M.M. Hudson's Blog, page 59

Review & #Giveaway: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller by Cleo Coyle #CozyMysteries #CryptKeeper

The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) [image error]
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Berkley (September 25, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0425237451
ISBN-13: 978-0425237458
Digital ASIN: B078VX9SNF
Summary: Penelope Thornton-McClure and her bookshop's ghost-in-residence Jack Shepard are back on a new case in this delightful paranormal mystery from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.
A big bestseller leads to small town trouble.
Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure didn't believe in ghosts until she was haunted by the hard-boiled spirit of 1940s private investigator Jack Shepard. Now Jack is back on the job, and Pen is eternally grateful...
After an elegant new customer has a breakdown in her shop, Penelope suspects there is something bogus behind the biggest bestseller of the year. This popular potboiler is so hot that folks in her tiny Rhode Island town are dying to read it--literally. First one customer turns up dead, followed by another mysterious fatality connected to the book, which Pen discovers is more than just fiction. Now, with the help of her gumshoe ghost, Pen must solve the real-life cold case behind the bogus bestseller before the killer closes the book on her.


My review:
This stand-alone book was an enjoyable read. I was able to take my time with the book and really get to know the characters and dive into their realities. I loved that the book takes place in a bookshop. Sweet!

I loved the strong characteristics of the main character, Penelope and her ghostly friend, Jack. 
Jack, although rough and tough, had a sentimental side when it comes to Penelope. It was, however, hard to see him as truly a ghost that only Penelope could hear. In "real" life, they could have easily been lovers as well.

I liked the switch back to the 1940's to give clues to the present. I have seen other authors do this but it was done very well by this author. It also allowed Jack to be a real person and not a ghost. The description of him was spot on.

There were hints to who the killer might have been but I truly did not know until the end and that too was fun for me because it kept me wanting to read the book. Just as I thought it was one person, that person was proven to be innocent. I loved all of the twistings of characters together.

This is a terrific book, a nice little cozy to read for Halloween too.
Overall, I give the book 4 stars.

Disclosure: This review is part of a book tour for the authors. I received a copy of this book from the authors but my review is 100% my own opinion and may be different from yours.
~Michelle aka Naila Moon

Where to find the author:



Cleo Coyle is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the Coffeehouse Mysteries--now celebrating nearly fifteen years in print. They also write the nationally bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, which were originally published under their second pseudonym, Alice Kimberly (The Ghost and Mrs. McClure, The Ghost and the Dead Deb, The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library, The Ghost and the Femme Fatale, The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion). Alice has worked as a journalist in Washington, DC, and New York, and has written popular fiction for adults and children. A former magazine editor, Marc has authored espionage thrillers and nonfiction for adults and children. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together. You can learn more about Cleo, her husband, and the books they write by visiting www.CoffeehouseMystery.com .
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Giveaway:
Michelle aka Naila Moon of Reading authors is not responsible for the giveaway from this author. For rules see the Rafflecopter or the tour page.



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#Review: Splotch by Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks #middlegrade

Summary:

Alice’s parents refuse to let her have a dog, so when Alice sees a paint stain on the sidewalk that looks like a dog, she decides that she will make him a virtual pet. She calls him Splotch and downloads a picture of him on her computer. To her surprise, he escapes from the computer and begins to act as Alice’s self-appointed protector. Unfortunately, he sees most people as potential enemies of Alice, including her teacher and the principal, and he is not shy about giving those various enemies a bite. When Splotch starts to attack Alice’s best friend, Alice knows there is a big problem.

My review:

This is the 3rd book in a middle-grade series of books. It is a chapter book with no pictures. For some reason, I thought originally it was a simple picture book but glad that it was not. It is a stand-alone book which was great since I have not read the other two books prior to this one.

Alice is a middle-grade girl with a big imagination, a whole lot of wants, and seemingly a whole lot of enemies. Splotch is truly from her imagination but is also very real in the protection of her from her "enemies".  Having this guard dog gets her into a whole lot of trouble too.

Through the various issues Alice deals with, she becomes to understand that maybe the things she thought were true are not exactly as they seem. Just maybe all the people who she sees as enemies are actually people who are truly on her side.

I could see kids who are trying to figure out this thing we call life. working through many of the same issues Alice has. All kids want to be like, smart, and confident in their abilities. Often we adults tend to squelch those things or expect kids to be growing up fast in a fast-paced world. This is not easy for anyone and kids need to feel in control. 

I enjoyed following along to see what Splotch may have looked like. I could put myself in the place of Alice and how she felt about different situations. Ultimately, I could see through Alice's eyes, how friends are everything and having even more than one is the best.  Imagination is awesome and something kids can control, even if it happens to be a dog that bites.

I liked this cute book. 3 stars.

Disclosure: I received a Kindle copy of this book from the author. I chose to review as part of a virtual tour. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle aka Naila Moon

Where to find the authors:

Amazon
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Are You Participating? #somethingwickedfall #readathon

Every year, Michelle, from True Book Addict kicks off her annual read-a-thon of Fright Fall. It is fun to read spooky sometimes. Usually though, mine is more for the younger set but still...

This year (in fact it is going on right now) she has included a kick-off of sorts. It is a 48-hour read-a-thon in which scary/horror is suggested but not required. There are no prizes for this one but just a fun time. I am on it!



As part of this, I have already finished a collection of spooky by the author, John Paul Allen called Dark Blessings. It is a short story collection but a few will give you goosebumps.

The other book I am reading and getting ready to finish is by the author, Scott Kenemore called The Zen of Zombie.  It is actually more humorous than scary but hey, it's about zombies!

There are a few hours left for this read-a-thon. Join in if you want. At least tell me what you are reading.

Happy reading,
Michelle aka Naila Moon

#Spotlight: Disorderly Conduct by Mary Feliz #CozyMysteries

Disorderly Conduct (A Maggie McDonald Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Lyrical Underground (July 10, 2018)
Print Length: 233 pages
ASIN: B076GNYKM8

Professional organizer Maggie McDonald manages to balance a fastidious career with friends, family, and a spunky Golden Retriever. But add a fiery murder mystery to the mix, and Maggie wonders if she’s finally found a mess even she can’t tidy up . . .With a devastating wildfire spreading to Silicon Valley, Maggie preps her family for a rapid evacuation. The heat rises when firefighters discovered the body of her best friend Tess Olmos’s athletic husband—whose untimely death was anything but accidental. And as Tess agonizes over the whereabouts of her spouse’s drop-dead gorgeous running mate, she becomes the prime suspect in what’s shaping up to become a double murder case. Determined to set the record straight, Maggie sorts through clues in an investigation more dangerous than the flames approaching her home. But when her own loved ones are threatened, can she catch the meticulous killer before everything falls apart?About the AuthorMary Feliz writes the Maggie McDonald Mysteries featuring a Silicon Valley professional organizer and her sidekick golden retriever. She’s worked for Fortune 500 firms and mom and pop enterprises competed in whaleboat races and done synchronized swimming. She attends organizing conferences in her character’s stead, but Maggie’s skills leave her in the dust.
Author Links:Website: www.maryfeliz.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryFelizBooks
Purchase Links: Amazon     B&N  

#Review: Crappy to Happy: Small Steps to Big Happiness Now! by Randy Peyser #selfhelp

Crappy to Happy: Small Steps to Big Happiness NOW! by Randy Peyser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read a few self-help books in my years of reading and I must say, this is one of the most humorous I have ever read.

Randy (who is a woman) writes in five major sections breaking each section into several chapters. Each chapter begins with a "story" that is often humorous but very real.

After the story, she will summarize it by telling the reader exactly how to take steps to make life happier right now, this very minute.

At the end of the book, she essentially summarizes each of the steps quickly so that they are once again fresh in the mind.

I liked the humor this author had which made what could have been another self-help boredom into something wanted to be read again and again. She was real with her stories and you truly felt like you understood and wanted to return the book to her to tell her, "read this!"

Overall a good book which is why I gave it 4 stars.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collections. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle aka Naila Moon

View all my reviews

#Review: Led Zeppelin Crashed Here by Chris Epting #history #landmarks #music

Summary:
In Led Zeppelin Crashed Here: The Rock and Roll Landmarks of North America, pop culture historian Chris Epting takes you on a journey across North America to the exact locations where rock and roll history was made. Epting has compiled nearly 600 rock and roll landmarks, combining historical information with trivia, photos, and backstage lore, all with the enthusiasm of a true rock and roll devotee. No other book delivers such an extensive list of rock and roll landmarks—from beginnings (the site where Elvis got his first guitar), to endings (the hotel where Janis Joplin died), and everything in between. The rowdiest and the most talented rockers are all featured, with sidebars on musical greats like Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and U2. And, of course, you’ll learn all about the infamous “Riot House” on the Sunset Strip where Led Zeppelin “crashed.”
12345My review:Although this book is an excellent source for musical nature, I found it also to be quite cumbersome to read. The book has 327 pages of musical trivia and facts ranging in particular singers or bands to where they died. In defense of the author though, he did an excellent job in his research and the book is not meant to be read as a novel but as a source for the musical aficionado. 

The content is divided up into sections beginning alphabetically with singers and bands, then goes through places, landmarks, deaths, memorials. He includes photos, addresses, and phone numbers when at all possible. In the back of the book, the author lists 100 songs for the classic road trip and albums (just in case you want to listen to the whole thing), his own personal top 25, and a list of musical stores across the country.

This book no doubt has it all and that is why it gets 4 stars from me. 

Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book at my local library. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle aka Naila Moon

Where to find the author:

Amazon
A pop culture (and baseball) history aficionado, Chris has a lifelong penchant for documenting the exact sites where things both great and small occurred. As an author, Epting has found that unearthing and chronicling ‘hidden’ locations offers him a challenge. What began as an inquisitive hobby soon developed into the writing and photographing of 14 books based on his discoveries.

#Review & #Giveaway: The Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester #blogtour Ends 9/1/18

Book Details
Genre: Fiction
Published by: The Story Plant  Publication Date: June 12th, 2018 Number of Pages: 285 ISBN: 1611882605 (ISBN13: 9781611882605) Purchase Links:   Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, & Goodreads


Summary:


Mac Anderson holds life in the palm of his hand. He has a beautiful wife, three loving children, a comfortable home, and a successful career. Everything is perfect―or so it seems. Tragically, Mac is destined to learn that any sense of security can quickly prove false. Because an invisible enemy called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has invaded Mac's fragile mind and it is about to drop him to his knees. He does all he can to conceal his inner chaos but to no avail. Left to contend with ignorance, an insensitive justice system, and the struggles of an invisible disease, he loses everything―most importantly his family.One shoebox might store an old pair of sneakers. Two shoeboxes might contain a lifetime of photographs. But in Three Shoeboxes, a father's undying love may be just enough to make things right again.
My review:
One of the things I try not to do when reading Steven Manchester's books is read the summary. This is so I can read without any clear idea what his books are about. Now, I know I already put the summary here for you to read but this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The author dug deep with this one and like many of the other books I have read, it almost seems like a personal journal but, that is the beauty of Steven Manchester's writing. PTSD is discussed in depth in the book and what it takes to overcome such a disorder. Steven Manchester once again brilliantly writes about a subject that is not only hard to digest for some but is very real in this day and time.
The main characters had everything, the life that every man or woman would ever want it seems. One magical night after a 15th wedding anniversary turns into a tragic tailspin. So much distrust, miscommunication, and mind-altering chaos turn this once loving family into a complete nightmare. His only saving grace is the love of his children.
Will they manage to ride the waves to healing? Will love conquer all through the gifts of shoeboxes? Ah, that my friends is why you have to read this excellent book!
I cannot begin to say enough here but this, pick up the book, read it, and breathe it in as only you can when reading this authors book. This is certainly a winner!
5 stars!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle aka Naila Moon
For the giveaway for this tour, see below.
About the author:
Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months,  The Rockin’ Chair , Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island, the national bestseller  Ashes , and the novels  Goodnight, Brian  and The Changing Season. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning, and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.Connect with Steven at: stevenmanchester.com | Twitter - @AuthorSteveM | Facebook - @AuthorStevenManchesterGiveawayThis is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester and The Story Plant. Michelle aka Naila Moon of Reading Authors is not responsible for prize shipment. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card AND 3 winners of one (1) print copy of Ashes by Steven Manchester. The giveaway begins on July 1 and runs through September 1, 2018. 





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#Spotlight & #Giveaway: What Does God Sound Like? by #BernieDiPasquale @iReadBookTours @AuthorBernieD

Book Details:

Book Title: What Does God Sound Like? by Bernie DiPasquale
Category: Children's Fiction, 34 pages
Genre: Children's Books, Values & Virtues, Christian Books
Publisher: Mindstir Media
Release date: September 14, 2016
Tour dates: June 25 to July 20, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

We tell our kids that God is everywhere. Pray and maybe He will answer. But if God is everywhere and has created all things, then He must be talking to us all the time. This is my short story to help my Grandchildren understand they can talk with God all day, every day, everywhere.




Buy the Book:Amazon ~  Add to Goodreads
Watch the trailer:



Meet the Author:


Bernie was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and now resides in Joppa, a small community just a bit north up the I-95 corridor. He has spent his entire professional career in Education and Financial Services. More importantly, he is a Husband, Father, and Grandfather to a beautiful family.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook 

Enter the Giveaway!Ends July 28, 2018

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#Spotlight: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid by Sandi Smith #SandiSmith #NewAdventuresofARAchnid

Book Details:

Book Title: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Revised Edition)
Author: Sandi Smith
Illustrator: Kathy Lee
Category: Children's Fiction, 126 pages
Genre: Children's Chapter Book, Animals, Bugs & Spiders
Publisher: Mindstir Media
Release date: January 3, 2017
Tour dates: June 18 to July 13, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Harold! There goes that spider! See, he is running on the floor! That spider has to go. He cannot live here anymore!!! Oh, no! Beth looks very, very angry. What has A.R. Achnid done now? Well, before A.R. got into big trouble with Beth, he had a lot of wonderful adventures.

There are ten different adventures in this book. There is the time he went to the circus and rode on a balloon and then had some shoo fly pie. Another day, A.R. and Rex (a Great Dane, who is A.R.’s best friend) decided to walk all the way into town, and they had such a wonderful time. Then, A.R. and his family went to New York City for the biggest craft fair ever (which was for spiders only), plus many, many other adventures.

Unfortunately, in the tenth story, A.R.’s current living situation is going to need an adjustment. Something changes in the lives of Harold and Beth (the humans) that will make things very difficult for A.R. Come along with A.R. for some fun, and find out what small bundle will cause problems for A.R. and his family.

As A.R. says, “Spiders rule!”

To follow the tour, please visit Sandi Smith's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble Add to Goodreads
Watch the book trailer:


Meet the Author:


Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series.

Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook 


Enter the Giveaway!Ends July 21, 2018

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#Review: You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner #Deaf #DeafCulture #StreetArt #YA

Summary:
When Julia finds a slur about her best friend scrawled across the back of the Kingston School for the Deaf, she covers it up with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural.

Her supposed best friend snitches, the principal expels her, and her two mothers set Julia up with a one-way ticket to a “mainstream” school in the suburbs, where she’s treated like an outcast as the only deaf student. The last thing she has left is her art, and not even Banksy himself could convince her to give that up.

Out in the ’burbs, Julia paints anywhere she can, eager to claim some turf of her own. But Julia soon learns that she might not be the only vandal in town. Someone is adding to her tags, making them better, showing off—and showing Julia up in the process. She expected her art might get painted over by cops. But she never imagined getting dragged into a full-blown graffiti war.


My review:
This YA book is one of the best I have read and that I simply could not put down once I started reading it. The main character, Julia, is a street artist that is Deaf. That alone made me intrigued by the book as there are very few books written with the main character being Deaf.
In addition, Julia has two moms who are also Deaf.

Julia finds great solace in her street art and takes great pains to make her art just right. However, in a new community, she finds that someone had decided to take Julia on, and tags her art by one-upping her. Who is this person or persons? Why have they chosen her? If they are so good, why don't they do their own work?

The book drops hints throughout who the person or persons might be. However, the twist was so well done that I did not know until near the end of the book.

The author does an amazing job of immersing the reader into the Deaf culture as well. She illustrates how people often interact with Deaf people and give a peek into what it is like for the person.

The author also gives a hint what it may be like having same-sexed parents but does not make that big of a deal over it. It could, however, leave open a possible sequel to this book and a continuation of where the book left off.

I highly recommend this book for young adults and adults to read. There is certainly much discussion that could come from this book as well.

5 stars!

Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book from my local library. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle aka Naila Moon

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