springs, is working new cases and making new friends. One of those friends is Hannah Hunt who, after suffering a freak accident, finds herself only able to speak in song titles. Another is a mysterious drifter who lives out of an old Dodge van and goes by “the champ”. But as Allen builds a new future, events unfold showing him that he can’t escape his past. Song Girl is… Part sequel to The Flower Girl Murder Part stand-alone mystery All entertaining

Guest Review by Sal

Author Keith Hirshland is back with a very singular mystery that has to be read to be believed.

The protagonist of this story, Detective Marc Allen, is a man with a problem. The problem is one Teri Hickox. See, Teri is the daughter of a man who recently confessed to the murder of two people in a case that Allen was investigating.

It all seemed to be pretty open and shut, but here is the hiccup: Allen doesn’t believe that Teri’s father, Hank was the real murderer. Allen believes that Teri was the one who committed the heinous crimes, but since Hank’s confession ends the official investigation, there is nothing that Allen can do to justify looking into it any further.

Frustrated with the lack of closure, Allen decides he needs a complete change of scenery, and ends up taking a job across the country in Colorado Springs at a different police department.

After settling in, Allen is given a case involving a young woman named Hannah Hunt who, after being involved in a strange ice-skating accident, is only capable of speaking in song titles. But was the accident really an accident? And what will the Detective’s reaction be when he discovers that Teri Hickox has actually followed him to Colorado Springs?

These are all questions that you will have to read the book to find out the answers to, and trust me, it’s definitely worth it.

‘Song Girl: A Mystery in Two Verses,’ is a reading experience unlike any other I’ve ever had. Hirshland’s story is one that keeps the reader guessing until the very last page—and makes you want to re-read to see how all of the answers were hinted at from the beginning of the book. This is a five star book that you can sink your teeth into!

About Keith HirshlandSong Girl by Keith Hirshland

Keith Hirshland is an Emmy Award–winning sports television producer with more than three decades of experience producing live and pre-recorded programs that aired on ESPN and ESPN2. Among the first forty people to be hired by the Golf Channel in 1994, Hirshland was in the middle of the action when that network debuted in 1995. He provided his talents for Golf Channel, as its live tournament producer, for two decades. Cover Me Boys, I’m Going In: Tales of the Tube from a Broadcast Brat is a memoir about his experiences in the television industry. Published by Beacon Publishing Group, Cover Me Boys was recognized as the Book Talk Radio Club Memoir of the Year. Hirshland’s second book, and first work of fiction, Big Flies, was published in 2016 and is the recipient of the New Apple Awards “Solo Medalist” in the True Crime Category. Hirshland followed that success with his third book, The Flower Girl Murder. In 2020 Beacon Publishing Group released Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis, Hirshland’s third mystery novel. It was a Top Shelf Magazine First Place award winner and was named the Book Talk Radio Club Book of the Year for 2020. Song Girl Hirshland’s fifth book is the sequel to The Flower Girl Murder and was released in January of 2022. 

All five books are available at www.keithhirshland.com,  Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

Keith Hirshland lives in Colorado with his wife and their Pyredoodle Mac. Website: https://www.keithhirshland.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/khhauthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithHirshlandAuthor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khhauthor/?hl=en

Buy Song Girl by Keith Hirshland

Amazon * Barnes&Noble * IndieBound

Giveaway

This giveaway is for 3 print copies. One for each of 3 winners.

This giveaway is open to Canada and the U.S. only and ends on June 1, 2022 midnight, pacific time.  Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Review: Damaged by Pat Herbert

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The year is 1958, the place fashionable Chelsea, London. One famous film star commits suicide, and another famous star is run over. An eminent Harley Street plastic surgeon dies under suspicious circumstances.

When a fading film star decides to undergo plastic surgery to help revive her flagging career, it turns out to be the worst decision of her life, culminating in her eventual suicide.

When people close to her, including her former husband, begin to drop like flies, the plot thickens until all the strands come together in the best Agatha Christie tradition.

My Review

I have read several of Pat Herbert’s books and always enjoy reading them. One thing I’ve learned is not to try to figure out where a story is going.

Damaged started out with typical movie stars who had an image to maintain if at all possible. The characters were all so superficial! Lana, Leon Murray, and Victoria were all movie stars and didn’t seem to have any concerns other than what would further their careers.

Their egos led to some twisted relationships which I found interesting. And so many deaths!

There are several twists in this story. Just when you think you have something or someone figured out, you find out that you don’t. I definitely recommend Damaged for anyone who likes a mystery.

About the Author

Pat Herbert lives in London, England and works as an administrator and receptionist at a private health clinic. She worked previously as PA to the Managing Director of Thomson Books before they were taken over by Penguin.  Pat has written nineteen novels to date.

Other novels by Pat Herbert:

The Rev. Paltoquet supernatural mystery series:

The Bockhampton Road Murders
Haunted Christmas
The Possession of November Jones
The Witches of Wandsworth
So Long at the Fair
The Man Who Was Death
The Dark Side of the Mirror
Sleeping With the Dead
The Corpse Wore Red
Seeing Double

The Barney Carmichael Crime series:

Getting Away with Murder
The Murder in Weeping Lane
The Mop and Bucket Murders

Also by Pat Herbert:

Death Comes Gift Wrapped
The Long Shadow
Once You Kiss a Stranger
Hidden
UnOriginal Sin

“Damaged” by Pat Herbert is available in paperback from Amazon UK at:

This new thriller is also available to download in e-book format at:

Press/media Contact Details:

Darin Jewell (Pat Herbert’s literary agent)
Tel. 0208 292 5163
E-mail: darin@theinspiragroup.com

Book Review: Buried Secrets by J.E. Grace

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Pigeon Bay is a safe, peaceful town. That is until a woman goes missing.

Samantha and Jonathan Winters arrive for a real estate convention and photoshoot. Will Jonathan’s pictures reveal more than he realizes?

Nina Dupree, a private investigator, and friend of the Chief of Police will lend a hand to help solve the case. Is this victim’s evidence tied to another unsolved event her father was examining?

What secrets are the members of the Belmonte family hiding? Another mansion full of buried mysteries is waiting, but will they remain so?

My Review

The Belmonte family is wealthy, and they worship money. They don’t know what true love is. And they have their secrets…so many secrets. Nina Dupree thinks she knows one of those secrets when she starts looking for a missing woman. Can she find the truth? How many secrets can she uncover?

This is a quick read, and I wish it was a full-length novel. There is so much packed into 136 pages, and so many characters involved, that I would have liked to get to know some of those characters better. It has mystery, twists, and even a little romance.

I noticed that the author has some full-length novels that look interesting which I want to try because I do like her writing.

About the Author

J.E. Grace was born in California and has a background in Retail Management.

She now resides in the Midwest and retired from a career in real estate in 2012 to pursue her writing. Her interests include poetry, painting in traditional oils/pastels, digital art, and photography. Her work can be viewed on Society 6, Fine Art America and Zazzle. She runs Bizwings Blog where she showcases other Christian and/or clean and wholesome writers.

Her writing has spiritual overtones due to deep roots in her faith. She writes in the Christian inspirational and mystery/suspense genres. She has two published titles in her Pacific Cove Legacy Series and released two titles in her Houses of Mystery Series. She is working on Book 3. She is also in the research and planning stages for Book 3 & 4 in her new historical fiction with a hint of mystery and romance, titled the Watchmaker Series.

In the inspirational romance genre, she has published, “A Walk with Heavenly Spirits.”

Interview with the Author

Interview with Author – J.E. Grace

http://ow.ly/6vuk30igY3q

Website: http://jegrace.webs.com

Book Review: If She Wakes by Erik Therme

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Who do you trust when everyone is lying?

My name is Tess Parker.

Two days ago, I was in a car accident with my sister-in-law, Torrie. Before she slipped into a coma, she asked my husband and me to care for her four-month-old son, Levi.

Yesterday, a woman claiming to be Torrie’s estranged sister knocked on our door. But Torrie has no siblings . . . or so she said. She and my brother were only together a short time before he left, and Torrie has clearly been keeping secrets.

Today, another of Torrie’s “sisters” has come to town. Both say the other is lying about who they are.

Neither of them is telling the truth.

Both of them want Levi.

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 have read Erik Therme‘s books and enjoy his writing style and the suspense in his books. I read the first book in this series, If She Dies, about a year ago. It wasn’t my favorite book, but I really liked that last quarter of it, so I was happy to read If She Wakes. I was not disappointed.

This book is full of suspense. I had to find out what was going to happen, so I had to stay up late into the night to finish reading it. Tess is still a mess but part of that is because she’s too hard on herself and her husband is not supportive. He thinks he is, but he blames Tess for overreacting to everything. But is she?

The end was a surprise which is always nice. A lot was resolved but because of the last line in the book, I’m sure there will be a book #3. I’m looking forward to reading it.

PROLOGUE


The first thing I see when I open my eyes is blood; running down my left forearm, glazing the backside of my hand and dripping from my fingers. My father cursed me with thin blood, and my first emergency room visit was at age seven after crashing my bicycle and cutting my ankle on a broken spoke. It had been a gusher, painting the sidewalk red within seconds. Genetics, the friendly ER doctor with the overbite told my mother. My bone marrow didn’t produce enough platelets to properly clot.

Pain flares through my neck as I turn my head. I’m in the driver’s seat of my car, and something white and soft dangles from the steering wheel. It looks like a crumpled pillowcase, and it only takes me a moment longer to realize it’s a deflated airbag. Through the cracked windshield, I can see the giant wooden utility pole that’s taken a large bite out of my hood. The Malibu’s left headlamp is flickering, and the right headlamp is pointed crazily toward the sky.

A deer, I tell myself. We swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

We.

My heart leaps inside my chest as I look to the passenger seat for Josh. The seat’s empty, but the airbag there has also deployed, and the door is open. Someone was in the seat, but not my husband. Josh is home babysitting, because I went out to dinner with—

“Torrie,” I rasp.

Everything comes rushing back.

About the Author

Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he can be found cheering on his youngest daughter’s volleyball team, or watching horror movies with his oldest. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa—one of only twenty-eight places in the world that UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature. Join Erik’s mailing list to be notified of new releases and author giveaways: http://eepurl.com/cD1F8L

Website: http://www.eriktherme.com
Twitter: eriktherme