April 20, 2021 THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE BY SARAH JEAN HORWITZ @ALGONQUINYR

 

Publisher : Algonquin Young Readers (April 20, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1643751336


Dastardly deeds aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when one hears the name “Clementine,” but as the sole heir of the infamous Dark Lord Elithor, twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous has been groomed since birth to be the best (worst?) Evil Overlord she can be. But everything changes the day the Dark Lord Elithor is cursed by a mysterious rival.

Now, Clementine must not only search for a way to break the curse, but also take on the full responsibilities of the Dark Lord. As Clementine forms her first friendships, discovers more about her own magic than she ever dared to explore, and is called upon to break her father’s code of good and evil, she starts to question the very life she’s been fighting for. What if the Dark Lord Clementine doesn’t want to be dark after all?


MY REVIEW:


I just loved reading this fun middle grade book THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE.


This book is about twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous who had been groomed to be an heir as the Evil Overlord and evil deeds are what she does best. Things suddenly change when her father, the Dark Lord Elithor falls victim to a curse and Clementine must find a way to break the curse.


I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would for the wonderful character and the great moral in the story. This was such a well-written book though written for middle grade, this certainly can be enjoyed by all ages. The writing was so creative, funny and totally quirky I really had a hard time putting this book down. So fun!


I highly recommend this book.


Thank you @algonquinYR for having me in this tour and providing me a free copy of the book. All opinions are my own.


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:







Sarah Jean Horwitz is the author of the middle grade fantasy books CARMER AND GRIT and THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE. Sarah grew up next door to a cemetery and down the street from an abandoned fairytale theme park, which probably explains a lot. She currently lives near Boston, MA.

04.19.2021 LITTLE PIECES OF ME BY ALISON HAMMER

Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks (April 13, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 400 pages
ISBN-10 : 0062934872

Following her acclaimed debut novel, You and Me and Us, Alison Hammer offers a deeply moving story of family and identity. When a DNA test reveals a long-buried secret, a woman must look to the past to understand her mother and herself.


When Paige Meyer gets an email from a DNA testing website announcing that her father is a man she never met, she is convinced there must be a mistake. But as she digs deeper into her mother’s past and her own feelings of being the odd child out growing up, Paige begins to question everything she thought she knew. Could this be why Paige never felt like she fit in her family, and why her mother always seemed to keep her at an arm’s length? And what does it mean for Paige’s memories of her father, a man she idolized and whose death she is still grieving?

Back in 1975, Betsy Kaplan, Paige’s mom, is a straightlaced sophomore at the University of Kansas. When her sweet but boring boyfriend disappoints her, Betsy decides she wants more out of life, and is tired of playing it safe. Enter Andy Abrams, the golden boy on campus with a potentially devastating secret. After their night together has unexpected consequences, Betsy is determined to bury the truth and rebuild a stable life for her unborn child, whatever the cost.

When Paige can’t get answers from her mother, she goes looking for the only other person who was there that night. The more she learns about what happened, the more she sees her unflappable, distant mother as a real person faced with an impossible choice. But will it be enough to mend their broken relationship?

Told in dual timelines, Little Pieces of Me examines identity and how the way we define ourselves changes (or not) through our life experiences.

MY REVIEW:

TITLE: Little Pieces Of MeAUTHOR: Alison Hammer
PUB DATE: April 13, 2021 Now Available

This book had all of Alison Hammer’s trademark all over it for the immersive story line that is gripping, complex yet believable, thoroughly thought-provoking, and deeply moving.

This is another winner read for me and no one does complex family relationships like Alison does in a way that the build up of the story line captures you, and then the unraveling of the story from multiple point of views is just brilliant storytelling.

Told in two timelines, the present in 43 yo Paige’s point of view who is still reeling from the loss of her father, while a DNA test revealing her biological father, and in the past circa 1975 when Paige’s mother Betsy and Andy during their college years.

With very distinct story lines, we grapple with families and long buried secrets, challenging relationships, and the meaning of families in its biological and genetic sense, or otherwise.

What a great ride to read this amazing and most satisfying novel.


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:







Founder of Every Damn Day Writers, Alison Hammer has been spinning words to tell stories since she learned how to talk. A graduate of the University of Florida and the Creative Circus in Atlanta, she lived in 9 cities before settling down in Chicago. During the day, Alison is a VP Creative Director at FCB Chicago, but on nights and weekends you can find her writing upmarket women's fiction. Alison is represented by Joanna MacKenzie of Nelson Literary Agency. Her debut novel, YOU AND ME AND US is out now, and her second novel, LITTLE PIECES OF ME, will be out on April 13th, 2021 from William Morrow (HarperCollins).

04.19.2021 No Pain, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn't Come Easy @thomasnelson @chipgaines #NoPainNoGaines #nonfiction #personalgrowth #selfhelp @tlcbooktours

 

Chip Gaines likes to sweat.

That’s been true ever since he was a little pint-sized hustler selling candy and Capri Suns down at the public tennis courts in northeast Texas. You’ve probably seen him sweat on his television show, Fixer Upper. Deep in his bones he has always known that hard work yields great results, even when there’s little observable evidence of it. On the cusp of launching into what might be the hardest work he and his wife, Joanna, have ever done—building a network—Chip realized that none of it would be possible without his network of people.

Call it a network, a community, a home team. We’ve all got one. Today it might be made up of your family, your neighbors, the people you work with. But if you want a network that will pull you into a life of meaning, a life of joy and connection, you need to be intentional about choosing the people in it. People who are enlivened and electrified by the power of living according to their purpose, who are always in pursuit of lifelong learning, and who have a sincere belief that relationships are more than transactions. Chip Gaines has been building that kind of network his whole life, and he can tell you, it doesn’t come easy.

To say it requires sweat equity would be an understatement. It requires faith in people. It requires hope. And it requires a willingness to grow even when it hurts. From hard-won lessons and personal stories from Chip, No Pain, No Gaines is a by-the-bootstraps manual for building a network you can count on.


Purchase Links
Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with Chip
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

MY REVIEW:


This book is about building a network in every sense of the word. A network of people, community, friends and family. It’s also a little bit about the beginnings of Magnolia Network and the courage to close one door to open an even bigger door of opportunities, hopes and dreams.

Part memoir and part self-help, but one hundred percent inspiring and motivating, this book is how a man who didn’t conform to the status quo, and stayed authentic to his true self found success by not following the path of least resistance, instead embracing his uniqueness and passions.

I highly recommend this book! This book would also make for a fantastic gift for the people in your lives looking for inspiration and motivation in order to build a successful life.


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:


Bornin Albuquerque, New Mexico
November 14, 1974

Website
https://magnoliamarket.com

Twitter
chippergaines



Raised in Dallas, Texas, Chip Gaines is the host of HGTV’s Fixer Upper along with his wife Joanna Gaines. Chip and Joanna are both graduates of Baylor University. They flip, remodel and fix up homes together as owners of Magnolia Homes in Waco, Texas. Chip manages the construction and realty side of Magnolia. Their businesses include a real estate company, construction company, design firm and residential subdivision, Magnolia Villas. Chip and Joanna have five children and live in Waco, Texas.

04.18.2021 DUCHESS IF YOU DARE (The Maidens of Mayhem #1) @RARARESOURCES

 

Duchess If You Dare

From the glittering ballrooms of the ton to the city's grittiest corners, London has no shortage of wrongs in need of righting--and the Maidens of Mayhem are prepared for the challenge. United by secrecy and sisterhood, these daring women from all walks of life aim to fight injustice wherever it takes them--even into the arms of unexpected love. This feminist take on Regency-era Robin Hoods from USA Today bestselling author Anabelle Bryant is destined to storm readers' hearts!

Scarlett Wynn's tragic childhood taught her that life can be cruel to women with little power. So when a local seamstress disappears, Scarlett vows to find out why. Armed with a weapon and her courage, Scarlett scours London for clues--and crosses the unlikely path of Ambrose Cross, the Duke of Aylesford, at an unlikely place: an upscale brothel. The Duke is trying to solve a mystery of his own, and Scarlett is sure they can help each other--if she can resist the attraction that draws them together...

As Duke of Aylesford, Ambrose is duty-bound to protect his family name from scandal no matter the cost. But Scarlett's fearless spirit forces him to look beyond his world of privilege. Scarlett is as intoxicating as she is dangerous, igniting a fire in him like no other. When the pair learn both mysteries they're trying to solve are tied to a string of missing women, the tangled scheme they uncover may put their lives, and their growing love, in mortal danger--and lead them to search their hearts like never before...

"A delightful historical romance with a liberal dash of adventure, plenty of sizzling heat, and a heart of pure gold. A superb start to Bryant's new Maidens of Mayhem series"

--Lenora Bell, USA Today bestselling author

"Duchess if You Dare is a fantastic read that kept me up late and has me anxiously awaiting the next book in the series."

--USA Today Bestselling Author Renee Ann Miller

MY REVIEW:

Duchess If You Dare is a well -written historical fiction romance and mystery with a head strong and courageous heroine, Scarlett the Maiden of Mayhem, who was investigating the disappearance of an acquaintance. The mystery leads to a brothel where she runs into Ambrose, who was also investigating the disappearance to protect his family's reputation after his brother's shenanigans and indiscretions. I found that the mystery and the build up a slow burn that lead to a romance neither expected. 

I found the read to be exciting and I was invested in the characters as well as seeing how the other lives lived who are not a part of the ton. I thought that part of how the horrific conditions of women and those who are not part of the society lived were  very well researched. 

I thought the pacing though slow build, was great and I did enjoy this read. I had been looking to reading more Regency era books in both romance and mystery, and this definitely delivered for me. I look forward to the next book in the series, and learning more about the backgrounds of the characters. 

Anabelle Bryant did a phenomenal job in this first book in the series that left me wanting more - more mystery, more sleuthing, more romance, and definitely more mayhem!

Historical Fiction readers, do not miss this one.

Purchase Links

UK Amazon Link: https://rb.gy/emdsdw

US Links:

Amazon: https://rb.gy/ytoy31

Barnes & Noble : https://rb.gy/ebpuvi

Kobo: https://rb.gy/mpgh91

Author Bio –

USA Today Bestselling author Anabelle Bryant began reading at age three and never stopped. Her passion for reading soon turned into a passion for writing and an author was born. Happy to grab her suitcase if it ensures a new adventure, Anabelle finds endless inspiration in travel; especially imaginary jaunts into romantic Regency England, a far cry from her home in New Jersey. Instead, her clever characters live out her daydreams because really, who wouldn't want to dance with a handsome duke or kiss a wicked earl?

Anabelle's books have been translated into several languages including Japanese and Russian, but writing isn't all that keeps her busy. Building miniatures, baking and photography are other favorite pastimes. Often found with her nose in a book, Anabelle is just as happy in a room full of people. She enjoys meeting readers, attending conferences and book signings. She has earned her Master's Degree and is ABD for her Doctorate Degree in education.

A firm believer in romance, Anabelle knows sometimes life doesn't provide a happily ever after, but her novels always do. Visit her website at AnabelleBryant.com

Social Media Links –

Anabelle Bryant Links

Website: http://www.anabellebryant.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AnabelleBryantAuthor 

Newsletter: http://www.anabellebryant.com/contact-anabelle-1.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnabelleBryant

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anabelle-bryant

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/26491397-anabelle-bryant

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/anabellebryant/

 

04.17.2021 THE CORNISH MIDWIFE - @RARARESOURCES

 

The Cornish Midwife

WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE TOWN OF PORT AGNES.

A fresh start…

Midwife Ella Mehenick left the small Cornish town of Port Agnes for London and never looked back. But when her seemingly perfect life crashes down around her, there’s only one place she can heal her battered heart – the place she once called home. 

A new arrival…

Ella is quickly welcomed into the small community midwife team and loves her new job caring for mums and their precious babies – it’s what she does best! But being back also means facing ex-flame Dan Ferguson…the first man to break her heart. 

A second chance at love?

Dan is still as gorgeous as ever, but he’s never forgiven Ella for leaving. And now she’s back it’s clear that there is unfinished business between them. As Ella settles into her new/old life, she can’t stop the memories of how she once loved Dan so completely – and maybe never stopped.

Maybe coming home to Cornwall is Ella’s chance to love again…

Meet The Cornish Midwives of Port Agnes- where community, friendship and love are always delivered.

An uplifting and escapist read, perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Jessica Redland and Holly Martin!

This book was previously published as Return to Port Agnes.

 

MY REVIEW:

I just love reading about a character that is either a nurse or a midwife so when I was serendipitously asked to be a part of this blog tour, I immediately jumped on it. I am so glad I did. I also love a great second chance story and characters looking for a fresh start, and this book was all that I wanted in a fun and cozy escape read, with the right amount of drama and romance I exactly needed.

Main character Ella Mahenick is a midwife who left her hometown of Port Agnes for a perfect life in London, but as life would have it, plans do change. Coming back home to Port Agnes she was welcomed by the midwives community and do I love these women, but it also means facing the ever so handsome Ex Dan, who didn’t quite ever get over her sudden departure from Port Agnes.

I enjoyed this writing style where there is just enough going on to keep me entertained and keeping me turning those pages. I adored the characters and I was invested in their stories. I recommend this well written novel for a fun read for fans of second chance stories in a beautiful small town setting.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3tpFg7V

Author Bio:

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Boldwood is publishing the first title in The Cornish Midwife Series – part of a twelve-book deal – in April 2021.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoBartlettAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_B_Writer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo_bartlett123/

April 16, 2021 THE VINES By Shelley Nolden Hosted by @overtheriverpr OTRPR

 

Publisher : Freiling Publishing (March 23, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 412 pages
ISBN-10 : 1950948404

In the shadows of New York City lies forbidden North Brother Island, where the remains of a shuttered hospital hide the haunting memories of century-old quarantines and human experiments. The ruins conceal the scarred and beautiful Cora, imprisoned by contagions and the doctors who torment her. When Finn, a young urban explorer, arrives on the island and glimpses an enigmatic beauty through the foliage, intrigue turns to obsession as he seeks to uncover her past—and his own family’s dark secrets. By unraveling these mysteries, will he be able to save Cora? Will Cora meet the same tragic ending as the thousands who’ve already perished on the island?

The Vines intertwines North Brother Island’s horrific and elusive history with a captivating tale of love, betrayal, survival, and loss.

Editorial Reviews

"THE VINES weaves beautiful writing around an unsettling mystery: Who is the strange, scarred woman living on a seemingly uninhabitable island? Shelley Nolden's debut seems not just prescient - given the world's current focus on virology and immunizations - but also timeless, as it illustrates in painful detail how mankind seems destined to repeat our cruelest mistakes. Luckily for us readers, there's a bright thread of hope running through this book - as well as the promise of a sequel."
--Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of You Are Not Alone

"Highly original and richly drawn, Shelley Nolden's THE VINES features one of the most fascinating central characters you'll ever meet. Drawing on both the dark history of North Brother Island and today's painfully immediate worries about immunity and transmission of deadly disease, this debut transcends genre to combine history, thrills, obsession, medical ethics, and more into the compelling story of three generations of doctors and one remarkable woman."
--Greer Macallister, bestselling author of The Magician's Lie and The Arctic Fury

"Eerily timely and profoundly compelling, THE VINES is an unputdownable, unforgettable saga, the journey of a seemingly helpless, persecuted American woman who survives and battles back, against all odds; this first in what promises to be an explosive series signals the arrival of Shelley Nolden's masterful new voice in hybrid fiction."
--May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives

"Every character in this book is incredibly unique...the history and science in this book is exceedingly well thought out, well researched and fabulously detailed. Where Ms. Nolden truly excels is the historical portions...For fans of real-life history, science and mysteries alike, Shelley Nolden weaves a magical story with an abundance of intrigue that will leave readers eager for a sequel."
--Ind'TaleMagazine

"In a debut that is part horror novel, part thought experiment, Nolden has accomplished the feat of getting readers to ask themselves what horrors can be done to serve the greater good."
--Booklist

"Shelly Nolden's first book -- with a promise of more -- is a wonderful mix of science fiction, history, fantasy and some wishful thinking; a worthy read on so many levels."
--BookTrib


MY REVIEW:


As a nurse, I am always drawn to stories that bring to light the history and perspectives of medical treatments, historical figures, and historical landmarks, those that have made strides to the improvement and saving of lives, as well as, the notorious characters like Typhoid Mary as mentioned in this novel.

From the moment the story opens, I was completely hooked by Cora, who she is, what her scars were all about, and why she was at Brother Island, now off limits to public and a bird sanctuary - an isolated location of a shuttered Riverside Hospital now in ruins. The thrilling story continues to keep me turning those pages as Nolden expertly weaves stories from the past and the secrets the Gettler family is hiding. In this genre bending story, we witness the abhorrent and unethical experiments and practices from the past and how this is hauntingly creeping into the present timeline as dark secrets are surfacing. This story is also about the strength and resilience of Cora which was a formidable character and a true badass.

I recommend you look into the history of Brother Island and the pictures online from some amazing photographers that were granted entry into the now bird sanctuary with the buildings left in ruins. It really helped me bring this story to life.

Overall, this historical fiction scifi thriller mystery was engaging, thought provoking and quite relatable to our current pandemic situation.


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:






Born and raised in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, Shelley Nolden headed east after matriculating from the University of Minnesota. After living in New York City for five years while working in finance, she and her husband decided they weren’t meant for city life and moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey.

In 2011, Shelley was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The first sign of her disease was losing her baby during the nineteenth week of pregnancy. She spent the first forty days of her illness inpatient, simultaneously mourning the loss of her baby while missing her eighteen-month-old. Because this type of leukemia prevents platelets from maturing into functioning clotting cells, her daughter wasn’t allowed to visit because even a hug could have proved fatal. Throughout her ordeal, she kept a cancer blog and regularly contributed to cancer-related publications.

Stemming from her personal experience, Shelley developed a deep-rooted drive to help others affected by cancer, subsequently becoming a Co-founder of GRYT Health, whose mission is to improve quality of life and increase survival for people facing cancer through a relentless focus on patient experience. Additionally, resulting from her experience as a college athlete (as a swimmer and then rower), as well as her years as a woman on Wall Street, she acted on her passion for the advancement of women’s rights by becoming an Advisor to Goal Five, a women’s sports apparel company named after the United Nations’ Fifth Sustainable Development Goal: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Shelley’s debut novel, THE VINES, will be released March 23, 2021. Her obsession with forbidden North Brother Island in New York City’s East River, as well as her personal health history and passion for equality, heavily influenced the creation of this historical fiction thriller.

Currently, Shelley lives in the Milwaukee area with her family and their dog Storm, named after one of the most powerful and respected superheroes. Because, naturally, her commitment to female empowerment extends to the family dog.

04.15.2021 The Three Mrs. Greys Paperback – March 30, 2021 @tlcbooktours

Publisher : Dafina (March 30, 2021)
Publication date : March 30, 2021
Language : English

One wealthy businessman, a trio of unsuspecting wives, and an explosive turn of events. In this scandalous, twist-filled new series from Shelly Ellis, will too many secrets and one devastating bond unite three women--or destroy them?
Noelle. Diamond. Vanessa. Each woman believes she is Cyrus Grey's only wife--until he's nearly shot to death. Now, as he lies in a coma, the deceptions keep coming, unraveling everything they thought they knew . . .

Gorgeous model Noelle's marriage to Cyrus anchored her--though she couldn't understand why he wouldn't have a baby with her. They certainly had the money. But she's learning fast just how Cyrus became so rich--thanks to his fatally attractive business partner . . .

For Diamond, marrying Cyrus saved her from the streets--and being a pimp's punching bag. But her past makes her the police's prime suspect in Cyrus's shooting. She's determined to get to the truth--if she can survive long enough to tell it . . .

Even with her beautiful house, three kids, and elegant lifestyle, Vanessa sensed something was wrong in her marriage. But she never expected this--or that taking a lover for comfort would change the game completely.

With danger closing in, Cyrus's life hanging in the balance, and collateral damage threatening to take them all down, how far will each woman go to be the real Mrs. Grey?

MY REVIEW:

This book was so thrilling and fun to read. 

Right from the start when the three point of views of the three Mrs. Grey's were introduced in succeeding chapters, my eyes just widened with shock for all the drama and I am here for it. I was not really sure how the story would develop, but the plot just continues to thicken and reeled me right into the thick of the story. 

Talk about a man leading a double life, and in this case, for the extra challenge, call it a triple threat! Cyrus is a wealthy businessman who was shot and each of his wives showed up to as the Mrs Grey. I enjoyed the fast paced read, the well plotted mystery that I certainly did not guess right away, and the perfectly paced story line. 

I am looking forward to book 2 as I was left to want more with the cliff hanger of an ending. I really enjoyed this book a lot.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Shelly Ellis is a NAACP Image Award-nominated women's fiction/romance author and creator of the Gibbons Gold Digger and Chesterton Scandal series. Her fiction writing career began when she became one of four finalists in a First-Time Writers Contest when she was 19 years old. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published ten novels and was a finalist for 2015 NAACP Image Award in the Literary Fiction Category, a three-time finalist for the African American Literary Award in the romance category (2012, 2016, and 2017), and a finalist for the 2015 RT Reviewers' Choice Award in Multicultural Romance category.

She is married and lives in Prince George's County, Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellyellisbooks.com.