Beck Valley Book Tour: Executed In Paradise by Deborah Brown

When a body turns up at the Cottages, Madison and Fab are on the case. But when the killer makes a habit of discarding bodies on Madison’s property… it’s personal.

While on the hunt for the killer, the duo track down a double-crossing bail jumper, repossess a Lamborghini, and Madison lands her first case.

As more bodies pop up, the cops are eager to name a suspect. When a close friend is arrested as the prime suspect, Madison and Fab will stop at nothing to prove her innocence, but will they be too late?

Executed in Paradise, the ninth book in the scorching Paradise series about best friends who maintain the peace in the paradise of Tarpon Cove through unconventional ­– and highly entertaining – measures.

The Paradise series, are Florida Keys mysteries, “great as stand-alone reads, but they're like chips...you won't be able to devour just one!”

Available to buy from.....

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback 

"The Paradise series has it all! There is action, mystery, murder, romance, humor, & the greatest friendship of all time." 

"Multiple story lines made it impossible for me to put it down. The suspense, humor, love, romance, and of course touches of sarcasm, make this book the best one yet."

"I absolutely love the stories of Fab and Madison. You never know what is going to happen next. Adventures, drama, love, and all the humorous situations they find themselves in make wonderful reads."

Above reviews from Goodreads/Amazon

My Review

I love the Paradise series by Deborah Brown and this latest, Executed in Paradise doesn't disappoint.  The terrible twosome Madison and Fab are at large once again cleaning up crime whilst managing to bicker and joke the whole time.  

It is the strength of their relationship which I think is at the heart of the success of the Paradise novels. Madison and Fab are like the best mates you wish you had whilst suspecting that you could never keep up with them, or their handsome boyfriends, Creole and Didier.

The pace of the story is as hectic as usual as the girls rush from case to case, solving some by the skin of their teeth and enjoying winding up Brick, Fab's boss in the process.  It's great to see Brick develop some grudging admiration of Madison at long last.

All the usual characters are there, Spoon, Madison's mother, and even Brick's pneumatic and vitriolic receptionist who hates Madison and Fab with a passion.  Then there are the strange collection of tenants at The Cottages, including a dead stuffed cat and a Professor with some very odd habits.

Executed in Paradise works well as a stand alone story but the rest of the series is so enjoyable, I highly recommend that you check them out.

About the Author

I've been writing, in one way or another for as long as I can remember; writing poetry, short stories, a romance novel secretly stashed under the bed and sappy love letters. Fiction should be fun. I wanted to create the perfect beach book, to make the reader laugh, cry and cheer... and then run out and tell their friends about it.

My love of reading began when I was seven, the day I opened the cover of my first Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book. Mrs. P gave lessons to other children in how to behave and to me I learned to love the written word. I live with my family and demon children aka rescue cats in South Florida.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Google+  Goodreads  Amazon Author page

Also available in the Paradise Series

Follow the Book Tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win $25 Amazon.com Giftcard / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Open Worldwide

Ending on Thursday 7th July at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

Beck Valley Book Tour: At Once, An Alex Troutt Thriller By John W. Mefford

New Release....
Alex Troutt Thriller, Book #3
AT Once
“If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”

FBI Agent Alex Troutt has no intentions of falling for anything. Apparently, neither do the bad guys, as the Boston area is once again targeted by extremists. Boston Strong of just a few years ago is now Boston on Edge. And this time, the targets are men of the cloth—priests.

At least that’s how it looks at first.

As investigators struggle to make sense of the bombings, Alex is thrown for a loop when the FBI assistant director asks her to investigate one of their own—a colleague and friend who is suspected of having ties to a known terrorist. Torn between her values of friendship and the oath she gave when she accepted her FBI credentials, Alex must now lead two investigations simultaneously.

The bombings don’t stop, and panic sets in as the carnage spreads beyond the realm of the original targets.

Bloody Sunday. The IRA. The movement toward peace. Wounds of decades ago have reopened, bleeding all over Boston. As she pieces together the puzzle, Alex begins to wonder just how innocent her colleague really is. It’s almost too much for her to fathom.

Just how far will someone go to make a stand?

Available to buy from.....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

My Review

Alex Troutt is fast becoming a firm favourite of mine.  Tough, without being too militant, maternal without being too soft and refreshingly intelligent for a female protagonist, Mefford has created a female lead that many women readers will identify with - particularly as Alex struggles to achieve some sort of work life balance.

Although this book can be read as a stand alone story, I recommend reading the first Alex Troutt thrillers because Mefford cleverly builds the story and reweaves echoes of the previous cases and characters as he goes along.  

At Once is, like the previous novels, a roller-coaster of a ride with enough twists and shocks to keep the reader's interest.  It is extremely difficult to predict what is coming next which only adds to the fun.  There is enough horror to keep you on the edge of your seat and Mefford obviously knows his police procedure because you are drawn into Alex's world and get to know the members of her team.

Without giving too much away,  this case is about a terrorist cell leading a bombing campaign - with a possible connection right at the very heart of Alex's work life - and she is forced to investigate someone she has long considered to be an ally and friend.  It's also a race against time to stop the terroists fulfilling a very bloody and dangerous goal.

Highly recommended.

Also available
AT Bay (An Alex Troutt Thriller, Book #1)

Alexandra Giordano never knew she had it so good. Until it was all gone in an instant.

As she begins her daunting quest to uncover the black spots on her memory, what she finds isn’t sweet or charming or even pleasant. And that’s when she begins to question everything, including herself.

Her work as a Special Agent for the FBI is only a distraction, serving as a mental metronome…anything to crank the gears of her feeble mind.

And then it happens—a bizarre, ritualistic murder. She loses herself in her work, fully immersed in the investigation. Unable to recall even her own kids, she’s somehow able to formulatecoherent theories on what type of person could pull off such a sickening act.

As her mind slowly plugs a few memory gaps, her emotions are scrambled by the reality of herworlds colliding. And the resulting explosion tears her in two.

Can she pick up all the incendiary fragments to solve the twisted crime while she clings to somesemblance of sanity?

One woman can only keep so much…AT Bay.

Available to buy from.....

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

AT Large (An Alex Troutt Thriller, Book #2)

The pursuit of the truth. The hunt for a life.


For the first time in months, FBI Special Agent Alex Troutt feels almost normal, hanging out at a local bar with friends after work. Not long into the evening she stumbles over one of the most disturbing images she has ever seen.

And that’s only the beginning.

A body is found in Lowell, the human damage, once again, inconceivable. Hours later, another strike. Pushing heartache aside, Alex immerses herself in the investigation. But with every new clue comes a new twist.

With the killing spree drawing the attention of every intelligence and law enforcement agency in a five-state radius, Alex is forced to partner with an egomaniac from the CIA. Yet, even with limitless resources, every step forward proves to be a step too late, the kill list seemingly endless.

Once the killer makes it personal, Alex is left with no other option—she must confront the person who destroyed her life to try to cease the vicious murders. And when she finally learns the killer’s end game, every second counts if she has any hope of stopping the brutal killings.

The hunt will end. Will Alex?

Available to buy from.....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

About the Author

A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+  Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

OTHER BOOKS FROM JOHN W MEFFORD

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win THREE Alex Troutt Thrillers by John W Mefford 
ebooks AT Bay, AT Large and AT Once
2 Winners!!
Ending on Friday 3rd June at 11.59pm CST

Open Worldwide 

Enter HERE

Good Luck !!

Read more

"The Aha! Factor - The Intuitive Guide For Getting What You Desire & Deserve" & Giveaway

As readers of this blog know, the self-help / personal development book genre is one of my all-time favourites and I fear the unstable mounds of books by the side of my bed are about to get even bigger now that I have discovered Watkins Publishing who specialise in precisely this type of book.

The Aha! Factor by Mariana Cooper

They very kindly sent me a copy of a fascinating book by Mariana Cooper entitled "The Aha! Factor - The Intuitive Guide For Getting What You Desire & Deserve".

Mariana Cooper is a 3rd generation intuitive, thought leader and visionary mentor who has her own radio and TV shows, as well as hosting telesummits that reach over 85 countries across the world.

She has also been an Angel Therapy Practitioner and certified Advanced Medium with Dr. Doreen Virtue for over 10 years and has performed thousands of readings and coaching sessions.

In "The Aha! Factor", Mariana shows us how we use those random, momentary experiences of knowing to get in touch with our "Aha! Factor" - that force which gives us the true direction we want to follow and which is best for us.

We've all had those "gut feelings" where something doesn't feel right.  Haven't you sometimes met somebody and just known they were either a friend for life or someone to avoid at all costs?  It would be very handy if we could tune into these feelings and come up with a strategy to use this inner knowledge to benefit us.

Mariana clearly outlines the tools we have at our disposal to do just this.  She teaches us how to tap into our own Energetic System of Communication (ESC).

This consists of

- our intention
- our intuition
- our telepathic ability to both send and receive
- our channelling ability to both send and receive

and

- our capacities to receive and perceive both physical and energetic information in combination with each other so that we can navigate our world with greater ease.

One of the most chapters I found most interesting was one of 50 easily recognisable signs and symbols which help you to know that you are in touch with your Aha! Factor.

For example:-

* receiving a phone call or text message from someone you were only just thinking about

* seeing the same numbers over and over - for example if you keep seeing 888 abundance and prosperity are yours now  (I'm looking for that one, believe me!)

* smelling the scent of a loved one's scent or cologne when they are not there

* turning on a movie just when a line of dialogue is spoken that is applicable to your situation

The world whispers to us in many ways if only we would tune in - and that is what this book teaches us to do.

I really enjoyed it and you can buy a copy at Amazon.co.uk.  I also have one copy to give away.  Just enter via the Rafflecopter in the usual way.  UK entrants only and terms and conditions apply.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 13th May 2016.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Read more

Beck Valley Book Tour: At Large by John W. Mefford

New Release...
Alex Troutt Thriller Series #2
AT Large

The pursuit of the truth. The hunt for a life.

For the first time in months, FBI Special Agent Alex Troutt feels almost normal, hanging out at a local bar with friends after work. Not long into the evening she stumbles over one of the most disturbing images she has ever seen.

And that’s only the beginning.

A body is found in Lowell, the human damage, once again, inconceivable. Hours later, another strike. Pushing heartache aside, Alex immerses herself in the investigation. But with every new clue comes a new twist.

With the killing spree drawing the attention of every intelligence and law enforcement agency in a five-state radius, Alex is forced to partner with an egomaniac from the CIA. Yet, even with limitless resources, every step forward proves to be a step too late, the kill list seemingly endless.

Once the killer makes it personal, Alex is left with no other option—she must confront the person who destroyed her life to try to cease the vicious murders. And when she finally learns the killer’s end game, every second counts if she has any hope of stopping the brutal killings.

The hunt will end. Will Alex?

Available to buy from.....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

My Review

In At Bay, the first Alex Troutt thriller, Mefford introduced us to his new female special agent and I think it's fair to say, he was just getting into his stride.

At Large follows on from the first book to a large extent and the strands of this new story are cleverly interwoven.  

As Alex's memory returns we also get to learn more about her past family life and her marriage and there are certainly some shocks in store.

In At Large we meet a killer who is resourceful, cunning and possibly one of the most violent I have ever read about.  Hannibal Lecter looks like a bit of a pussycat in comparison.

Mefford's writing continues to grow on me and if you like your thrillers gutsy, fast-paced and with more twists and turns than a road through the Alps, you will love this new series of thrillers.

It's great to find a female agent who can hold her own against her male colleagues whilst still being a caring mother and a woman.

Mefford will have you gripped right until the very last page.

I can't wait to read the next installment.

Highly recommended.

Also available
AT Bay (Alex Troutt Thriller series #1)

Alexandra Giordano never knew she had it so good. Until it was all gone in an instant.

As she begins her daunting quest to uncover the black spots on her memory, what she finds isn’t sweet or charming or even pleasant. And that’s when she begins to question everything, including herself.

Her work as a Special Agent for the FBI is only a distraction, serving as a mental metronome…anything to crank the gears of her feeble mind.

And then it happens—a bizarre, ritualistic murder. She loses herself in her work, fully immersed in the investigation. Unable to recall even her own kids, she’s somehow able to formulate coherent theories on what type of person could pull off such a sickening act.

As her mind slowly plugs a few memory gaps, her emotions are scrambled by the reality of her worlds colliding. And the resulting explosion tears her in two.

Can she pick up all the incendiary fragments to solve the twisted crime while she clings to some semblance of sanity?

One woman can only keep so much…AT Bay.

Available to buy from.....

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

About the Author

A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

OTHER BOOKS FROM JOHN W MEFFORD

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win both ebooks AT Bay and AT Large
2 Winners!!
Ending on Thursday 14th April at 11.59pm CST

Open Worldwide 

Enter HERE

Good Luck !!

Read more

Beck Valley Book Tour - Laguna Sights - Kaira Rouda & Giveaway

New Release....

Once you're a star, can you trust other people’s intentions?

Scott Cassidy has lived a blessed life. Growing up in Laguna Beach with a loving family, he was discovered in high school when he appeared on the popular reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Now cast as a doctor on the number one soap opera, his star keeps rising. Finally free from his long-term girlfriend, Scott isn’t looking for love, but when a popular dating app matches him with Jamie Kane, he can’t deny the sparks. But is she really everything she seems?

Jamie Kane isn’t lucky in love or life. Her childhood was tumultuous with a single mom who moved to Hollywood for fame but ended up waiting tables in Malibu. Certainly not one of the spoiled kids she went to high school and college with, Jamie has worked hard to achieve her dreams of being an actress, even as she begins to realize it’s not her calling. Jamie believes Scott may be the answer to everything unless a past mistake makes him doubt their future together.

Is the price of fame the chance at true love?

***Laguna Sights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul's story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   

My Review

This is my second Rouda novel after Laguna Lights and I enjoyed it as much as that one.  Laguna Sights is a light, frothy, glamorous romance ideal for flicking through with a glass of fizz and some chocolate (or a cuppa and some digestives!).  Scott and Jamie's romance is sweet without being saccharine against a backdrop of blue skies and seas.

I was intrigued to discover (without giving too much away) that the author seemed to be as irked by one of her previous characters as I was and Jamie is a much nicer character than Laura, even if the reader is shouting for her to stand up for herself much sooner than she actually does.

There's blackmail, mean girls and a 'will they, won't they' element in a story which wouldn't seem out of place in the pages of Hello! magazine.  

Highly recommended. 

Also available

Laguna Nights (Laguna Beach Book 1)

Madison Alcott was back in her hometown, caring for her sick mom and working long hours at the best resort in Laguna Beach. She never imagined she'd return to the place where she became famous on the hit reality TV show Laguna Nights, and the place where she was humiliated on national television. Fortunately, the past had stayed tucked away until her old high school boyfriend appeared in the lobby.

Josh Welsh was a superstar by age eighteen, the bad boy break-out star of Laguna Nights. Since then, his star had lost its shine and he barely was holding onto his Hollywood status. When he was asked to host a new reality travel show, he jumped at the chance. The only problem was the first episode was shooting in Laguna Beach. Of all the reasons Josh didn't want to return home, he hadn't even imagined the worst scenario: running into Madison "Holly" Alcott.

Josh's connection to Madison was still as strong as her anger at his betrayal. When the new reality series forces them together, they must face Laguna Nights past and present, and navigate a journey where nothing is as it seems.

Book available to buy from....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks 

Laguna Heights (Laguna Beach Book 2)

Annie and Hank have created a perfect life in Laguna Beach but when a dark secret is revealed, will their marriage survive?

In high school, Annie Johns was the calm, supportive sidekick to the rest of the tumultuous female stars of the hit reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Today, she's living the happy life as a mom that she predicted on the show long ago. There's only one problem: the secret from her past that haunts her most nights, a secret that if revealed could ruin everything she shares with her husband, Hank, the man who saved her from the heartache.

***Laguna Heights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novella. And if you enjoy Annie and Hank's story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   

Laguna Lights (Laguna Beach Book 3)

Welcome back to Laguna Beach...

Laura Kinkaid’s glamorous Hollywood life is falling apart. After years of reality television stardom beginning in high school on Laguna Nights, her career and relationship with her long-term boyfriend Scott are fizzling out.

Laura decides to go home to Laguna Beach for the weekend to attend a baby shower for her high school friend. That decision – and a car accident – will lead her to a new future, if she’s ready to take a chance at love. 

Paul Dorn’s former life in New York City is far behind him and he’s working in a popular Laguna Beach surf shop when fate brings the most beautiful woman he’s ever met into his life. The attraction is instant and he has an overwhelming desire to protect her. While Paul’s retail sales career is a short-term job for market research purposes, his focus on Laura is long-term.

Will Laura allow a handsome stranger to help her create a future unlike her past, or will the bright lights of Hollywood pull her back to LA?

***Laguna Lights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul's story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   

About the Author

Kaira Rouda is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary women's fiction and sexy modern romance novels that sparkle with humor and heart. Her women's fiction titles include HERE, HOME, HOPE, ALL THE DIFFERENCE and IN THE MIRROR. Her bestselling short story is titled, A MOTHER'S DAY. Kaira's work has won the Indie Excellence Award, USA Book Awards, the Reader's Choice Awards and honorable mention in the Writer's Digest International Book Awards. Her books have been widely reviewed and featured in leading magazines.

Her sexy contemporary romance series set on INDIGO ISLAND includes: WEEKEND WITH THE TYCOON, Book 1; HER FORBIDDEN LOVE, Book 2; THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS, Book 3; and THE BILLIONAIRE'S BID, Book 4. Each of these novellas can be read as a stand alone, or enjoyed as a series. Her new series is set in LAGUNA BEACH and includes: LAGUNA NIGHTS, Book 1; LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Book 2; and LAGUNA LIGHTS, Book 3 coming winter 2015. She also helped launch Melissa Foster's The Remington's Kindle World with her bestselling novella, SPOTLIGHT ON LOVE, and is part of Carly Phillips Dare to Love Kindle World with THE CELEBRITY DARE.

Her nonfiction titles, REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, and REAL YOU FOR AUTHORS: 8 Essentials for Women Writers (available for free download on her website) continue to inspire.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and four almost-grown kids, and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books and on her website, KairaRouda.com.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win a $25 Amazon.com GC / Paypal Cash (winners choice) 
Open Worldwide

Ending on Saturday 23rd April at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

Beck Valley Book Tour - Starfish Island by Deborah Brown

NEW RELEASE....

A MYSTERIOUS INHERITANCE. A HANDSOME STRANGER. 

After a bad break-up, Nicole Alexander is ready for a change. When she inherits a house on Starfish Island from a grandmother she never knew, it seems like the perfect opportunity for starting over. But soon after moving in, Nicole receives a cryptic message warning her to leave immediately. 

Determined to get to the bottom of the hauntings, Nicole starts an investigation. When things get hot and heavy with one of the island’s most charismatic residents, Michael Edwards, Nicole begins to suspect his amorous attention might be a cover for dark motives. 

Will Nicole discover the reason for the island’s hostility before it’s too late? Can she fall for a man she doesn’t exactly trust? 

STARFISH ISLAND is best-selling author Deborah Brown’s first romantic suspense novel. If you love the charm and fast pace of her popular Paradise series, then you’ll love this engrossing romantic mystery.

Available to buy from...

Amazon Kindle    Barnes and Noble   Paperback

What did I think?

Starfish Island is a real page turner from Deborah Brown and it reminded me strongly of some of the classic romantic suspense fiction like Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.  All the elements are there - a huge house in a remote location, staff who are deeply unpleasant and threatening and a romantic interest who is really hard to pin down right until the very end.

Throw in a lawyer who seems to be a touch too self-assured, an ex lover who is a complete cad and, refreshingly, some strong female characters and you have a story which is difficult to put down.

Nicole, Brown's heroine, is just the right side of independent, although I did find myself wishing she would be a lot more assertive when it came to dealing with a group of characters who treat her like a child when it is clear they don't have her best interests at heart.

The most clever aspect of Starfish Island which has a great mystery plot, is that it is very hard to know who is good and who is bad until the end.

And there is a very enjoyable and satisfying denouément.

There are a couple of quite explicit sex scenes though so you might want to avoid this one if that offends you.

All in all highly recommended.

About the Author

I've been writing, in one way or another for as long as I can remember; writing poetry, short stories, a romance novel secretly stashed under the bed and sappy love letters. Fiction should be fun. I wanted to create the perfect beach book, to make the reader laugh, cry and cheer... and then run out and tell their friends about it.

My love of reading began when I was seven, the day I opened the cover of my first Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book. Mrs. P gave lessons to other children in how to behave and to me I learned to love the written word. I live with my family and demon children aka rescue cats in South Florida.

Find the author on the following sites....

Website  Facebook, Twitter  Pinterest  Google+  Goodreads Amazon Author pages

Follow the Book Tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win $25 Amazon.com Giftcard / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Open Worldwide

Ending on Saturday 9th April at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

Beck Valley Books Tour & Giveaway - At Bay, An Alex Troutt Thriller By John W. Mefford

NEW SERIES....
Alex Troutt Thriller Series #1
AT Bay
Alexandra Giordano never knew she had it so good. Until it was all gone in an instant.

As she begins her daunting quest to uncover the black spots on her memory, what she finds isn’t sweet or charming or even pleasant. And that’s when she begins to question everything, including herself.

Her work as a Special Agent for the FBI is only a distraction, serving as a mental metronome…anything to crank the gears of her feeble mind.

And then it happens—a bizarre, ritualistic murder. She loses herself in her work, fully immersed in the investigation. Unable to recall even her own kids, she’s somehow able to formulate coherent theories on what type of person could pull off such a sickening act.

As her mind slowly plugs a few memory gaps, her emotions are scrambled by the reality of her worlds colliding. And the resulting explosion tears her in two.

Can she pick up all the incendiary fragments to solve the twisted crime while she clings to some semblance of sanity?

One woman can only keep so much…AT Bay.

Available to buy from.....

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

MY REVIEW 

I loved this book.  I particularly love that Mefford has created a plausible and likeable female agent who gives as good as she gets, without needing to reapply her lip gloss. Booker has met his match!

The story begins with FBI agent Alex coming out of a coma having sustained substantial memory loss after a car crash. 

Whilst on leave of absence, she nevertheless manages to get herself involved with a new murder case. Alex becomes a woman on a mission to reclaim her memory and to solve the case of a killer whose method of dispatching his victims is truly unique - and unpleasant.  

Whilst grappling with the seemingly unsolvable, Alex also has to reacquaint herself with her family and her history, including a marriage that seems to be unravelling and a nanny who has designs on her husband.

Not only does she have to catch a killer but she has to grapple with the typical guilt many working mothers feel - has she not been there for her family?

As ever, Mefford's writing is gutsy, fast paced and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

About the Author

A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+    Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

OTHER BOOKS FROM JOHN W MEFFORD

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win Signed paperback copies of AT Bay and BOOKER - Streets of Mayhem
2 Winners!!
Ending on Sunday 7th February at 11.59pm CST

Open Worldwide 

Enter HERE

Good Luck !!

Read more

Beck Valley Books Tours Review & Giveaway: I'm Yours by Carolyn Menke

New Release....
I’m Yours is the prequel to Return To Me. This companion novella spins the tale of how Sadie’s mother, Audrey, becomes Audrey McCall, and the events leading up to one fateful decision that will affect generations to come.

The Roaring Twenties spell opportunity for Audrey McCall, a starlet who’s as irresistible as the illegal booze poured behind every shuttered speakeasy. Her big theater dreams include landing the impossible, a role on Broadway. But she’s fallen in love with handsome Edward Stark, who wants her to be his leading lady and his alone.

Edward’s confessed his love and is ready to embark on a future with Audrey. No more sneaking off to speakeasies and enduring cast parties, where the catcalls of men directed at his main squeeze get under his skin. Wouldn’t Audrey rather become the mother of his children than worry about the next paycheck?

Muddying the waters is the shifty Rex Wyatt, a new playwright in town, who promises to make Audrey a star. If Audrey gets the part of her dreams, she has to take it. There are no second chances in theater. Are there second chances in love?

Available to buy from....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo

Read an excerpt HERE

“A sweeping, romantic debut that brings the war-time forties to vivid life in this Titanic meets Philomena tale—fast-paced, tender, and real.” — on Return to Me by RITA Award-winning Author Gwyn Cready

 “Menke’s writing is so lovely, you will want to wrap yourself in her words and savor each moment you spend in Sadie’s story. Return To Me will tug on your heart strings and take you on a journey back in time.” — on Return to Me by Dana Faletti, Author of the Whisper Trilogy 

 “A timeless tale of love, loss and sacrifice that will equally break and warm your heart, as you cheer for the beautifully complex characters until the very last page.” — on Return to Me by Lori M. Jones, Author of Renaissance of the Heart

Also Available

Return to Me

In 1942...
Eighteen-year-old Sadie Stark, raised by the governor of Pennsylvania, has the world on a string. She doesn’t need the mother who left her any more than she needs the fiance who promises to change. What she needs is to finish college, and keep her wits about her. 

When war-bound James Pasko returns her stolen clutch, and shows her what’s missing in her life, she gains the courage to search for the truth about her past.

What Sadie uncovers rattles her to the core. But James’ steadfast love gives her hope for the future—for the first time—even as the war tears them apart.

When James disappears over enemy lines and Sadie makes a startling discovery, she must decide to follow in the footsteps of the mother who gave her away, or face a life of hardship like she’s never known.

Available to buy from....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo

About the Author

Carolyn Menke is the author of RETURN TO ME, published by The Wild Rose Press in September 2015 and I’M YOURS, the companion novella that released in December. RETURN TO ME, set during the 1940s, follows Sadie, as she uncovers pieces of her mother’s past. I’M YOURS, set during the Roaring Twenties, follows Audrey, Sadie’s mother, as a young starlet destined for Broadway, and the events leading up to one fateful decision.

Raised by a former kindergarten teacher and engineer, Carolyn grew up with a book in hand, a story in her ear, and was encouraged from a young age to pretend, create, read, and write. She’d often come down to the breakfast table with a new story or poem to share. Some of her fondest memories are of her mom reading to her from the front seat of their family station wagon during long road trips, her siblings fast asleep beside her. These read-alouds were the beginning of a lifelong love.

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Carolyn blogs for a digital marketing agency and enjoys horseback riding and geocaching with her family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a mom to three young daughters, it’s her turn to carry on the tradition of telling stories, reading aloud, and making the every day magical.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website    Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

MY REVIEW

This is the prequel to "Return To Me" which explains how Audrey and Edward met and the background to their story.  They are parents of Sadie, the main protagonist in Menke's longer novel "Return to Me".

As a stand-alone story, it is quite brief but it is an enjoyable read nonetheless and whets the appetite for the sweeping romantic story of "Return To Me".  

Once again, Menke's eye for historical detail and her accurate period descriptions (this story is set in the 1920s) make the characters believable.  Whether it is the description of the clothes her characters wear, or the perfumes and music of the time, you feel that you are in the era she writes about.

Interestingly, Menke raises the issues of the struggle women still face to come to terms with what society expects of them and their own personal desires.

And, for Audrey, setting out to claim her independence has consequences that will echo down the years.

I enjoyed both "I'm Yours" and "Return to Me" but my recommendation would be that they are read together - which is, after all, what the author probably intended.  

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win a $20 Amazon.com GC / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Plus ebook to 3 runner ups
Open Worldwide

Ending on Sunday 31st January at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more