Friday, June 28, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway - Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor

Book Synopsis
Wanted: an engagement of convenience. Found: A noble suitor.

Raised on a remote Scottish estate by her adoring grandfather, Lady Theodora Worth has inherited an earldom as well as the land itself. But when an upstart duke challenges her claim to the title and the Ladykyrk estate, Thea is suddenly in need of a husband—in name, at least. An elderly neighbor with a thoroughly modern sensibility and a dashing great-nephew just might be the answer to Thea’s prayers. Except she has no intention of marrying the first man she meets. That would be utterly ridiculous.

It just can’t be him. . .

Lord William Cavensham is entirely too devoted to his family’s estate—ever since he was jilted as a lad–to wed, but he agrees to meet the woman his aunt has taken under her wing—and introduce her to possible suitors. But after just one meeting with beautiful, spirited Thea, Will is determined to help her reclaim her title. And even moreso, he can’t stop thinking that perhaps marriage to this bold, passionate woman may be the one thing he’s been missing all along?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | iTunes | IndieBound | Kobo



My Review
Lady Theodora Worth (Thea) inherits an earldom and Ladykyrk estate when her beloved grandfather dies.  The problem? She needs to find a husband.  Her elderly neighbor does some matchmaking with Thea and her great-nephew.  There are obstacles ... but will they find their way together?

Rogue Most Wanted is a very enjoyable historical romance.  I really liked Thea, with her independence and her occasional social awkwardness, and the kind and dashing hero, William.  I particularly liked that they started out as friends, despite an immediate attraction, and their romance built from that. They were thwarted at several turns by an evil duke who wants both Thea and her estate.

Each chapter begins with a quote from a local newspaper called The Midnight Cryer.  These quotes tend to be swipes at Thea, and they help set the scene for the action in the upcoming chapter.

The setting of Northumberland near the Scottish border was delightful, as was William's family estate in London, and I enjoyed the period details.  The author does a good job at creating a world and introducing it to readers.  I loved details like the maze on the estate, and the folly that Thea's grandfather built for her eighth birthday:

"The bucolic scene was breathtaking by itself, but the majestic folly sitting regally before them demanded center stage.  The stone pavilion had four separate entrances under elaborate porticos, each guarded by Boreas, Zepher, Notus, and Eurus, the gods of the four directional winds.  A small dome centered in the middle of the building was topped with a weather vane in the form of a welcoming Aeolus, the King of the Winds, with an outstretched hand" (p. 83).

This is the fifth book in the Cavendish Heiresses series.  I have not read the previous books, but this book worked fine as a standalone read.  

Rogue Most Wanted is an enjoyable read.  I recommend it especially for readers who enjoy historical romance and the Regency period.


Author Bio
Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Instagram | Goodreads


Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. 

Giveaway Rules 
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter. 
– Giveaway is open to US only. 
– Only one entry per household. 
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. 
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen. 
Rogue Most Wanted

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Strangled Eggs and Ham (A Country Store Mystery) by Maddie Day

Book Synopsis
Robbie Jordan’s rustic country store is growing in popularity. But when a dead body appears, it turns out that Robbie’s home-style cooking attracts hungry customers—and murder!

While Robbie scrambles through breakfast orders for her expanding clientele at Pans ‘N Pancakes, tempers run as high as the sticky August heat in South Lick, Indiana. Real-estate developer Fiona Closs plans to build a towering luxury resort at one of the most scenic hilltops in Brown County, and not everyone can see the sunny side of the imposing proposition—including Robbie’s furious Aunt Adele, who doesn’t waste a minute concocting protests and road blockades. When tensions boil over and a vocal protester is silenced forever at the resort site, Robbie ditches the griddle to catch the killer. But if slashed tires are any indication, she’ll need to crack this case before her own aunt gets served something deadly next . . .

Includes Recipes for You to Try!

Author Bio
Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-nominated author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts.

As Edith Maxwell, she writes the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Midnight Ink).

You can find all Maddie’s/Edith’s identities at www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every weekday with the other Wicked Cozy Authors at wickedcozyauthors.com. Look for her as Edith M. Maxwell and Maddie Day on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter.  

Purchase Links
Amazon  B&N   Kobo Google Play IndieBound


Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, June 21, 2019

Book Review - Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan

Book Synopsis
Hamish DeLuca and Regina “Reggie” Van Buren have a new case—and this one could demand a price they’re not willing to pay.

Determined to make a life for herself, Reggie Van Buren bid goodbye to fine china and the man her parents expected her to marry and escaped to Boston. What she never expected to discover was that an unknown talent for sleuthing would develop into a business partnership with the handsome, yet shy, Hamish DeLuca.

Their latest case arrives when Errol Parker, the leading base stealer in the Boston farm leagues, hires Hamish and Reggie to investigate what the Boston police shove off as a series of harmless pranks. Errol believes these are hate crimes linked to the outbreak of war in Europe, and he’s afraid for his life. Hamish and Reggie quickly find themselves in the midst of an escalating series of crimes.

When Hamish has his careful constructed life disrupted by a figure from his past, he is driven to a decision that may sever him from Reggie forever . . . even more than her engagement to wealthy architect Vaughan Vanderlaan.


 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble


My Review
Murder in the City of Liberty is a mystery set in 1940 Boston.  Reggie (Regina) Van Buren and Hamish DeLuca have a small detective agency.  They are hired by Errol Parker, a black baseball player who is facing harassment because of his race.  There is an atmosphere of great tension in Boston, with members of a hate group meeting and spreading pamphlets.  When Hamish's cousin Luca suddenly appears, the mystery becomes even more complicated.

This book is the second in the Van Buren and DeLuca mystery series.  I did not read the first book and wish I had, because there were numerous references to characters and scenes from the first book.  It took me a few chapters to catch up, but I did, and settled in to enjoy the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because I love historical fiction, enjoy mysteries, and am fascinated by the 1940's as a historical period.  The author did a wonderful job at capturing the 1940's with period details through the book.  There are fascinating references to dances and movies and old time radio shows.  For instance, a family friend tells Reggie that she is "playing Nick and Nora Charles" (from The Thin Man) with Hamish.

The baseball setting is interesting, and the author evokes the atmosphere of an old time ballpark:

"The collective din of the stands, the squeak of the bleachers, the organ pounding out jingles and ditties and chords to inspire spectator fervor.  The shifting scoreboard and communal enthusiasm.  The smell of popcorn and beer and, as in tonight's game, the inimitable scent of almost-summer: grass and something in the air that overtook the salt and yeast of the vendors' carts and gave way to the most alluring type of nostalgia" (p. 119).

I really liked Reggie and Hamish as characters, both individually and together.  Reggie is very brave and spirited.  She has a Journal of Independence including a variety of goals:

"Sometimes as in the case of 'Learn how to properly make a bed,' the entries were left untouched in her perfectly taught cursive.  Other times they were scrawled or scratched out with enthusiasm like, 'Stay up 'til dawn.' Which she seemed to be doing now" (p. 149).

Hamish deals with anxiety, and this is dealt with honestly and sensitively in the book.  He is very dashing but also seems vulnerable and real.

There is a lot of back and forth between the characters, as they are romantically interested in each other but don't want to upset the balance of their work relationship and friendship.

The mystery aspect of Murder in the City of Liberty slowly unraveled, piece by piece, and it was very well done (and kept me guessing).  I enjoyed seeing Hamish and DeLuca solve the mystery.

I have already recommended this series to two friends who enjoy historical mysteries.  Readers who enjoy the 1940's will especially enjoy the period details in this well written book.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
 
Author Bio
Rachel McMillan is the author of the Herringford and Watts mysteries, the Three Quarter Time series of contemporary romances set in opulent Vienna, and the Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries praised for bringing an authentic 1930’s Boston world to life while normalizing the fictional conversation surrounding mental illness. Her first work of non-fiction, described as a romantic’s guide to independent travel, releases in 2020. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada.

 

Connect with Rachel

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review and Giveaway - A Crafter Hooks a Killer: A Handcrafted Mystery by Holly Quinn

Book Synopsis
Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane suspects that a tantalizing thread links the deaths of her best friend and a bestselling author. But can she weave together the clues?

Samantha “Sammy” Kane is settling into her new life in idyllic Heartsford, Wisconsin, running her late friend Kate Allen’s craft shop, Community Craft when one early June day, bestselling crochet author Jane Johnson visits Heartsford. Captivated by Community Craft, Jane devotes a chapter in her new book, Behind the Seams, to the store. Sammy is honored, though satisfaction quickly turns to shock when she finds Jane strangled to death—her cold hands clutching a copy of her most recently published book, with the words “THE END” raggedly scratched into the cover.

Heavens to Etsy! Not only must Sammy contend with the author’s inauspicious demise, she has to untie some knotty details from her own past. It turns out Kate’s death was not what it seemed, and instead somehow hooked to Jane Johnson’s demise. Handsome Detective Liam Nash is on the “skein”, more than happy to see the shop owner again, if less than enamored by her sleuthing interventions. But this was Sammy’s best friend—she has to know.

Fortunately, Sammy has a “lace” in the hole. As a child, she formed the S.H.E. detective team with her cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie. Having already reconstituted their partnership, the S.H.E. team searches for a pattern behind the latest death. As the case starts to unravel, will Sammy and team be able to sidestep Liam quick enough to stitch together the clues?

My Review
Sammy Kane owns a small craft shop in Heartsford, Wisconsin;  she took over the business for her best friend, Kate, who died suddenly.  She is excited about a famous crafter, Jane Johnson, visiting the shop.  When she meets Jane, the famous author suggests that she has news about Kate's death. Then Sammy discovers Jane's body, and she works with her sister and cousin - and her almost-boyfriend, police detective Liam Nash - to solve the mystery.

This is the second book in the Handcrafted Mystery series.  I have read both books and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Holly Quinn does an especially good job at capturing the small, Midwestern town atmosphere.  

I really like Sammy, her cousin Heidi, and sister Ellie.  They created a play detective group called S.H.E. (for their first names) as young girls, and they still work together to solve mysteries.  I liked this description of one of their S.H.E. meetings:

"The fireflies were just starting to pop their neon glows of brilliance in the blackening sky.  The luminosity bounced around the backyard grass and bushes as if the fireflies were putting on a private light show for them.  The three S.H.E.s huddled together around Sammy's backyard picnic table with the pages of the manuscript spread between them.  Remnants of dried coagulated cheese and corn chip crumbs littered the bottom of the baking dish, evidence of a well-eaten nacho platter" (Kindle location 2784).

Sammy can be impulsive at times and does not take the precautions for her safety that an experienced detective would take.  I think this is part of her character though, and her approach to amateur sleuthing.

Detective Liam Nash is as charming as ever, and I enjoyed his scenes with Sammy.

Of course, I also loved Sammy's dog (who often visits her shop), Bara!  (I consider all cozy mysteries more interesting if a lovable pet is part of the story.)

The mystery was well done.  I suspected the murderer but enjoyed seeing the details unravel.  The book is fast paced and I read it in just a few days because I was eager to see what happened!

I recommend A Crafter Hooks a Killer and the Handcrafted Mystery series.  Readers who are interested in crafting or small town settings will especially enjoy this book.


Author Bio
Holly Quinn has published two stand-alone fiction novels in another persona. She graduated from Carroll University in Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in business and a minor in marketing. This is her second Handcrafted mystery. Visit her @ www.authorhollyquinn.com


Author Links
Website – www.authorhollyquinn.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HollyQuinnbooks/
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7940795.Holly_Quinn
Purchase Links – AmazonB&N BAMIndieBoundPowell’s BooksWalmart 
Author Bio

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Friday, June 14, 2019

Book Review - Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter

Book Synopsis
From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.

Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe’s love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram’s maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.

As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven—nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.

As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy’s heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

 

My Review

Summer By the Tides is a beach read about Maddy Monroe.  Maddy has just lost her job as a restaurant manager when she caught her boyfriend cheating with her boss.  Then Maddy finds out her beloved Gram has gone missing, so she hurries to her Gram's beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina to look for her.  She is soon joined by her older sisters, Emma and Nora, who don't get along.  Over the summer they work on the house together, sort through family history, and Maddie finds a surprising new romance.

 

I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it.  It looked like a perfect beach read and it absolutely was!  Denise Hunter does a great job at capturing coastal North Carolina and beach life.  I enjoyed settings like Sullivan's Landing, the little seafood restaurant where Maddie works over summer, and the marina where Connor works.  I found details like hurricane preparations at the marina fascinating.

 

I really liked Maddie.  She is in such a conflicted place at the beginning of the book, but she really comes into her own when she is reunited with her sisters and when she meets Connor.  Connor is a perfect book boyfriend!  He is sweet and sad (a young widower), and their relationship moves slowly with a few little stops and starts.

 

This is also a lovely book about family and forgiveness and choosing to move forward instead of staying mired in the past.  I also liked Maddie's sister Emma (and her cute little beagle Pippy) and her delightful Gram.  Nora (her oldest sister) was a complex character, but I appreciated her by the end of the novel.

 

I recommend Summer By the Tides as a beach read or a good read for a leisurely weekend.  Fans of southern fiction and women's fiction will especially enjoy this book.  

Author Bio

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.

Connect with Denise

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

Book Spotlight and Cover Reveal - The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews

Book Synopsis
An Uncommon Beauty…
Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it’s caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland—a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the Duke’s clutches, she’s going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero…

Captain Arthur Heywood’s days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.

Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her—and her heart—in more danger than ever?

 

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

 

Author Bio

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews (A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, The Matrimonial Advertisement) writes both historical non-fiction and traditional historical romances set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated weekly at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats.

For more information, please visit Mimi Matthews’ website and blog. You can also connect with her on FacebookTwitterBookBubPinterestGoogle+, and Goodreads.

 

 

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway - Whiskers in the Dark: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery by Rita Mae Brown

Book Synopsis
Death stalks the Blue Ridge Mountains as a centuries-old mystery resurfaces and murder mars the lead-up to an annual beagle competition, in a thrilling new tale from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown.

A massive nor’easter has hit northern Virginia, where Mary Minor “Harry” Harristeen joins groundskeeping efforts at the National Beagle Club at Aldie as the date for its springtime Hounds for Heroes veterans’ benefit approaches. Harry’s fellow volunteers, including her oldest friend, Susan Tucker, comprise a spirited group of hunting enthusiasts, some former service members themselves. But things take a sinister turn when, after a routine tree cleanup along the Club’s hunting trails, retired foreign services officer Jason Holzknect is found dead, throat slit from ear to ear. Soon enough, another murder in their midst jolts the preparations, convincing Harry that the killer is familiar with the Club—and must be close by, masked in plain sight.

The intrigue extends to the grounds of Harry’s beloved local church, where the identity of an eighteenth-century skeleton wearing precious pearls remains a mystery. The anonymous woman’s neck had been snapped, and marks on the grave where her body was secreted indicate that someone recently tried to remove it, leading Harry to question how well she really knows those around her.

As always, Harry’s crime-solving cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the Corgi share her determination to sniff out the foes among friends, even those long buried. Harry will need her four-legged companions’ help more than ever: a ghostly beagle only they can see may hold the key to the culprit.

My Review
Whiskers in the Dark is a cozy mystery set in rural Virginia.  There are two mysteries in this book:  one involves a body from the 1700's that was recently discovered in Virginia, and then in present day, retired foreign services officer Jason Holzknect is murdered.  The present day storyline takes place at a Hounds for Heroes benefit held by the National Beagle Club.

I wanted to read this book as soon as heard about it.  I read, and enjoyed, the Mrs. Murphy mysteries for years.  I have not read the past few books and wanted to get back into this series.  I love beagles, and that made this mystery particularly interesting to me.

Whiskers in the Dark has a dual storyline.  Most of the book takes place in the present day before, during, and after the Hounds for Heroes benefit.  Harry Harristeen and her best friend Susan are attending the benefit, and they become involved in solving the mystery when one of the fellow attendees is murdered.   The other storyline takes place in 1787 and involves a woman's murder from years ago.

I enjoyed reading about Harry and her mystery solving again, especially with the help of her cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter and her corgi dog Tee Tucker.  She has added another dog to the family, a young Irish Wolfhound named Pirate.  The pets meet Ruffy, a ghost beagle living at the Institute in Aldie, Virginia.  He is missing his person and wants a resolution for that mystery.  The pets talk in this book and they are both charming and wise!   There are also some lovely black and white illustrations in the novel of both pets and people.

This is a dense read, with a large cast from two different time periods.  Thankfully there is a Cast of Characters detailing both people and animal characters.  I bookmarked it and referred to it a number of times, especially keeping up with all the people from the 1780's who were part of the flashback story.

The historical details from 1787 were very interesting, and the element of historical fiction added something extra to this novel.  Although I love historical fiction, I still felt the heart of the book was in the present day with Harry, her friends, and her beloved pets.  I found myself reading through the historical flashbacks a bit quickly in order to move forward to the present day mystery.

I guessed the murderer early on but still enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery.   Harry is one of my favorite amateur detectives and it is enjoyable to see her at work.

I recommend this book, and the Mrs. Murphy series, to fans of cozy mysteries, dog and cat mysteries, and small town mysteries.  I am delighted to have picked up this series again and look forward to continuing.
  


Author Bio
Rita Mae Brown is the bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries; the Sister Jane series; the Runnymede novels, including Six of One and Cakewalk; A Nose for Justice and Murder Unleashed; Rubyfruit Jungle; and In Her Day; as well as many other books. An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and a poet, Brown lives in Afton, Virginia, and is a Master of Foxhounds and the huntsman.

Sneaky Pie Browna tiger cat born somewhere in Albemarle County, Virginia, was discovered by Rita Mae Brown at her local SPCA. They have collaborated on numerous Mrs. Murphy mysteries—in addition to Sneaky Pie’s Cookbook for Mystery Lovers and Sneaky Pie for President.

Author Links 
Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKoboGoogle PlayIndieBound


Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Friday, June 7, 2019

Dear Abby - Some Dachshund Memes

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good summer and staying cool!   I am staying busy with my summer plan to relax.  I have planned my naps and time in front of the fan strategically.  It's been pretty perfect so far!

I thought you might enjoy a few dachshund memes.  I have been helping my Momma with the Doxieposse Pals page on Facebook and these are a few memes we found and shared there.  (Also, if you love dogs, please come join us!  We have a lot of fun.)

"I ate your keys so you never have to leave me again."  (This sounds like a great idea!)




"Shine bright like a dachshund."



"I'm into fitness - fitness whole stack of pancakes into my mouth."  (Now I LOVE this picture, and those pancakes too!)




On a similar theme - "Did I just hear the fridge open?"





"I thought there would be bacon in here."





"So you're telling me the ball was in your hand the whole time?"  (Now that seems like a trick or something!)





I hope you enjoyed these memes and hope they gave you a smile.  Have a wonderful weekend!   I look forward to talking to you again soon.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo



Book Review and Giveaway - The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns

Book Synopsis
Oceans and decades apart, two women are inextricably bound by the secrets between them.

Japan, 1957. Seventeen-year-old Naoko Nakamura’s prearranged marriage to the son of her father’s business associate would secure her family’s status in their traditional Japanese community, but Naoko has fallen for another man—an American sailor, a gaijin—and to marry him would bring great shame upon her entire family. When it’s learned Naoko carries the sailor’s child, she’s cast out in disgrace and forced to make unimaginable choices with consequences that will ripple across generations.

America, present day. Tori Kovac, caring for her dying father, finds a letter containing a shocking revelation—one that calls into question everything she understood about him, her family and herself. Setting out to learn the truth behind the letter, Tori’s journey leads her halfway around the world to a remote seaside village in Japan, where she must confront the demons of the past to pave a way for redemption.

In breathtaking prose and inspired by true stories from a devastating and little-known era in Japanese and American history, The Woman in the White Kimono illuminates a searing portrait of one woman torn between her culture and her heart, and another woman on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.


 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble


My Review
The Woman in the White Kimono is the story of two women who are far apart in both time and distance ... yet their connection draws them together.  Tori Kovac is taking care of her dying father when she discovers he had a secret life as a young military man.  In 1957 he was involved with a young Japanese girl named Naoko.  Tori is determined to find Naoko and to solve the mystery of her father's past.

I love dual-storyline novels that give a glimpse of the past and present at one time.  The author, Ana Johns, does an especially fine job with the dual storyline here.  The story is told in alternating chapters -- Tori in the present time and Naoko in 1957 Japan.  The characters are well developed and I was immediately drawn into their stories, wanting to know more.

Tori's father is another character in the novel, especially as he is seen so differently by these two women -- his first sweetheart, Naoko, and his daughter Tori.  Tori describes him:

"I adored him.

A man who drank fruit brandy like his Slovak father, swaggered like John Wayne and spun colorful yarns like no one else.

Although, with most of his stories, it was difficult to discern their truth.  'What is truth but a story we tell ourselves?'  Then he'd wink, tap my nose and leave me to dissect fact from fantasy.  Something I was still doing" (p. 18).

Part of what made this book so intriguing is the element of storytelling and myth, by both Tori's father Jimmy (Hajime) and Naoko.  There is also a strong element of history and tradition in Naoko's telling of life in 1957 Japan.

The descriptions of Japan were so beautiful and evocative -- I could picture the places the author described so vividly.

Naoko faced heartbreaking prejudice and barriers as a young Japanese woman in love with an American military man;  these struggles intensify when it is discovered that she is pregnant.  The chapters that detail her time in the maternity home were heart-rending.

I found The Woman in the White Kimono a compelling read about a rarely discussed moment in history, and a fascinating story of two very different women's lives.  I recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who also has an interest in Japan.  It is a beautifully written book.

Author Bio
ANA JOHNS worked over twenty years in the creative arts field, as both a creative director and business owner, before turning her hand to fiction. Born and raised in metro Detroit, she now resides in Indianapolis with her family. The Woman in the White Kimono is her first novel.

Connect with Ana

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a copy of The Woman in the White Kimono.  To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form, below.  Giveaway is open to U.S. entrants only.  The giveaway ends midnight, June 13.  The winner will be contacted by email and will need to respond within 48 hours or another name will be drawn.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Book Review - Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Book Synopsis

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.


My Review
Living Lies is a mystery set in small town Georgia.  Lane Kent is a young widow;  she returns to her hometown with her young son.  She runs a diner, deals with family politics (literally - her father is running for office), and struggles with depression.  When she finds the dead body of a girl in the woods, she becomes involved in a mystery that brings her into close contact with deputy Charlie Lynch, who is also new to town.  They work together to solve the mystery before more lives are lost.

I wanted to read this novel because I enjoy mysteries, and I was curious about the small town Georgia setting.  I am from Georgia and tried to place the fictional town from clues in the story.  I wonder if the author was inspired by Richmond Hill, Georgia, because of several references in the novel - the Ogeechee River, Ways Station, a little Henry Ford history.

This was a real stay-up-late read for me.  I read it in record time because I really wanted to know what happened in the mystery.  This book has elements of both a traditional mystery and a romantic suspense novel.   I felt the author did an especially good job of blending these two genres.

Lane was a strong protagonist, especially as she is seen moving through her own stuggles with depression and the difficulties of being a young widow.  She pushes through to really try to help others, not just by solving the mystery, but also helping an older veteran friend who is dealing with PTSD.  I really liked the relationship between Lane and Charlie, which began slowly as friendship and evolved into a romance as they worked together.

The small town atmosphere was especially appealing and well done.  I loved the way the author evoked a sense of place with descriptions.   

There was even a cute, sometimes naughty, little terrier dog (Charlie's dog Bane) in the book!

I recommend Living Lies for readers who enjoy traditional mysteries, romantic suspense, and small town settings.  I look forward to reading future mysteries by this author.


Author Bio
Natalie Walters is a military wife who currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. She writes full-time and has been published in Proverbs 31 magazine and has blogged for Guideposts online. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their past.