CELTICLADY'S REVIEWS

Reviews!

To any authors/publishers/ tour companies that are looking for the reviews that I signed up for please know this is very hard to do. I will be stopping reviews temporarily. My husband passed away February 1st and my new normal is a bit scary right now and I am unable to concentrate on a book to do justice to the book and authors. I will still do spotlight posts if you wish it is just the reviews at this time. I apologize for this, but it isn't fair to you if I signed up to do a review and haven't been able to because I can't concentrate on any books. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. I appreciate all of you. Kathleen Kelly April 2nd 2024

10 March 2021

A Child Lost: Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox Tour!

A Child Lost: Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox Publisher: She Writes Press (April 28, 2020)

Category: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Romantic Suspense Tour dates: Feb-March, 2020

ISBN: 978-1631528361

Available in Print and ebook, 408 pages

Description Child Lost by Michelle Cox

A spiritualist, an insane asylum, a lost little girl . . . When Clive, anxious to distract a depressed Henrietta, begs Sergeant Frank Davis for a case, he is assigned to investigating a seemingly boring affair: a spiritualist woman operating in an abandoned schoolhouse on the edge of town who is suspected of robbing people of their valuables. What begins as an open and shut case becomes more complicated, however, when Henrietta—much to Clive’s dismay—begins to believe the spiritualist's strange ramblings. Meanwhile, Elsie implores Clive and Henrietta to help her and the object of her budding love, Gunther, locate the whereabouts of one Liesel Klinkhammer, the German woman Gunther has traveled to America to find and the mother of the little girl, Anna, whom he has brought along with him. The search leads them to Dunning Asylum, where they discover some terrible truths about Liesel. When the child, Anna, is herself mistakenly admitted to the asylum after an epileptic fit, Clive and Henrietta return to Dunning to retrieve her. This time, however, Henrietta begins to suspect that something darker may be happening. When Clive doesn’t believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands . . . with horrifying results.

Praise Child Lost by Michelle Cox

“Michelle Cox’s delightful storytelling has a bewitching charm that will keep readers glued to their seats with a perfect blend of absorbing historical facts, intriguing mystery, and thrilling romance.” – Readers Favorite

“A Child Lost is undoubtedly a novel that should not be missed—the story is genius, flawlessly written, and wildly entertaining! A thrilling five stars!” — The Red Headed Book Lover

“Once again, Cox delivers the passion and intrigue of Henrietta and Clive with a story that leaps right off the page. A Child Lost is a true thrill… — Paperback Paris “…vivid descriptive prose and historical accuracy – Publishers Weekly

“"There is not a dull moment in this book. Cox's characters are so well portrayed in their physical traits, their manner of speech, their actions, their personalities as well as through their dilemmas and moments of joy. Cox sure knows how to create characters that are memorable and distinct." - Library of

Guest Review by Laura Lee

A world class mystery with a setting that's to die for. Clive and Henrietta Howard are a married couple who solve mysteries together via his job as a private detective. Although most didn't take kindly to women detectives in the 1930's, Clive appreciates and supports his wife's love of detective work with no qualms.

Together, they make an unstoppable duo and, as this is the fifth book in this series, have solved many cases together over the course of their relationship. However, this book begins with a more solemn note. Having recently miscarried their first child, Clive and Henrietta are in mourning and Henrietta has taken the loss particularly hard.

Eager to cheer her up, Clive begins working on an investigation about a scheming spiritualist named Madame Pavlovsky. But before he can tell her about this case, Henrietta's sister, Elsie asks them to find the mother of a child that her new beau, Gunther has been caring for. The little girl has been having epileptic seizures and the pair are desperate to find her mother in the hopes that she will be able to shed some light on her condition. Unfortunately, all they know about the mother is that she was recently working as a teacher in a nearby town.

Although the leads are sparse, Henrietta and Clive do manage to find information about the woman, but what they find leads them down a dark road of mental institutions, long-held secrets and outright lies. Normally, the couple is well-versed in solving difficult cases but with the added emotional pressure of their recent loss, will this mystery be too much for them to uncover? You'll have to read the book yourself to find out, trust me, you won't regret it.

I would love to read more from this series and can't wait to see where it goes next! I give it 5+ stars!

About Michelle Cox

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as Novel Notes of Local Lore, a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. (Her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something.) Unbeknownst to most, Cox hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also, marmalade. Website: http://michellecoxauthor.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellecox33

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Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michelle-cox-610476432

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MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer Book Tour and Giveaway!

MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

Publisher: Unsolicited Press (January 26, 2021)

Category: Self-help, Non-Fiction, psychology, memoir, health/wellness, inspirational, eating disorder recovery, weight loss, & body positivity

Tour dates: March-April, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-950730-69-8

Available in Print and ebook, 282 pages

Description MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

"MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues" is a blend of motivational self-help, memoir, psychology, and health and wellness. Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an expert in eating and body image issues, and a woman on the other side of her own decades-long struggle with food and body. A $702 billion global diet/nutrition and weight loss industry shows that people worldwide are devoted to achieving maximum health and their desired bodies. Yet mainstream approaches are failing these individuals, and sadly, science proves this. Intent on gaining the “health” and “happiness” that diets promise, consumers keep trying. They become sad and frustrated, believing they’re failing when they’re not. They simply need a legitimate, alternative path, which "MeaningFULL" offers. Through the contributors’ diverse, real-life mini-memoirs followed by Spotts-De Lazzer’s commentaries, readers will learn about themselves and discover their unique, unconventional formulas for conquering their issues. Along the way, "MeaningFULL" will also guide them towards more self-appreciation, wellness, and fulfillment.

Praise MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

"First, let me tell you….YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! Why? Because it will resonate with you at some level. Whether you’re the person that has had a moment of, “I can’t wear that” or “I don’t like the way my (insert body part here) looks in that shirt” or “That food is bad/good for me”. I promise something in this book will touch you. For me, there were many “A-HA” moments that made me tear up a bit reading them knowing that I was not alone. Alli does a fantastic job of letting these stories unfold, letting the writer tell their truth and where they’re coming from, and where they are going. You will laugh, you might cry, but you will definitely be better for reading this! Highly recommend. 5 SHINING STAR STICKERS!!"-cedarparkmom

"I loved your book so much it was an absolute joy to spend this valuable weekend time reading it. . .I really feel this book should be read by everyone in Western culture. This is so much more than a series of stories from people with eating disorders, it is a reflection on American (and to a large extent the whole of western) society. The pressure we put on ourselves and each other to look a certain way, unattainable aspirations that are robbing us of our health and robbing us of our ability to enjoy life. I am sure everyone can benefit from reading this book, and everyone will either relate to some elements of the stories, or know someone who has suffered from similar issues."-Caroline Watson, from the U.K.

"I SAW MYSELF IN THIS BOOK. I was fortunate enough to read a copy of this book prior to it's formal release. I expected to read story after story about other people. But, as I dug deeper, I realized, I was reading about parts of myself and parts of my family and friends within each story. I cannot recommend this book enough. It's a very easy read. Even if you don't think you need to read this book for your own personal journey, it's worth reading to better understand what your family or friends might be going through. It has definitely heightened my sense of awareness."-jrjanuszewski

"A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. MeaningFULL is just that; meaningful. It is FULL of hope and encouragement. Readers will surely recognize themselves in one of the many, beautifully diverse stories of food and body image struggles and triumphs. As an eating disorder therapist, I feel confident in recommending this book to my clients as the author takes great care to engage readers in a safe way that focuses on healing. Her straightforward commentary at the end of each mini memoir is refreshing and illuminating, helping to eliminate any potential misreading of the information presented. Need a fill-up on hope? Grab this book and settle in."-Josie Munroe, LMFT

"Reading MeaningFULL was like seeing myself in a mirror – sometimes I liked what I saw, sometimes I cringed a little, and sometimes I got a true glimpse of myself. The 23 stories featured in this book made me laugh, cry, and feel a lot of hope – not just for myself, but for everyone who has a contentious relationship with food and with their own body. The storytelling in MeaningFULL is excellent and it was easy to connect with and feel empathy toward the storytellers. The notes from Alli at the end of each story, which have incredibly useful commentary and suggestions are what make Meaning Full such a worthwhile read. I really appreciate how freely resources are shared with the reader. Alli knows that overcoming food, weight, and body issues takes so much more than reading a book. She offers real information and suggestions for how to do the hard work. She also offers hope and glimpses of real lives that are so much better for having done the work. MeaningFULL was not always easy to read, especially when I related too much to a storyteller. It was so worth it, though! I felt seen and I felt compassion from Alli in every word she wrote. I think that there is a lot to be gained from reading this book for everyone – if you don’t have a hard time with food, weight, or body issues, you know someone who does. MeaningFULL is chock full of insights for everyone."-Darcysmom's, Goodreads

About Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and a “CEDS” Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, and a person on the other side of her own decades-long struggle with food battles and body dislike. She has presented educational workshops at international conferences, hospitals, and graduate schools and has published articles in trade magazines, academic journals, and online information hubs. A believer in service and advocacy, Alli serves on multiple committees and created #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance!—a movement embodying its message.

Website: https://www.meaningfullread.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/meaningFULLread

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

Buy MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

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Excerpt

Alli’s Clumsy Conquering—
My Story Leading to this Book

As a mental health professional and eating disorders specialist, I can wholeheartedly share that what each person wants to conquer and their journeys to do so are unique. For me, the birthday cake incident humiliated me, but it wasn’t enough to make me challenge or change my “maintenance” practices. Instead, a bunch of other stuff lined up to help me realize that I wanted a different, more contented life—one with less focus on food, body, and weight.
Here’s one of the most influential factors: anger. Though the feeling often takes a bad rap as a negative emotion, I think anger is awesomely informative. It’s a waving red flag that broadcasts, “Hey, something is wrong! Since you’re not acknowledging it, I’m going to get your attention!”
For years I had fastidiously kept photo albums. I finally noticed that when I looked back at decades of what others regarded as “cool” or “exciting” memories, I rarely recalled the event, my connections to the occasion, or the people in the photos. Who did I go to that formal with? Why did I meet that celebrity? How did I get talked into being on that parade float? Instead, I remembered my weight or dress size in each shot. This made me mad.
Simultaneously, I’d met someone special who would become the love of my life. I felt protective of being able to recall both present and future memories—and not by weight or size. Also, my parents were getting older, and I wanted clear recollections with them too.

Then one more significant thing happened to jolt me. Long after that cake episode, that same dear friend confronted me in a loving way. It went something like this: “I know you may get mad at me, and this could ruin our friendship, but I don’t think what you’re doing—your ‘maintenance’—is normal. I don’t think it’s okay or healthy. I feel concerned about you.” Of course I got outraged inside. But something about her bravery touched me. I must have been sufficiently open and the timing must have been right enough to hear it. Plus, I think the guilt I had from messing up her birthday helped me listen to her.

For years I’d been working with a really skilled generalist therapist, but I’d mostly kept the eating and weight stuff out of the room. I hadn’t wanted her to know much about it or to meddle with it. After all, I’d accepted my “maintenance” practices as a forever part of my life.

Angry and fed up (no pun intended), at last, I said it: “I need accountability and help. Here’s what I’ve been doing...” I wasn’t scared when I told her. I felt calm, desperate, determined, and also relieved to stop hiding my secrets.

MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

Guest Review by Laura Lee

I have never read a self-help book quite like this. A powerful series of essays, some from anonymous authors, about diet culture, weight loss, eating disorders and all of the psychological trauma that comes with them. The main author of this book, Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a trained therapist and having her commentary at the end of every story really helped put them into perspective and answer any leftover questions that the reader might have.

The stories in this book are captivating, moving and motivational. They are, at times, heartbreaking and at times, joyful. The stories range from one woman's descent into binge-eating to cope with the birth of her baby, who suffered from cerebral palsy to another woman who grew up in a family that was so focused on perfection that when she began to put on weight during puberty she immediately stopped eating and developed anorexia as a response.

Each story told includes a narrative about how the particular person made their way back to healthiness and the steps that they took along the way. None of the paths were easy but each is outlined in clear steps that give you a perspective on achieving the same peace of mind for yourself if you are struggling with a similar problem.

All of the stories shared common themes surrounding body image and how easy it is to fall into unhealthy eating (or not eating) habits. It was so easy to see myself in the stories and see different ways that my own viewpoints have affected my body image, so much so that I think this is a valuable resource even if you have never struggled with your weight.

I learned quite a bit from reading this. I am so grateful for such a compassionate look at diet culture and the toll that it takes on people in general, but especially on young women every single day.

Giveaway MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

This giveaway is for one print copy with 2 winners. It is open to the U.S. only and ends on March 31, 2021,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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Earl of Brecken (Wicked Earls’ Club) Aubrey Wynne Book Blitz and Giveaway!

Earl of Brecken (Wicked Earls’ Club)
Aubrey Wynne
(Once Upon A Widow, #5)
Publication date: March 9th 2021
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance, Romance

A seductive Welsh earl on the brink of ruin. A wealthy cit in search of a hero.

Miss Evelina Franklin reads too many romance novels. She’s certain a handsome duke—or dashing highwayman—is in her future. In the meantime, Evie entertains herself with the admirers vying for her fortune.

The Earl of Brecken needs cash. His late father left their Welsh estate in ruin, and his mother will not let him rest until it is restored to its former glory. Notorious for his seductive charm, he searches the ballrooms for a wealthy heiress. His choices are dismal until he meets Miss Franklin. Guileless and gorgeous with an enormous dowry, she seems the answer to his prayers. Until his conscience makes an unexpected appearance.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

How the devil had he gone from a spy for His Majesty’s government to a sacrificial lamb? He hated this place, with its lemonade and thin, delicate finger sandwiches that would never fill a man’s stomach. Yet, here he stood in breeches instead of his usual trousers, on parade for all the simpering mamas and the silly, bird-witted girls. A cluster of females giggled under the musicians’ balcony, casting glances about the room and settling on him. I feel like a new hat in a shop window, he thought as he leaned against one of Almack’s white plaster pillars.

His mother had been correct, though. The patronesses had sent a voucher upon request. The infamous marriage mart now greeted him with enthusiasm. One visit to these infamous halls, and he was ready to sign on for the next war. Perhaps he’d start one. In the meantime, he shared the misery of several female wallflowers trying to blend into the woodwork. Madoc squinted at a tall blonde in a sea-green dress, attempting to hide behind a flimsy plant. He chuckled at her effort. Until she was joined by another petite lady with soft brown curls.

His heart jolted.

It was the skating goddess from Hyde Park. He’d put her out of his mind since his last trip to Town. She was dressed in a pale pink silk, with capped sleeves giving way to creamy shoulders and a hint of cleavage. Her caramel hair was swept up, paste gems twinkling from the light of the wall sconce. Wispy ringlets framed her heart-shaped face.

Simply exquisite, he thought as she took the long-legged blonde by the hand and pulled her away from the wall. Madoc realized the other woman had also been one of the party on the Serpentine. As if sensing his attention, she turned to look over her shoulder and caught his eye. Madoc held his breath. Those toffee-color orbs held him in a trance. The sounds around him muffled, and everything around him moved slower as they drank each other in. It could have been a moment or five.

He stepped forward, eager to make her acquaintance, then stopped. Don’t be a green-boy. You’ve never been introduced, he scolded himself. In that fleeting moment, she disappeared. Blast!

Author Bio:

Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule, and barn cats. Obsessions include wine, history, travel, trail riding, and all things Christmas. Her Chicago Christmas series has received the Golden Quill, Aspen Gold, Heart of Excellence, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and twice nominated as a Rone finalist by InD’tale Magazine.

Aubrey’s first love is medieval romance but after dipping her toe in the Regency period in 2018 with the Wicked Earls’ Club, she was smitten. This inspired her spin-off series Once Upon a Widow and the Scottish Regency series A MacNaughton Castle Romance with Dragonblade Novels.

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09 March 2021

Where There's Smoke, There's Arson and Hold the Coffee (The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives) by D.E. Haggerty Book Tour and Giveaway!

Where There's Smoke, There's Arson and Hold the Coffee (The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives) by D.E. Haggerty

About Where There's Smoke, There's Arson

Where There's Smoke, There's Arson

(The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives)

Cozy Mystery 4th in Series Independently Published (February 19, 2021)

Number of Pages - 100 Digital

ASIN: B08KYCCFZY

Bernadette didn’t smoke. The fire couldn’t have been an accident!
Oh boy, the gray-haired knitters are at it again. Of course, they are. It’s been way too long since they ‘solved’ a mystery. But the investigator determined the fire at the craft store was caused by an unattended lit cigarette. Arson isn’t even a remote possibility. Except the owner Bernadette didn’t smoke and now she’s dead.

When Bernadette’s granddaughter asks me to look into the matter, the knitters practically cheer. They are on the case!
But is there even a case? Or are we seeing murder and arson where there’s merely smoke?

About Hold the Coffee

Hold the Coffee (The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives)

Cozy Mystery 5th in Series

Independently Published (March 19, 2021)

Number of Pages - 100

ASIN: B08QZST69G

Oopsie. The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives accused the wrong person of murder.
Poor Milly is furious after being hauled into the police station to be interrogated. She is not letting those knitters get away with pointing their fingers at her! Absolutely not. Instead, she insists they solve the murder and clear her name.

Naturally, the knitters jump at the chance to solve another mystery. They don’t care if the victim was hated by one and all. They’ll find the murderer!
Can the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives wade through the suspects to find the actual killer?

About D.E. Haggerty

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound sophisticated and maybe even grown up. She was born and raised in the U.S. but considers herself a Dutchie and not only because it sounds way cooler. After a stint in the U.S. Army, she escaped the US to join her husband in Holland. She fled Holland over ten years ago when she couldn’t stand the idea of being a lawyer for one single second more. Turns out Bed & Breakfast owner in Germany didn’t do it for her either. When the hubby got a job in Istanbul, she jumped ship and decided to give this whole writer thing a go. She’s now back in Holland, which she considers home.

Author Links

Website: http://dehaggerty.wordpress.com

Blog: https://dehaggerty.wordpress.com/category/mymusings/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dehaggerty

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/D.E.-Haggerty/e/B00ECQBURU/

Newsletter signup:

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Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-e-haggerty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-e-haggerty-4b49a29/

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Purchase Link - Hold the Coffee - Amazon

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08 March 2021

Haunted Hibiscus (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs Book Tour and Giveaway!

Haunted Hibiscus (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

About Haunted Hibiscus

Haunted Hibiscus (A Tea Shop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery 22nd in Series

Publisher: Berkley (March 2, 2021)

Hardcover: 336 pages

ISBN-10: 0451489691

ISBN-13: 978-0451489692

Kindle ASIN: B089S6MFBH

Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.
It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.

Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.

But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow's body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow's apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.

Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley's assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow's book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.

But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About Laura Childs

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links:

Website – http://www.laurachilds.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31

Purchase Links

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 1 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

March 1 – The Editing Pen – REVIEW

March 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog - SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

March 2 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

March 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

March 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

March 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 3 – Island Confidential - SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 4 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 5 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 5 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

March 5 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW

March 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 6 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

March 7 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT

March 8 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

March 8 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 8 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW

March 9 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

March 9 – Brianne's Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 10 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

March 10 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT

March 11 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

March 11 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT

March 11 – MJB Reviewers - SPOTLIGHT

March 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 12 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

March 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

March 13 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

March 13 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 14 – The Book Diva's Reads – GUEST POST

March 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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05 March 2021

The Northern Reach by W.S. WInslow Book Spotlight!

For fans of Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett comes THE NORTHERN REACH, an evocative and deeply moving multi-generational novel from debut author W. S. Winslow (Flatiron Books; on sale: March 2, 2021).

Frozen in grief after the loss of her son at sea, Edith Baines stares across the water at a schooner, under full sail yet motionless in the winter wind and surging tide of the Northern Reach. Edith seems to be hallucinating. Or is she? Edith’s boat-watch opens THE NORTHERN REACH, set in the coastal town of Wellbridge, Maine, where townspeople squeeze a living from the perilous bay or scrape by on the largesse of the summer folk and whatever they can cobble together, salvage, or grab.

At the center of town life is the Baines family—land-rich, cash-poor descendants of town founders—along with the ne’er-do-well Moody clan, the Martins of Skunk Pond, and the dirt farming, bootlegging Edgecombs. Over the course of the twentieth century, the families intersect, interact, and intermarry, grappling with secrets and prejudices that span generations, opening new wounds and reckoning with old ghosts.

W. S. Winslow's THE NORTHERN REACH is a breathtaking debut about the complexity of family, the cultural legacy of place, and the people and experiences that shape us.

W. S. Winslow was born and raised in Maine but spent most of her working life in San Francisco and New York in corporate communications and marketing. A ninth-generation Mainer, she now spends most of the year in a small town Downeast. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French from the University of Maine, and an MFA from NYU. Her fiction has been published in Yemassee Journal and Bird's Thumb. The Northern Reach is her first novel.

As the weather cools down, THE NORTHERN REACH is the perfect kind of immersive, atmospheric novel to curl up with on a cozy evening. I’m excited for you to read it and hope you’ll keep this title in mind for your March books coverage.

04 March 2021

Thieves Greg Jolley Book Tour and Giveaway!

Thieves
Greg Jolley
(Obscurité de Floride Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: February 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Suspense

From Tropea, Italy to Michigan and Florida, the thieves Molly and April Danser are on the run, trying to escape from an enraged ex-US Marshal. He is hell bent on stopping them once and for all, his twisted black heart fired up for revenge and their total destruction. Will the sisters elude his blood-soaked hunt? They have their smarts and resource but have never faced a pursuit like this.

Can they somehow put an end to his blood lust?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

Chapter Twenty-Nine

A Day to Do

April woke at first light, seeing she had slept on top of the bed instead of climbing in under the blankets. After putting the coffee percolator on the burner, she went and checked the boat’s position at the lower helm. Starting the engines, she steered southeast in the northward Gulf Stream and watched the blue swells until the boat was pretty much in the same location as the day before.

“At least eat,” she instructed herself, it being twenty-four hours or more since her last meal. Opening a can of stew, she ate it cold with a spoon while sipping coffee. Looking at the closed laptop at her elbow, she hesitated to reach for it.

“Only one way to deal with fear.” She opened the lid and started the computer.

Her fingers unsteady above the keys, the vision from the previous day’s nightmare came fully into view. The big dark doorway at Klave’s. Her imagination ran with and gave her the rolling door crashing down and up fast like steel teeth chomping, chewing.

“Back off.” Her shoulders shuddered, and she barked at the vignette.

Opening a secure internet browser, she launched the messaging application.

After addressing an email to Allison, she froze for a minute, her fingertips quivering. The three hardest words she ever typed displayed.

April: Did she die?

Hitting send, she stared at those three words, waiting for the reply that she couldn’t will Allison to answer.

***

Sometime later, she opened a browser alongside the messaging application where her question to Allison still floated without an answer. The local television stations had previously recorded ‘on scene’ footage ripe with frightful images of Klave’s with the breathless voices of newscasters. There were no details of any worth.

Opening the online Daytona Beach News-Journal, the story was in the banner.

Three Killed in a Possible Attempted Robbery

April read that David Klave was declared dead on the scene. She learned that Molly’s pal, Dennis, was also murdered, evidence suggesting that he was trying to cover and protect another victim. No other names were offered, pending notification of next to kin. One man had been shot twice and was expected to survive. He was being attended to in the ICU at Memorial Medical Hospital. There was nothing about the third victim. No mention of Molly or her status.

She saw her own name given as one of the ‘persons of interest.’

Klave’s employees were quoted as saying that the suspect had a long face that was injured. He had driven off in a late model red Corvette, heading north.

She read three more news reports in the Ormond Beach, Orlando, and St. Augustine newspapers, the body count making the story a headliner. There was no additional information, only a recap and worthless commentary.

She closed the browser and looked to the messaging application.

No reply from Allison.

She sent the text again and waited ten long and painful minutes.

Leaving the table for the flying bridge, she grabbed a bottle of water and a package of the saltines she had seen her sister snacking on. The light went out over the middle of the galley as she left, and she made a mental note to put in a fresh bulb.

Up top, the breeze was sweeping away the heat of the day. She checked her location, fired the engines, and spent the next hour staring at the ocean until she had the boat back in place.

Climbing down the ladder, she went inside and saw that Allison had not replied.

“My beautiful Molly…” she held her eyes closed, “… I’m still hoping.”

She spent the rest of that day at the lower helm, getting up every half hour to look for a message from Allison.

As the sun set at her back, she went inside to look again. The darkening galley reminded her to find a package of light bulbs and a step-ladder. She found both in the click-lock supply closet and had the dead bulb out and was poised to twist in the new one when it slipped from her fingers. It shattered, and she got a new one from the closet, along with the dustpan and broom. The second bulb went in easily, and she climbed down to sweep up the aluminum cone and shards.

The messaging application pinged.

Instead of hurrying to it, she stalled, fearful of the news. She finished up the sweeping and stepped to the table, the ball of her right foot landing on a stabbing missed piece of glass.

“Brilliant.” She felt the deep cut as she swung around on the bench and looked to the message screen.