Hosted by McGruffy’s Reader and 15 and Meowing

This week’s Fill-Ins:

1. I am going_________________.

2. I want to be more ______________.

3. Once in a blue moon, I _________.

4. I have a large collection of _________.

My answers:

1. I am going to be a grandmother for the 2nd time. So excited!!.

2. I want to be more knowledgeable with technology. I get by but wish I knew more..

3. Once in a blue moon, I have the opportunity to do nothing but read continuously from morning to night. Wish I was able to have more of these types of days.

4. I have a large collection of books. So many that I will need a few lifetimes to read them all. And I continue to add more to my collection!.

THE LAST BREATH by Kimberly Belle
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Published by Mira
Publication Date: July 30, 2015
ISBN-10: 0778317838
ISBN-13: 978-0778317838
Pages: 400
Review Copy From: Publisher
Edition: TPB
My Rating: 5

Synopsis via GR

One woman will stop at nothing to discover the devastating truth about her family…

Chasing disasters around the globe keeps humanitarian aid worker Gia Andrews away from her own ground zero. Now, after sixteen years in jail for the murder of her stepmother in small-town Tennessee, Gia’s father has come home to die of cancer. And she’s responsible for his care.

Resuming the role of daughter to the town’s most infamous murderer means confronting the past she’s spent over a decade avoiding. But in the end, the truth about what really happened may have deadlier consequences than she could have ever anticipated…

My Thoughts

Within the last couple of months, I read THE MARRIAGE LIE and THREE DAYS MISSING by Kimberly Belle and enjoyed both of them immensely. To my surprise and excitement, I was going through one of my TBR bookcases and found THE LAST BREATH.

Gia has returned, after being away for 16 years to be with her father in his final days. She and her siblings have not seen him since the day he was sent to prison for the murder of his wife, their stepmom. I don’t want to give anything else away.

This book was excellent! The writing and suspense brilliant! From page one to the last word, there were so many twists and turns that my head was spinning. I read this book within 24 hours because I could not put it down wanting to know how it was going to conclude.

A read that will leave you breathless with the heart-stopping intrigue. Thrilling and spellbinding!

Ms. Belle was already on my “authors to read” list after the first 2 books I read but this book has moved her to the top!

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

REVIEW DISCLAIMER

This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book was obtained, and will continue to do so, even if it is through PICT or PBP.

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

MIAMI SNOW by Darcia Helle
Genre: Mystery
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: Jan. 6, 2015
ISBN: 144991165X (ISBN13: 9781449911652)
Pages: 283
Review Copy From: Author
Edition: eBook
My Rating: 5

 

Synopsis (via GR)

 

One day, Nick Donovan had it all; a beautiful, pregnant wife, a nice house, a great job. The next day he is on his own, starting from scratch with nothing but a few suitcases and his old truck. Nick flees to the opposite coast of Florida, trying to leave his ex-wife and the memories behind. But that couldn’t happen. Soon Nick finds that he is tied to Shelley in a way that he hadn’t expected. And, in her bitterness, she does everything she can to ensure his misery. Brandy is Shelley’s opposite; wild, sensual, free-spirited. With Brandy, Nick is able to rebel against all that Shelley stands for. Brandy quickly leads Nick into a world of sex, drugs, and cash. And now Nick finds himself caught between the two worlds, desperate to stay afloat.

 

My Thoughts

 

Is there such a thing as Karma?

As the synopsis states, Nick Donovan had it all until he walked into his house to find his wife and best friend in his bed. Devastated, he packs up, leaves and moves 2 1/2 hours away. Having limited funds, since his wife got everything, he rents an apartment and meets Brandy and her friends that also live in the building. There is a strong physical connection to Brandy but he soon finds out that his new friends are into drugs, especially cocaine.

He learns his ex-wife is pregnant and the baby is his, but how can he take care of a baby with no money? The first weekend he has his daughter, he falls in love with her but limited funds is making it difficult to give her the necessities. Brandy suggests maybe making some quick cash by selling the cocaine. He now has a dilemma. Make some fast cash or stick with his morals and beliefs?

This was the first book I read by this author but instantly knew it wouldn’t be the last. I enjoyed her writing style because it allowed me, to not only picture the characters, but also feel their emotions. The story’s pace was nonstop, which had me wanting to read “just one more chapter” and finding I had read many because I had to know how this would end.

Captivating and realistic. Betrayal, murder, love, deception and more filled this book with an ending that was incredible and surprising.

An outstanding riveting read!

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

 

REVIEW DISCLAIMER

• This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book was obtained and will continue to do so, even if it is through PICT or PBP.
• I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
• I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 20th and runs through Sunday, August 26th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 23 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team.

I am behind on my 2018 GoodReads Challenge so I thought this would be an incentive for me to put more time into my daily reading.

I will be posting my progress HERE. This is my page for 2018 Challenges and Read-A-Thons. Scroll down and you will find my progress for this event.

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2018 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

This month’s prompt is: BEGINNING

This was a tough one, but then I thought, that I would write about the beginning of my blogging adventure.

In 2008/2009 I was not able to do much physically due to severe back pain. At that time I already had a history of 3 back surgeries, and due to the pain, I knew that the inevitable of another was in my future. Reading, TV and playing games on the computer filled my days.

Knowing the boredom was getting to me, with a bit of depression setting in, at the time, my younger son was dating his future wife. He told me how her mom did online sweepstakes and had won so many things including trips and that maybe I should check it out. Great! Something new for me to do.

I entered many contests and won quite a few things, never a trip, however. Being an avid reader, I was drawn to contests for books. As I clicked on one, it brought me to a blog. A blog? What’s that? So while there, I checked it out and realized that there was a huge online book community. Then I would start clicking links to other blogs in this group. This looked like fun and something I would enjoy. But where would I begin?

At the time, I told myself that I would create a blog just as a way to keep track of the books I read with a few notes on the specific titles. But I continued to stalk the book blogs, in a good way. I was very lucky that I met Vicki from I’d Rather Be At The Beach who took me under her wing, mentored me and answered all my questions and my personal blog was introduced to the group. I then started receiving emails from authors and publishers to ask if I would read and review their book(s).

In 2011, after encouragement from a publisher and an author, I began organizing virtual book tours and now have 2 companies.

Nine years later, I am still part of the community and still enjoying it as much as I did when I first clicked on the link for the blog that started it all.

Synopsis:

Vancouver, British Columbia – land of psychotically expensive real estate, high-grade cannabis, and Jake Constable. A man adrift.

After Jake quits the drug business, his realtor/ex-wife, Nina, gets him a job as a house sitter for her wealthy clients. Jake celebrates by throwing a party in the mansion he was hired to look after. Unfortunately, the guest list gets out of hand, leaving Jake to contend with a hallucinogenic-vitamin-dispensing yogi, a dead guy in the bathroom, and The Norwegian – a criminal force of nature with a grudge against Jake.

When the owner of the multimillion-dollar crime scene returns home prematurely, only Jake’s inadvertent discovery of the man’s politically incorrect business history saves him from having to clean up after the party. But he still has to come clean with his ex-wife. The situation threatens to turn into an international incident when Nina’s power broker uncle and a pair of secret agents from China show up to turn the screws on Jake. Soon after that his friends start disappearing. With the Chinese government leaning on him and The Norwegian out to settle an old score, Jake comes up with a desperate plan to dupe the secret agents, save his friends, and (why not?) solve the murder.

 

Editorial Reviews:

“…takes the reader on a fast, furious, and often hilarious tour. Watching him zigzag through the twisting plot is pure pleasure.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Reed’s lively mystery debut may be overloaded with colorful characters and tricky subplots, but too much of a good thing is still a good thing.” – Kirkus Reviews

“…definitely belongs on your short list of amiable stoner sleuths, along with Bart Schneider’s Augie Boyer and Hal Ackerman’s Harry Stein. The dark-comedy aspect of this debut will also appeal to fans of Chris Knopf, David Freed, and Tim Cockey.” – Booklist

 

**Check out my review HERE and enter the giveaway**

 

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Humor
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 3, 2018
Number of Pages: 238
ISBN: 1464210055 (ISBN13: 9781464210051)
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | IndieBound

 

Author Bio:

Graham Reed is an award-winning author of crime fiction who lives on a small island in the Salish Sea with is wife and two children.

 

Catch Up With Graham Reed On:
grahamreed.info &
Goodreads

 

**Q&A with Graham Reed**

Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?

Absolutely. I honestly don’t know how an author can avoid doing so (unless maybe he or she is writing a period piece or space opera). Writing in the first person, I couldn’t help but draw from my own experiences, like the time I was at this rave and someone offered in Vegas three days later a troupe of Belgian mimes and a (semi) tame cheetah. The charges were ultimately dropped for lack of evidence but I promise you I will never do that again. As for current events, The Chairman’s Toys is set in present-day Vancouver so some of the conflicts that arise in the story are inspired by what’s going on here these days. That being said, all characters and events are, of course, pure fiction.

Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?

Much to my surprise, it has turned out to be the latter. The genesis of The Chairman’s Toys was a situation that occurred to me while walking past some waterfront mansions in Vancouver one day. By the time I got home I thought I knew how the story would end, but that actually turned out to be the middle. Once I started writing and discovered that the characters had minds of their own, I surrendered and the story took off on its own merry way.

Are any of your characters based on you or people that you know?

Not remotely, but try telling that to the people I know.

Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?

I wrote The Chairman’s Toys shortly after the birth of our second child so a routine was not an option. Mostly I would snatch whatever quiet hours he deigned to allow. A few times when he wasn’t feeling magnanimous in that department, I ended up writing while sitting on a lawn chair on our micro-balcony overlooking the collection of derelict vehicles (Scooby Doo van, RV, electric bike) in the backyard of the bellicose skateboarding entrepreneur who lived across the alley. Does that count as an idiosyncrasy?

Tell us why we should read this book.

According to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, “This trip to Vancouver is fraught with uniquely individual characters, an appealingly lowbrow sleuth, and a black humor zigzag of a plot.” If you want to join a gut-churning, blood-curdling hunt for a sadistic serial killer, you must’ve clicked the wrong link.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Jonathan Lethem, Raymond Chandler, Kinky Friedman, Donald Westlake, Patrick DeWitt, Haruki Murakami, Neal Stephenson, Maurice Sendak.

What are you reading now?

Marry, Bang, Kill by Andrew Battershill. His first novel, Pillow, was a mindblowing fusion of crime fiction and surrealism executed with tremendous literary skill and creative freedom. Battershill is an inspired and inspiring author.

Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?

Did my publisher ask you to ask me that? I promise I am! My next book is a sequel of sorts, featuring the return of Jake Constable and a few of the other characters (some the worse for wear), as well as a few new faces. Jake is forced to reckon with the personal, professional, and societal impacts of the impending legalization of marijuana, as well as another spiritually seismic movement (some might even describe it as a cult, though they might be wrong).

Fun questions:
Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?

Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool 2; Van Wilder: Party Liaison) was born to play Jake Constable (or maybe Jake Constable was born to be played by Ryan Reynolds). If he’s unavailable, I would also be willing to take lunches with Ryan Gosling and/or Joaquim Phoenix to discuss their respective visions for the role.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (Game of Thrones). Despite being Icelandic, Björnsson did beat a 1000-year-old record set by Orm Storolfsson at the World’s Strongest Viking competition in Norway. He’s got the ‘can do’ attitude that defines The Norwegian’s character.
Lucy Liu as Nina. No question about it.
For Richard I’m seeing Orlando Bloom, and Oscar Isaac would be fascinating as Dante.

Favorite leisure activity/hobby?

Settling back on the couch with a good book and immediately falling asleep.

Favorite meal?

The Salsiccia Piccante from Pizzeria Prima Strada

 

Read an excerpt:

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

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Hosted by McGruffy’s Reader and 15 and Meowing

This week’s Fill-Ins:

1. I have faith in ________________.

2. Yesterday, I ____________________.

3. My favorite place to be is _________.

4. If I was granted one wish, it would be _________.

My answers:

1. I have faith in God.

2. Yesterday, I was on my pool float reading and getting relief from the heat wave we are experiencing.

3. My favorite place to be is with my family.

4. If I was granted one wish, it would be that I lived closer to my granddaughter.

THE CHAIRMAN’S TOYS by Graham Reed
Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Humor
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 3, 2018
Number of Pages: 238
ISBN: 1464210055
ISBN13: 9781464210051
Review Copy from: Author
Edition: Kindle
My Rating: 4

Synopsis (via GR)

Vancouver, British Columbia – land of psychotically expensive real estate, high-grade cannabis, and Jake Constable. A man adrift.

After Jake quits the drug business, his realtor/ex-wife, Nina, gets him a job as a house sitter for her wealthy clients. Jake celebrates by throwing a party in the mansion he was hired to look after. Unfortunately, the guest list gets out of hand, leaving Jake to contend with a hallucinogenic-vitamin-dispensing yogi, a dead guy in the bathroom, and The Norwegian – a criminal force of nature with a grudge against Jake.

When the owner of the multimillion-dollar crime scene returns home prematurely, only Jake’s inadvertent discovery of the man’s politically incorrect business history saves him from having to clean up after the party. But he still has to come clean with his ex-wife. The situation threatens to turn into an international incident when Nina’s power broker uncle and some Chinese government agents show up to turn the screws on Jake. Soon after that his friends start disappearing. With the Chinese government leaning on him and The Norwegian out to settle an old score, Jake comes up with a desperate plan to dupe a pair of secret agents, save his friends, and (why not?) solve the murder.

Editorial Reviews:
“…takes the reader on a fast, furious, and often hilarious tour. Watching him zigzag through the twisting plot is pure pleasure.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Reed’s lively mystery debut may be overloaded with colorful characters and tricky subplots, but too much of a good thing is still a good thing.” – Kirkus Reviews

“…definitely belongs on your short list of amiable stoner sleuths, along with Bart Schneider’s Augie Boyer and Hal Ackerman’s Harry Stein. The dark-comedy aspect of this debut will also appeal to fans of Chris Knopf, David Freed, and Tim Cockey.” – Booklist

My Thoughts

After reading the synopsis and editorial reviews, this book piqued my curiosity, and am so glad it did!

Jake Constable, former drug dealer and now house sitter to the rich, makes an unfortunate decision. He decides to throw a large party at the house he is tending to. What could go wrong? A bit of a mess? No problem, his friends Richard and Dante have a custodial cleaning business. Until Richard, who is at the party, texts him that “there’s a dead guy in the bathroom :(“. And no one knows who he is.

As Jake, Dante and Richard try to figure this mess out, Dante and Richard are kidnapped. And Jake finds himself involved with both some very unsavory men and government representatives of China.

Along with humor, the suspense of this debut novel was exciting to the very end. The cast of characters outlandish and sometimes comical. Impressive writing and storyline. I will be looking for more work by this author.

This indeed was an entertaining read!

**Stop by tomorrow for Q&A with Graham Reed**

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

GIVEAWAY:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Graham Reed. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on August 1, 2018 and runs through September 1, 2018. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW DISCLAIMER
This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book was obtained, and will continue to do so, even if it is through PICT or PBP.
DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.