Author: BonnieReadsAndWrites

I love to read and write book reviews in my free time. I review advance review copies of books on Netgalley for various publishers. I am also a reviewer for Historical Novels Review Magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. I review books from publishers of all size, large to small. I have a special place in my heart for indie authors. I will sometimes post a little writing that I might dabble in occasionally. I also am lucky enough to live in the Smoky Mountains, so I'll be sharing photos of the beauty around me from time to time.

Release Day! The Diamonds #Review #Q&A #GailMeath

BonnieReadsAndWrites8 Comments

BOOK DESCRIPTION

FROM THE AUTHOR: The most talked-about wedding is quickly approaching, and PI Jax Diamond is on top of the world. The tuxedos are freshly pressed and hanging in their closets. His good friend is busy decorating the nightclub for a glorious reception, and the newspaper reporters are anxiously waiting to print the front-page headlines. Even Ace, his courageous canine partner and best man, is prancing around, anxious for the event to begin.

The only thing missing is the bride.

Three days before the wedding, a group of mastermind criminals pull off the biggest diamond heist the city has ever seen, but that’s not the only gem they steal. And boy, do they have their hands full.

Every police officer from Albany to Washington is summoned to work around the clock, hunting down the culprits. Will they find Laura in time to save her life, so she can take her vows

BOOK REVIEW

It’s Book 7 of the Jax Diamond Mysteries, wedding bells are ringing, and Laura and Carla have disappeared! It’s obvious that foul play is afoot. Jax and Tim are hot on the trail, but Laura knows some tricks of her own.

It’s the seventh book of this beloved series, and Jax and Laura are finally making it official…if they can get to the altar. The beginning of this book absolutely blew me away. So unexpected. And the ending is touching and joyful. Laura’s extensive mechanical knowledge would not have been considered “feminine” at that time, and I love that about her. Her ingenuity often saves the day. She is beautiful and can sing, but she has a lot of other tricks up her sleeve. Her desperate, under-pressure tactic involving a telephone was unique and inspiring. I love the main cast and their close relationship. And of course, Ace is a scene-stealer. This is a great end to the Jax Diamond Mysteries series. Or is it?

The Diamonds is released today! Be sure and pick up your copy here. See purchase links for the whole series below.

Q&A WITH GAIL MEATH

A quick Q&A with Author Gail Meath

Thank you to my good friend Gail Meath!

Bonnie: Is this the last book in the Jax Diamond series?

Gail: I honestly haven’t decided yet.  I have an idea for book #8, and the series has gone so well, but sometimes it’s best to leave on a high note.  I thought I’d leave it up to the readers, and already I have votes for at least one more book.  I’ll probably write it…already, I miss the characters.  

Bonnie: How do you feel Jax has changed since Book 1?

Gail: In the beginning, Jax was a loner except for his good friendship with Tim, a police officer, and his very special bond with Ace.  He didn’t have a past.  He never looked to the future.  He held a few grudges and didn’t trust anyone else.  Laura, his Broadway star sweetheart, was hugely influential in bringing him out of his shell and learning to trust again.  So, too, was his renewed friendship with Orin Marino and reuniting with his parents.

Bonnie: Can you pick some of your favorite moments throughout the series?

Gail: That’s a tough question, but I think the absolute most fun I had was writing about Laura and Ace going undercover behind Jax’s back in Framed, Book 2.  That’s when we discover Orin isn’t who we thought.  Another favorite is Two of a Kind, The Beginning novella where Jax and Ace meet when Ace is just a puppy.

Bonnie: Besides Ace, Jax, and Laura, my favorite character is Orin Marino.  Which character is your favorite outside of the big three?

Gail: It’s funny.  I never intended for Orin to become a loveable ‘gangster’.  It just happened, and I’ve got to agree with you.  If I do write another book, I want him to have a happy ending!

Bonnie: I know you have a new series coming out soon. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Gail: I’m currently writing the first book in a new series that takes place during the 1930s glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood.  It stars Vivian Steele, a widowed fashion designer, and Preston Stone, Hollywood’s most beloved playboy, who reluctantly team up to solve some very high-profile mysteries.  It’ll have a great cast of characters ranging from the rich and famous to Bella, the Boston Terrier, and a few other endearing folks.

Thanks Gail for answering my questions, as always!

A surprise question for Gail: Any chance of an Orin Marino spinoff series?

PURCHASE LINKS

Link to buy the whole JAX DIAMOND MYSTERIES series

Link to buy THE DIAMONDS, just released today!

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading

BonnieReadsAndWrites15 Comments

Welcome to It’s Monday! What are you Reading? It’s hosted by Kathryn from Book Date. This is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

WHAT AM I READING NOW

I’m reading the final ARC of The Diamonds by Gail Meath. It’s Book 7 of the Jax Diamond series, and it’s out May 15th. You’ll soon see a Q&A with Gail along with my review.

JUST FINISHED

This is the story of a Manhattan family from 1912 to 1965. I read it for The Historical Novel Society so I can’t give my impressions until it is published on August 1st. You can read more about it on Amazon.

NEXT UP

(From Amazon) Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

GENERAL UPDATE

DINANT, BELGIUM

Really beautiful town that I visited this past weekend. I was taking pictures from the Citadel, where there is a museum. Dinant is the home of the Saxophone! My pictures are slow to upload today, so I’ll post more about this later.

How about you? How was your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post: Munich and Dachau

BonnieReadsAndWrites24 Comments

I’m still working in Germany until the first week of June. Yesterday was the first time I got to sightsee (sitesee?). I went on a tour, and the first stop was a difficult but important one–Dachau. Then we went to Munich and were given a few hours to wander around a shopping/food area. I will post a few Munich pictures first, and then the much more solemn Dachau pictures.

Munich:

The area of Munich they took us to had an open-air market and shopping area, and their version of “Rodeo Drive” with all the designer shops. Here are a few pictures:

I wish I had taken pictures of the open-air shopping area, which was much more European than most of the Munich pictures I have here. A Hofbrähaus is a brewery. I got Doug a Munich (Munchen) hat.

Dachau: If you wish to scroll by, do so now quickly

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This is just a portion of what I saw at Dachau, and there was a lot I didn’t see because they didn’t give us enough time.

The first two pictures are historical displays that I snapped photos of. There is a whole museum of displays. The next three pictures are the outside of the crematorium and the ovens inside the crematorium. The sixth picture is a convent that is on the grounds of Dachau. There are also religious memorials from several different religions. The bottom photo is an absolutely unforgettable piece of artwork at Dachau, a sculpture by a holocaust survivor, Nandor Glid.

As I stood in that crematorium and in the room next to the ovens where they stacked the bodies for burning, I felt such a heaviness to be standing in a place where absolute evil had occurred.

Please feel free to share your impressions of the photos, if you wish to do so.

NEXT WEEK: I’m just hoping to post some reviews. Last week I was just too busy working, but I’ll be back home in June and retired in August, and then the blogging will really flow! Meanwhile, it might be stop-and-go, but I’m determined to get some posts up. Please bear with me.

BOOK HAUL

While at Dachau, I picked up this memoir of one of the survivors, which I am reading.

Today I picked up the Audible of Jodi Taylor’s latest short story and I’ve already finished listening to it. Although she has two successful time travel series, she has another series called Frogmorton Farm that has nothing to do with time travel. It does have a magical golden horse, a dilapidated farm, and Patagonian attack chickens though. The first book in the series is called The Nothing Girl. I love it just as much as her other series. This book, Storm Christopher, is about second chances, even if you don’t deserve them.

Review coming shortly.

Have a wonderful week.

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

BonnieReadsAndWrites8 Comments

Thank you to The Book Date for hosting It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hi everyone! I’m sorry I haven’t updated in a couple weeks. I’m in Stuttgart, Germany for work. I haven’t had time to do any sightseeing yet, but I’m going to Munich and Dachau on Saturday. Above is Schlossplatz, or Castle Square, in Stuttgart.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

(From Amazon) Set in Manhattan between 1912 and 1965. When idealistic Young Irving Friedman and his beautiful, hard-nosed sister Miriam are forced to leave their brutal father’s home, they must make their way amid the sprawling tenements of the Lower East Side. Trapped in the garment industry’s backbreaking sweatshops, Irving is swept into the dangerous world of union organizing, while Miriam finds unexpected new love. As the years pass and one generation yields to the next, the siblings’ hard-won success is imperiled when an old family secret is unearthed that puts Irv on a collision course with Miriam’s ambitious daughter Shelly. Will secrets from the past destroy their family’s bond, or will they find a way to forgive?

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

(From Amazon) As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn’t just the City of Light; it’s the city of history, romance, stunning architecture . . . and food. Thanks to her neighbor and friend Julia Child, another expat who’s fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and her Oncle Rafe.

Between tutoring Americans in French, and sampling the results of Julia’s studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha’s sojourn is thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia’s building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim from a party given by Julia’s sister, Dort, the night before. The murder weapon is recognizable too—a knife from Julia’s kitchen.

Tabitha is eager to help the investigation, but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha’s handwriting, was found in the dead woman’s pocket. Now, from the shadows of the Tour Eiffel, to the Childs’ tiny kitchen, to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates the city, hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison . . . or worse.

WHAT I JUST FINISHED READING

(From Amazon) Licinianus is a reluctant soldier in a very unusual family, one whose ancient gods give special powers to twins. His father, a twin himself, earned the gratitude of an Emperor and gained for Licinianus an honor that he does not want: appointment as a tribune in the army. Against his will, Licianius becomes a Roman officer and watches ineffectually while the army in Britannia, depleted by civil war, collapses before the onslaught of the Northern tribes. Only the arrival of the army of the Emperor Constantius saves the province, as Licinianus, receiving the gift of his family’s gods, becomes an almost legendary fighter.

Meanwhile, a strange new religion, Christianity, is permeating the Romano-British world, plunging Licinianus and his twin sister Severiana into yet more conflict. Christianity denies the very gods that give the family its strength, outraging their beliefs and customs. Nevertheless, it casts its spell on the twins’ brother and Severiana’s husband, threatening to tear the family apart.

I hope everyone is doing well! Now that I’m into my third week in Germany, posting on this blog will commence! I’ve just been so busy. Sunday I’m going to post all the pictures I am sure to take at Dachau and in Munich.

Book Tour and Review: A Prayer for Junie (April 11th)

BonnieReadsAndWrites6 Comments

BOOK DESCRIPTION

BOOK REVIEW

This book is so powerful and so beautifully written that it just took my breath away. There are strong themes of friendship, family, and kindness to others. The question that came into my mind about one of the characters was: Is he evil or just completely damaged beyond repair? The difficult theme of spousal abuse is also prevalent throughout the book. The friendship between Junie and Philomena is one of love, kindness, and sacrifice, and speaks to what true friends will do for one another.

Anyone who wants to read a book featuring strong women in difficult situations, or anyone who enjoys beautiful writing, will enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Zooloo’s Book Tours. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fran Clark writes Women’s Fiction, both contemporary and historical. Her first novel was published by Indigo Dreams in 2014. In the same year she achieved a Distinction in her Creative Writing MA from Brunel University. In 2016 she was shortlisted for the SI Leeds Literary Prize. In February 2024, her Island Secrets Book Series will be published, starting with Holding Paradise Book 1.

Originally from London, Fran moved to the English countryside with her musician husband. A musician herself, Fran teaches vocals and leads a local choir. She has two sons.

Fran also writes under the pseudonym, Rosa Temple, writing contemporary fiction and published by HQ Digital and Simon & Schuster UK.

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads

Buy Links

Book Tour and Review: The New Son

BonnieReadsAndWrites5 Comments

BOOK DESCRIPTION

BOOK REVIEW

This is an exciting, heart-pounding thriller with an intriguing premise. Nina is in a not-so-great relationship, which also comes with a rude and ungrateful “stepdaughter.” Then the son she gave up years ago shows up on her doorstep. Is he the key to a new life?

The story is full of twists and turns. The present tense is used, and that’s not my favorite, but it works here. The author uses a plot twist that’s been famously used before, but they give appropriate credit to that work within the story, which I appreciated. The secrets, lies, intrigue, and action are woven well together. Readers should hold onto their hats, the edges of their seats, and possibly their hearts. Overall, this is a compelling psychological thriller that fans of that genre will enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Zooloo’s book tours. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Iain Maitland is the author of three previous psych thrillers for Inkubator Books: The Soulmate, The Perfect Husband and The Girl Downstairs.

Iain is also the author of two memoirs, Dear Michael, Love Dad, a book of letters written to his eldest son who experienced depression and anorexia, and (co-authored with Michael) Out Of The Madhouse.

He has also written a semi-autobiographical novel, The Old Man, His Dog & Their Longest Journey.

He is an Ambassador for Stem4, the teenage mental health charity. He talks regularly about mental health issues in schools and colleges and workplaces.

Find out more about Iain at www.iainmaitland.net  and twitter.com/iainmaitland

BOOK LINKS

AMAZON AMAZON UK

*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read this for free.

Three Mini Reviews: Never Too Late, A Midnight Puzzle, and The Underground Library

BonnieReadsAndWrites7 Comments

Below are three mini-reviews, From three stars to five, in order. The reviews are short and to the point. For a book description and purchase options, you can click on each cover.

This one never came completely together for me. There is too much telling and not enough showing, which I know is common for Steel’s novels, but did not work here. A major terrorist attack on New York is mentioned but not too closely explored. Kate was the most complex character, in my opinion, and managed to elevate this book a bit.

All in all, it’s not my favorite Steel novel, but I love most of her work.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This is a really clever continuation of The Secret Staircase series, as Tempest and her crew are back, creating illusions in homes and finding themselves in the middle of mysteries. When a former client is killed in their building by a booby-trapped door, Tempest is on the case, trying to exonerate her company and another surprise suspect.

Although this is part of a series, it easily stands alone as the author does a good job of catching the reader up on events. The cast of characters is fun and intriguing, and the story has plenty of twists and turns.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve always been intrigued by books about The Blitz and books about libraries/book clubs. Since this is a combination of the two, I figured it was a “can’t miss.” novel. I was right. Compelling characters and true-to-life descriptions will transport you to 1940 London as you peruse a book in the underground tunnels while bombs drop overhead. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

Sunday Post: Happy Easter!

BonnieReadsAndWrites17 Comments

Have a Blessed Easter! It celebrates THE most important day for Christians. The day Jesus rose from the dead after sacrificing himself for the sins of all.

I had an egg hunt with my grandkids and did their Easter baskets yesterday. This will be the last time we don’t have a church in the city we live in, since we are moving to Bryson City NC permanently this fall, and our church is there. Really looking forward to that.

Pause in Review Submissions/Acceptances: I’m putting a pause on Review submissions on this site until after I retire and move. My work trip to Germany starts in April and I’m retiring in August and moving in the Fall, so I just will have too much on my plate until about November. I will be requesting fewer reviews on Netgalley as well, but I will still do Netgalley reviews. I will do the occasional book tour and I’ll probably still use BookSirens for Indie reviews.

My reading and blogging will continue, however, and once I get time to go out and sightsee (sitesee?) I should have some great photos.

NEXT WEEK: I leave for Germany on the 5th. There will be lots of reading time on the trip. Once I get situated with internet, etc., I’ll be back to blogging, within a couple of days. I’ll be scheduling out some reviews before I go, so you might not even have time to miss me!

BOOK HAUL

Daughter of two ruthless high-Gradient telepaths, Auden Scott is not the child her Psy parents wanted or expected, even before her brain injury. Her thoughts are scattered, her memories fuzzy—or just terrifyingly blank. The only thing she knows for certain is that she must protect her unborn baby . . . a baby she has no recollection of conceiving and who draws an unnerving depth of interest from her dead mother’s closest associates.

Leopard alpha Remi Denier is a man driven by the primal instinct to protect. Protect his pack, protect his allies . . . and protect the mysterious woman who has become a most unlikely neighbor. With eerie eyes that see too much and a scent that alters in ways disturbing and impossible, Auden Scott is the enemy . . . but nothing about this strange Psy is what it seems, and Remi’s feline heart is as fascinated by her as his human half.

Then Auden asks Remi to help her shatter the wall of secrets that is the Scott bloodline. What they unearth will reveal a nightmare beyond imagination. This time, the battle is to the death. . . .

Hope you had a great week. Happy Easter!

Book Blogger Hop: Bloggers or Professional Book Critics?

BonnieReadsAndWrites7 Comments

I can only speak for myself as a reader. Of course, I’m also a blogger, so maybe that makes me a bit biased. I think power is too strong a word. Influence would be better. I can’t say either bloggers or professional critics have more influence on me either way. I have chosen books that are popular with other bloggers or with critics, but I do not always feel the same way myself. I also often find myself loving books that might not be as popular with others. So, I would say the only thing that influences me is the book itself.

Book Review: The Devil and Mrs. Davenport Review

BonnieReadsAndWrites9 Comments

I reviewed this book for the February issue of Historical Novels Review, the Journal of The Historical Novel Society.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain and Parting the Veil mines the subtle horrors of 1950s America in a gripping novel about a woman under pressure—from the living and the dead.

The first day of autumn brought the fever, and with the fever came the voices.

Missouri, 1955. Loretta Davenport has led an isolated life as a young mother and a wife to Pete, an ambitious assistant professor at a Bible college. They’re the picture of domestic tranquility—until a local girl is murdered and Loretta begins receiving messages from beyond. Pete dismisses them as delusions of a fevered female imagination. Loretta knows they’re real—and frightening.

Defying Pete’s demands, Loretta finds an encouraging supporter in parapsychologist Dr. Curtis Hansen. He sees a woman with a rare gift, more blessing than curse. With Dr. Hansen’s help, Loretta’s life opens up to an empowering new purpose. But for Pete, the God-fearing image he’s worked so hard to cultivate is under threat. No longer in control of his dutiful wife, he sees the Devil at work.

As Loretta’s powers grow stronger and the pleading spirits beckon, Pete is determined to deliver his wife from evil. To solve the mysteries of the dead, Loretta must first save herself.

BOOK REVIEW

Missouri, 1955. A young girl, Darcy, is missing, which is disturbing enough, but then Loretta Davenport begins seeing visions of the girl’s location, and, sadly, knows where her body can be found. This paranormal ability does not sit well with her husband, a Bible professor at a local college. He’s already upset about her lack of energy and weight gain. Their perfect life seems threatened enough without psychic messages that overwhelm her. After the vision of Darcy, the door to the “other side” seems to open for Loretta, and she begins to see more of the dead. She seeks out a psychologist to try and make sense of it as her life turns upside down.

This story of a 1950s housewife who can suddenly see and receive messages from the dead is so fascinating and compelling that it will be hard to put down. Loretta’s growing abilities and the cracking facade of her life are so well described. The author expertly begins to pull the curtain from Loretta’s marriage and show the truth—her husband is not perfect, and is, in fact, abusive. The combination of a bad marriage and explosive new psychic abilities makes this book shine. The lack of basic rights for women in the 1950s is also explored, as Loretta becomes almost a prisoner in her own home. And a mystery is involved, as Loretta is trying to find Darcy’s killer to save others from the same fate. There is a bit of romance, and a theme of embracing one’s true self. This is a satisfying mix of historical mystery and paranormal fiction that fans of those genres will enjoy. Highly recommended.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paulette Kennedy is the bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain and Parting the Veil, which received the prestigious HNS Review Editor’s Choice Award. She has had a lifelong obsession with the gothic. As a young girl, she spent her summers among the gravestones in her neighborhood cemetery, imagining all sorts of romantic stories for the people buried there.

After her mother introduced her to the Brontës as a teenager, Paulette’s affinity for fog-covered landscapes and haunted heroines only grew, inspiring her to become a writer. Originally from the Missouri Ozarks, she now lives with her family and a menagerie of rescue pets in sunny Southern California, where sometimes, on the very best days, the mountains are wreathed in fog.

You can connect with her on Instagram at @pkennedywrites or her website: http://www.paulettekennedy.com

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | AUDIBLE

*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read and listen for free.