Category: Mysteries

Blog Tour and Book Review: His Secret Daughter by Melissa Wiesner

BonnieReadsAndWrites6 Comments

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Not Noah. Not my husband. But there he is, unconscious in the hospital bed. Our daughter sobs into my shoulder. We love him so much. What if he never wakes up? And who is the little girl beside him, gazing up at us with big, tear-filled brown eyes? Eyes that look just like my husband’s…

Our family of three is perfect. Just me, Noah and our teenage daughter Maya. The day the police knock at our door, telling us about the car accident, is the worst day of my life. My heart shatters, but what they say next almost makes it stop beating: Noah was in the car with another woman who died at the scene. Her two-year-old girl, Luna, miraculously survived.

With Noah fighting for his life, I’m desperate for the truth: and when I search his desk, I find checks made out to Luna’s mother. Did my loving, loyal husband have a secret family all along?

Despite my own terrible pain, at the hospital I can’t help but comfort this poor child as she cries for her mommy. With nowhere else for Luna to go, I find myself opening our home. Seeing Maya hold Luna’s hand and giggle as they chase butterflies in the garden, it’s almost like my daughter has a sister…

I have an impossible choice. Do I tell Maya the truth about her father? If Noah wakes up, will even more secrets come out about who he really is? And can I forgive him enough to give this sweet, innocent girl a home… or will my husband’s betrayal tear us all apart?

Fans of Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, Kate Hewitt and Diane Chamberlain will adore this absolutely unputdownable read about how the people we love most can hide the darkest secrets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Wiesner is a night-owl who began writing novels about five years ago when her early-to-bed family retired for the evening. In 2019, she won the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® Award in the Mainstream Fiction Category for her first novel. Melissa holds two Master’s Degrees in Public Health and Community Agency Counseling. Her day job is in Social Work where she often encounters people knocked down by hard times but who pick themselves up and keep going, just like the characters of her novels. Melissa lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her charming husband and two adorable children.

Melissa’s Social Media

Instagram | Twitter | Website

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Melissa Wiesner here: 

Book Review

When the police knock on Emma’s door, she is unprepared for what she is about to hear. Her husband, Noah, has been in a car accident and is in a coma. The woman who was with him has passed away. But what should be done with the little three-year-old girl, Luna, who survived the accident? Emma is speechless, because she has no idea who the woman is, and her only child with Noah is a teenager, Maya. Is Noah the father of this little girl? Thus begins Emma’s journey as she unlocks her husband’s past and finds out the secrets he’s been keeping.

I enjoyed this story of a man’s secret past and how it affects his family. The author does a good job of portraying Emma’s emotions as she peels back layer after layer of the life of her husband, who she thought she had known. Flashes back to the past show us how Emma and Noah meet, fell in love, and marry. Emma’s struggles as a parent during this tragedy are portrayed in a realistic way. This is a well-crafted story with unexpected pieces that fall perfectly into place. It is at times a heartbreaking read. Fans of women’s fiction and “hidden past” stories will enjoy this book.

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

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Book Review: Under A Veiled Moon #ThePrincessAlice #HistoricalFiction @austenprose @karen_odden

BonnieReadsAndWrites6 Comments

This is the second book in Karen Odden’s Inspector Corravan mystery series.  I had little to no problems reading it as a standalone, but starting with the first book would be beneficial.  It is 1878 and Corravan is assigned by Scotland Yard to investigate the collision of The Princess Alice with The Bywell Castle in the Thames River.  Over 400 lives are lost.  Corravan, who was adopted by an Irish family, the Doyles, tries to conduct an impartial investigation as the newspapers and Scotland Yard seem to be convinced that the Irish Republican Brotherhood is to blame. Corravan tries to maintain calm as anti-Irish sentiment abounds.  The details of the crash and the personalization woven into the investigation are impressive.  The author’s research is obviously meticulous as she takes us throughout London at that time, both while investigating the crash and while Corravan deals with Irish gangs. 

This is a very detailed book as we follow every facet of the investigation. Karen Odden’s ability to bring to life an investigation of a real-life shipwreck that happened over 140 years ago is impressive.  Inspector Corravan is also thrust into the aftermath of the crash, rescue, and recovery in a realistic way, and we see all the horrors as he experiences them. The inside look at the Irish gangs and politics is intriguing, and the overall treatment of the Irish at that time is heartwrenching.  The soft side of Corravan really doesn’t come out until we meet his love, Belinda, about 30 percent into the book, but those who have read the first book in the series would already have known her and seen this side of the Inspector. Their romance is compelling but does not take over the book.  The Doyle family dynamics and the tension caused by decisions made years ago also become a significant part of the story.

My only slight criticism at all is that the first 10 to 15 percent of the book before the shipwreck happens moves a little slowly.  The pace picks up significantly after that.

This is a well-thought-out, meticulously researched historical mystery with compelling characters.  I highly recommend you check out this series, starting with the first book, Down A Dark River.

I received a free copy of this book via Austenprose Book Tours. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

SPOTLIGHT

I did a spotlight of this book for an Austenprose blog tour recently, and the author information, book description, and buy links are at the above link. Just click on SPOTLIGHT.

BUY THE INSPECTOR CORRAVAN MYSTERY SERIES

Above is an Amazon link to buy both books in the series.

Top Ten Indie Books of 2022 #Indiebooks #TopTenIndieBooksof2022

BonnieReadsAndWrites18 Comments

Here are my top ten Indie books of 2022 in no particular order. These books are either published by the author(s) or by smaller, independent presses. I reviewed all of these books on Indie Weekend or its previous incarnation, Self-Published Saturday, so I’ve included a link to my review, which provides buy links at the bottom. Please check them out by clicking on the covers.

Christmas in ’45

Cathedral of Silver

Amanda in France

Framed

Deuce

The Girl Who Feared Trains

Your Words, Your Heart

The Necromancer’s Daughter

The Secret Benefits of Invisibility

Distant Flickers

In the comments below, tell me about some Indie books you loved this year that I should check out!

Blog Tour and Book Review: The Christmas Holiday #thrillers

BonnieReadsAndWrites10 Comments

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The perfect vacation or the perfect murder…

It’s Christmastime and thirty-two-year-old Alicia Silver is spending her first Christmas holiday with her handsome new husband Jack and his family in their remote lodge in the Irish mountains.

The Silver family are wealthy and beautiful, they seem to live a charmed existence and Alicia only hopes she can live up to their high expectations for her marriage.

The festivities are in full swing but Alicia quickly discovers that, behind their perfect image, the Silver family is hiding plenty of secrets…

The gorgeous husband
The jealous sister-in-law
The glamorous step-mother
The wealthy father-in-law

Before the vacation is over one of them will be dead.

But who would kill to protect their secret? And who will survive this Christmas holiday?

BOOK REVIEW

This is a wonderfully suspenseful murder mystery/thriller that puts a whole new face on holiday fiction. The twists and turns do not stop, and everyone seems to be harboring a secret. The Silver family seems too good to be true, and they are! This book takes the phrase “things are not what they seem” to a whole new level. Talk about an unhappy holiday! If you want to read some unique holiday fiction, give this one a try.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ll let you into a little secret… Mikayla Davids isn’t my real name, it’s just the pen name I write under. I could be the person sitting opposite you on the train, furiously tapping away at a laptop, or the woman scribbling in a notebook on the table beside you in Starbucks. Everyone has their secrets. And this is mine.

But I will tell you I’ve lived and breathed fictional worlds all my life. I’ve been the child who spent hours in the library, the teenager who stayed up turning pages way into the night, the editor who poured every working hour into helping authors achieve their dreams of being published. Now I’m the secret writer.

I write psychological thrillers about family dramas, complicated relationships and ordinary moments that can suddenly turn into nightmares.

Mikayla’s Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Buy Links

#Bookreview: The Highlander’s Holiday Wife #Mystery #Romance #Holiday

BonnieReadsAndWrites7 Comments

This is another book I read in September for the November issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society.

Edinburgh, 1826.  Lady Samantha Penwith, who runs a school and orphanage, is determined to find out who assaulted and murdered her husband. While out investigating, she rescues the victim of another assault and then slips away.  Braden Kendrick is the sensible member of Clan Kendrick, a noted doctor. But when an unknown rescuer saves his life, he is determined to find out their identity.  As Christmas approaches, Samantha and Braden find themselves fighting to uncover the truth and endangering their lives in the process.

This is a murder mystery with a touch of action/thriller and romance. The cover and title do not closely match the story because this is a well-crafted mystery as opposed to a light holiday romance.  It did not quite transport me to the Christmas season, but the characters are well-rounded and I easily connected with them.  The whole Clan Kendrick is an interesting family that readers will enjoy knowing.  Samantha is a strong woman, and the mystery is completely intriguing and compelling. The book is a bit of a slow burn in the first half, leading up to an exciting second half.  Recommended to anyone who enjoys Regency-style murder mysteries with strong female characters.

I received a free copy of this book from Zebra books via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vanessa Kelly is the award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of The Improper Princesses series, the Clan Kendrick, The Renegade Royals and The Stanton Family series, in addition to other historical romances. Named by Booklist as one of the “Stars of Historical Romance,” her books have been translated into nine languages and published internationally. In graduate school, Vanessa specialized in the study of eighteenth-century British fiction and is known for developing vibrant Regency settings, appealing characters, and witty storylines that captivate readers. She lives with her husband in Ottawa. Visit her at VanessaKellyAuthor.com or join the Clan Kendrick Facebook Group at Facebook.com/groups/ClanKendrick.

BUY LINKS

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google

Blog Tour and #bookreview Inglestone Manor #childrensmysteries #middlegradehistoricalfiction

BonnieReadsAndWrites7 Comments

BOOK REVIEW

It is 1944, and Lizzy, Charlie, and May ( known affectionately as Munch) have been evacuated from London for their safety. They are sent to Inglestone Manor at the specific request of the eccentric owner, although they have never met her. They soon encounter shady caretakers and hear of a lost treasure. As they begin to search for the treasure, they meet a mysterious boy and fight off an evil man. Does the treasure really exist?

I was immediately reminded of The Chronicles of Narnia, as three children are sent out of London during the blitz, meet an eccentric older person, and have an amazing adventure. But this tale is quite unique and different. It is such a well-written children’s story, revolving around an old mansion. The historical time period, the bombings, and the stress of evacuating for both children and parents are well described. The plot moves along briskly, and it is full of mystery and wonder. The villains are perfectly villainous from the start, and I love that so much. The main characters are likable and engaging. Lizzy is a fierce and protective older sister, and the conversations between Mrs. Inglestone and Munch are delightful. The cover is spookily endearing and will draw the reader in. Although this is a children’s book, adults will also love this treasure-seeking historical adventure.

My only criticism would be that the book blurb currently on Amazon definitely needs an edit and rewrite. It does not match the quality of the writing in the book at all.

My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Guyana, S. S. Saywack came to London with his family in 1962. Educated in North London, he studied information graphics at a London college and then worked as a graphic designer for many years. He later changed careers and became a teacher at a sixth-form college in East London. Taking early retirement, he turned to a third career and became an author. 

With a love for reading and history in general, he wrote his first novel that became the Mary Finch Series (four books for older children set in the fictional world of Sherlock Holmes and an additional chapter book to make five in total) and that was swiftly followed by Inglestone Manor.

He currently writes both children’s fiction and adult detective fiction.

Follow him at: Facebook | Twitter | Website

BUY LINKS

Amazon | Amazon UK

Book Promo: It Never Occurred To Her #Mystery #Thriller #ChristianFiction

BonnieReadsAndWrites1 Comment

*Not a book review

ItNeverOccuredtoher copy

Welcome to the book tour for It Never Occurred to Her by Michelle Jester! Read on for more info!

It Never Occurred to Her by Michelle Jester

It Never Occurred to Her Publication Date: November 28th, 2021 Genre: Mystery/ Thriller/ Christian Fiction For two years Gabriel has followed every lead, no matter how small, in the hope of finding his wife who has been kidnapped. He and the police always seem to be one step behind, until investigators give him information that helps him launch the plan to find her. When Lena looks up into the eyes of her husband, who she hasn’t seen in two years, she is humiliated and wants nothing more than to run before he recognizes her. And so she does. It’s only when she faces a desperate situation that she is forced to return and ask for his help. As fate twists its way through both of their lives, they realize it doesn’t matter how much they have prepared to face the realities of losing someone, or finding them again, redemption is in letting go of the past and finding a future just off the beaten path. TW: Kidnapping/ Torture (Not Explicit) Available on Amazon

About the Author

Michelle Jester Author Photo88 - sq Michelle Jester lives in Louisiana with her husband, high school sweetheart and retired Master Sergeant. She is contributing author to the #1 bestseller My Labor Pains Were Worse than Yours, and has been writing poems and stories for as long as she can remember. Michelle is a hopeless romantic who wears a bracelet with a single yellow, rubber duckie charm on it to remind her to enjoy the fun and happy things of life!

Michelle Jester | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

It Never Occurred to Her 101 (4)

Book Tour Schedule

April 18th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

@geauxgetlit (Review) https://www.instagram.com/geauxgetlit/

@itsabookthing2021 (Spotlight) http://www.instagram.com/itsabookthing2021

April 19th

@definitelynotreading (Review) https://www.instagram.com/definitelynotreading/

@honeydukesbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/honeydukesbooks/

@tabithabouldin (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/tabithabouldin/

April 20th

@amber.bunch_author (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

FUONLYKNEW (Spotlight) http://fuonlyknew.com/

Bunny’s Reviews (Spotlight) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

@booksintheirnaturalhabitat (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/booksintheirnaturalhabitat/

@hodophile_z (Review) https://www.instagram.com/hodophile_z/

The Book Review Crew (Review) https://thebookreviewcrew.com/

April 21st

Bonnie Reads & Writes (Spotlight) https://bonniereadsandwrites.wordpress.com

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

@gryffindorbookishnerd (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/

@mels_booksandhooks (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/mels_booksandhooks/

April 22nd

@infinite.readlist (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/infinite.readlist/

Misty’s Book Space (Spotlight) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

@thrillersandcoffee (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/thrillersandcoffee/

@jacleomik33 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/jacleomik33/

@ofmoviesandbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/ofmoviesandbooks/

Book Tour Organized By: R&R Button R&R Book Tours

Blog Tour and Book Review: Lady Odelia’s Secret

BonnieReadsAndWrites2 Comments

Lady Odelia’s Secret by Jane Steen

Publication Date: March 7, 2022 Aspidistra Press Genre: Historical Mystery Series: Scott-De Quincy Mysteries, #2     Do you ever really know your family? In the 1880s a sixth daughter learns not to ask for much, even if she’s the daughter of an earl. Even if she married the richest man in her corner of Sussex. Even if she’s now a widow with a splendid Georgian mansion. Lady Helena Whitcombe is still trying to adjust to widowhood and reconcile her family loyalties with her desires when her artist sister Odelia makes a startling suggestion. Why not make her mark on the house that’s now all hers, by commissioning a magnificent work of art from one of London’s most celebrated painters? Lady Odelia invites Helena into the seductive world of medieval fantasies and fairy tales she has inhabited since Helena was a child. But when a shocking series of events exposes the destructive reality of a great artist’s unusual lifestyle, Helena and her lady’s maid Guttridge are called on to help—or is it to interfere? Looming danger, the risk of scandal, and competing loyalties force Helena to re-evaluate her relationship with the sister she’s always loved the most. What is Lady Odelia’s secret? Find out in this gripping continuation of the Scott-De Quincy Mysteries, a story that blends mystery and historical detail with Downton Abbey-style saga as the truths about Helena’s aristocratic family unfold. Read it now before the secret gets out!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Jane Steen writes series set in the late Victorian period, with an unputdownable blend of mystery, family saga, romance, and the real-life issues facing women of the era. She is an indie author who began her career while living in Illinois, later moving with her American husband to her native England. When not working, she can be found walking through the green and muddy Sussex countryside, getting her cobwebs blown away on the nearby beaches, lovingly tending her garden, or sticking her nose into yet another book. For more information, please visit Jane Steen’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, April 4 Review at Coffee and Ink Interview at Novels Alive Review at Gwendalyn’s Books Tuesday, April 5 Review at Bonnie Reads and Writes Wednesday, April 6 Interview at Passages to the Past Thursday, April 7 Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective Friday, April 8 Review at Novels Alive Review at View from the Birdhouse

Giveaway

9 winners will receive an eBook of Lady Odelia’s Secret and the main prize winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift card & eBook of Lady Odelia’s Secret. The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on April 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Lady Odelia’s Secret https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

BOOK REVIEW

Lady Helena Whitcomb is the sixth daughter of an earl, but the widow of a very rich man. She is struggling to start her life over after the death of her husband. She decides to commission an artist, Sir Geraint Dorrian-Knowles, to create works of art for a room in her home. Dorrian-Knowles is enthusiastically recommended by Helena’s sister Odelia. The artist begins his work, and shock, intrigue, deception, and murder follow. Along the way, Odelia’s secret comes to light. This is the second book in the Scott-De Quincy Mystery Series.

Although this is a Victorian mystery, it is even more about the dynamics of a large, entitled family in 1880s Britain. The relationship between Helena and her older sister Odelia is interesting and sometimes fun, as Odelia tends to shock the much more conservative Helena. Helena and her ladies maid Guttridge work well together as amateur sleuths. The art world of that time, and all its excesses, is explored. The mystery is compelling and there are plenty of shocks to be had. There’s a bit of romance and hints of debauchery. Fans of mysteries and the Victorian era may enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via HFVBT Book Tours. My review is voluntary. My opinions are my own.

Self-Published Saturday: Loveda Brown: The Lover’s Knot #HistoricalMystery #Freebook

BonnieReadsAndWrites4 Comments

Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help self-published authors with one of their most daunting tasks of all–marketing. If I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do it. Below is a book description, review and buy links for Lover’s Knot, the fifth book in the Idyllwild Mystery Series by Jolie Tunnell.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Loveda Brown is a bridesmaid in the tiny mountainside town of Idyllwild, California, as yet the Wild West of 1912, but with the wedding only three days away, a guest drops face-first into the chicken salad. Is it misdiagnosis or murder? Between a fortune teller, a nosy newspaper reporter, four physicians, and an overbearing aunty, Loveda wanders a maze of deceit to uncover the killer before the bride pays the ultimate price for a secret in the groom’s past.

BOOK REVIEW

Loveda Brown, Lover’s Knot is the fifth book in a series but can easily be read as a standalone. Although I had not read any books in this series before, I was easily swept into this novel, with its quirky cast of characters and compelling storyline. Loveda is a strong woman at a time when men ruled the roost, and she is quick to sniff out a mystery. When a woman dies under suspicious circumstances, Loveda is not content with the explanations of the men present and sets out to investigate for herself. Full of fun, intrigue, twists, turns, and even some fortune-telling, this book will keep you entertained. I found the writing to be exceptional. It grabs you and takes you on an adventure that can be both humorous and perilous. I felt transported back to 1912 to this tiny town in the west. Will I seek out the rest of this series to read? That’s no mystery. You bet I will.

My only slight criticism is on the cover. The cover itself is very pretty, especially when displayed in a set with the other books in the series. But the author’s name is too small and hardly visible. I suggest the author make her name larger on the cover. And that’s my only critique. Shout your name out, Jolie! You’re a talented writer.

I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited, but this book is FREE to everyone until midnight tonight! Get your copy while you can!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jolie Tunnell brings the past to life in a historical mystery series with a voice all her own. Author, freelance writer, blogger, and professional mom, she lives in Southern California with her hubby, five kids, and a pear-shaped cat. Minus the murders, Idyllwild has been her summer retreat for years.

Cozy up with a cuppa and enjoy her mountaintop mysteries with a feisty small-town community, hidden villains, and the unsinkable Loveda Brown. She offers readers a historical whodunnit with the flavor of turn-of-the-century Wild West.

Visit her website to find her blog, newsletter, sales calendar, and upcoming new releases!

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BUY LINKS

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Link To Buy Entire Series

*If you buy the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books.  Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.

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Self-Published Saturday: Free Ebook! #Songbird #freebook

BonnieReadsAndWrites11 Comments

Wanted to let you know that the ebook of Gail Meath’s fantastic historical mystery, Songbird, is FREE right now on Amazon and other retailers. It will be free until March 14th. Songbird is Book 1 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series, about a private detective, Jax, and his loyal sidekick, a savvy German Shepherd named Ace. Songbird is free right now in anticipation of Book 2, Framed, coming out soon. Be sure and pick up a copy. Remember to leave a review after you read it, as reviews are extremely important for the success of self-published authors.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Meet Jax Diamond, a sharp, sophisticated, skilled, no-nonsense private detective. Or is he? Glued to his side is his canine partner, Ace, a fierce and unrelenting German Shepherd whose mere presence terrorizes criminals into submission. Well, maybe not.

But the two of them are a whole lot smarter than they look. And they have their hands full when a playwright’s death is declared natural causes, and his new manuscript worth a million bucks is missing.

Laura Graystone, a beautiful rising Broadway star, is dragged into the heart of their investigation, and she’s none too happy about it. Especially when danger first strikes, and she needs to rely on her own ingenuity to save their hides.

Join Jax, Laura and Ace on a fun yet deadly ride during the Roaring Twenties that takes twists and turns, and a race against time to find the real murderer before he/she/they stop them permanently.

LINKS TO PICK UP SONGBIRD FOR FREE

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

BARNES AND NOBLE

KOBO

APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE BOOKS

Once you pick up this free book, remember to leave a review. Just a couple of lines is fine and will help this book succeed.