Jean M. Roberts's Blog, page 18
August 9, 2023
Book Tour: Things Get Ugly by Joe R. Lansdale
THINGS GET UGLY:The Best Crime Stories ofJoe R. LansdaleCrime Fiction / Mystery / Short StoriesPublisher: Tachyon PublicationsDate of Publication: August 15, 2023Number of Pages: 352 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
Edgar Award winner Joe R. Lansdale (the Hap and Leonard series) returns to the piney, dangerous woods of East Texas. In this career retrospective of his best crime stories, Lansdale shows exactly why critics continue to compare him to Elmore Leonard, Donald Westlake, Flannery O’Connor, and William Faulkner.In the 1950s, a young small-town projectionist mixes it up with a violent gang. When Mr. Bear is not alerting us to the dangers of forest fires, he lives a life of debauchery and murder. A brother and sister travel to Oklahoma to recover the dead body of their uncle. A lonely man engages in dubious acts while pining for his rubber duckie.In this collection of nineteen unforgettable crime tales, Joe R. Lansdale brings his legendary mojo and witty grit to harrowing heists, revenge, homicide, and mayhem. No matter how they begin, things are bound to get ugly—and fast.PRAISE FOR THINGS GET UGLY:“A terrifically gifted storyteller.” -– Washington Post Book Review
“One of the best crime writers in the business.” -- Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Revelators
“While Lansdale’s work is as varied as the regions of Texas, there is one common link through it all: his brilliant storytelling.” –- Grimdark Magazine
Click to Purchase!Tachyon Publications│Signed & Personalized
Joe R. Lansdale (Savage Season, The Donut Legion) is the internationally bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including the popular, long-running Hap and Leonard novels. Many of his cult classics have been adapted for television and film, most famously the films Bubba Ho-Tep and Cold in July and the Hap and Leonard series on Sundance TV and Netflix. Lansdale has written numerous screenplays and teleplays, including for the iconic Batman: The Animated Series. He has won an Edgar Award for The Bottoms and ten Stoker Awards, and he has been designated a World Horror Grandmaster. Lansdale, like many of his characters, lives in East Texas, with his wife, Karen.◆ WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ FACEBOOK ◆◆ TWITTER ◆ AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆ BOOKBUB ◆~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.jpg)
The short story: Violent, clever, at times funny, crime stories
Things Get Ugly by crime author Lansdale is a compilation of his best short stories and together they pack quite a punch. If you are not familiar with the setting of Lansdale’s characters, prepare yourself; it's a dark, gritty, dog-eat-dog world and not for the faint of heart. Lansdale drills down into the genesis of crime: greed, jealousy, desperation and a total absence of morality. His characters are laced with violence, anger, a strong survival instinct and a total lack of compassion for their fellow humans. For every bad dude there’s an ever badder one lurking around the corner. Most would probably terrify their psychiatrist, if they had one.
The stories, for the most part, are set in rural Texas locations which lends them a Deliverance vibe. Most are contemporary but my favorite, Driving to Geronimo’s Grave, is set in the past and is laugh out loud funny with a killer ending.
It’s not just the humans that are committing the crimes, as the author offers up stories of talking bears, ghosts and ghouls. Nothing and no one is off limits.
Well crafted with a stiletto sharp wit, Lansdale carves up his victims with imaginative glee, dispatching them in the most horrific of manners. Hannibal could take lessons from this book.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! THREE WINNERS: Each receives print copies of Things Get Ugly & Born for Trouble (US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/18/23)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, or visit the blogs directly:
08/08/23
Review
08/08/23
Excerpt
08/09/23
Review
08/09/23
BONUS Stop
08/10/23
Review
08/11/23
Review
08/12/23
Review
08/13/23
The Real World According to Sam
Review
08/14/23
Review
08/15/23
Review
08/15/23
Excerpt
08/16/23
Review
08/17/23
Review
blog tour services provided by
July 24, 2023
Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway: For the Minds and Wills of Men by Jeff Lanier
FOR THE MINDSAND WILLS OF MENby
Jeff Lanier
Mystery / Art HistoryPublisher: Boyle & DaltonDate of Publication: October 16, 2022Number of Pages: 310 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
A gripping, historical art mystery set in 1950s New York, For the Minds and Wills of Men is a story of art, love, and Cold War fear, suspicion, and betrayal. MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client's daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left...
With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.
PRAISE FOR FOR THE MINDS ANDWILLS OF MEN
*2023INDIEREADER AWARD WINNER: 1ST PLACE FICTION*
"Lanier brilliantly evokes the energy andexcitement of the New York art world in this Cold War thriller with an artistictwist. Along the way, he gives us fascinating insights into AbstractExpressionism and the power of art to communicate values and ideas." -RossKing, Acclaimed art historian and NewYork Times bestselling author of The Judgment of Paris, Brunelleschi's Dome,and Michelangelo and The Pope's Ceiling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.jpg)
The Short Story: Intricately plotted multilayered mystery
My Review: WWII vet Will Oxley works as an art insurance agent. A stolen Jackson Pollock painting sends him on a wild hunt for the missing painting, diving into the New York art scene, seedy bars, and hobnobbing with elite society all while dealing with a bad case of PTSD. He has no idea what he’s getting into.
For the Minds and Wills of Men is a fast-paced densely plotted thriller; I found it hard to put down. Author Jeff Lanier wields his palette of words to layer his story with art history, McCarthyism and the communist hysteria that swept the nation in the 1940s and 50s, the creation of the C.I.A. and tops it off with a romance! Woven into the story are the leading artists of the day from Pollock to Willem de Kooning, including descriptions of their thought processes and how they executed their art. There’s a deep dive into the anticommunist movement and the lengths groups went to spy on artists and others suspected of communist ties. Janier does an amazing job of flavoring his story with 1950s culture, the rich, the poor, race relations, and he touches on the effects of war on the men returning from WWII.
It’s an ambitious narrative but it’s clear that the author has done his research and knows his stuff. Well written, entertaining without reading like a dry history lesson, it feels authentic and reads like a trip back in time. I think this would make a fantastic movie. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who enjoy a meaty story they can savor.
I rate this book 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click to Purchase!Amazon │Barnes & Noble │ Bookshop.org │More Purchase Options
View on YouTube
Jeff Lanier is an award-winning author. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and art History at the University of Texas, Austin, with a focus on the History of American Culture through Art and Literature. He has a master’s from Rice University, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, and currently lives in Houston with his wife and three children. ◆ WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆◆ AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆
--------------------------------------
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!ONE WINNER: Autographed hardcover copy ofFor the Minds and Wills of Men(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/4/23)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGEFOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, or visit the blogs directly:
07/25/23
Review
07/25/23
Review
07/25/23
BONUS Stop
07/26/23
Excerpt
07/26/23
Review
07/26/23
BONUS Stop
07/27/23
Review
07/28/23
Scrapbook Page
07/28/23
Review
07/29/23
Review
07/30/23
Excerpt
07/31/23
Review
08/01/23
Book Club Kit
08/01/23
Review
08/02/23
Review
08/03/23
Review
08/03/23
Review
blog tour services provided by
July 19, 2023
The Godmother's Secret Audiobook by Elizabeth St. John
Welcometo The Book’s Delight and the blog tour for The Godmother’s Secret audiobook writtenand read by Elizabeth St.John. I read the book last year and it was great!
The Details:
Ebook & Paperback:
BookTitle: The Godmother’s Secret
Author: Elizabeth St.John
PublicationDate: 4th October, 2022 (print)
Publisher:Falcon Historical (print)
PageLength: 361 pages
Genre:Historical Fiction
Audiobook:
Narrator:Elizabeth St.John
PublicationDate: 27th June, 2023 (audio)
Publisher:Tantor Media (audio)
AudioLength: 11 hours 59 minutes
Audiobook narrated by Elizabeth St.John
The Blurb:
"Anextremely well-written book with depth and complexity to the main characters.The author says she wanted to write a book about family love and tolerance, anda woman's loyalty and courage. She has done so. This is the best book I've readin ages!"
The Ricardian Bulletin, Richard III Society
"Theauthenticity and historical research displayed within this story is immense andexquisite. Ms. St. John is sure to be a newfound favorite for fans of not onlythis fractious time in English history, but of all historical fans who adorerich, immersive prose."
Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book of the Year
"A very enjoyable read. The historical veracity is impeccable, andElysabeth is a likeable, admirable character who faces interesting dilemmaswith love and courage."
Historical Novel Society
If you knew the fate of the Princes in the Tower,would you tell? Or forever keep the secret?
May1483: The Tower of London. When King Edward IV dies and Lady ElysabethScrope delivers her young godson, Edward V, into the Tower of London to preparefor his coronation, she is engulfed in political turmoil. Within months, theprince and his brother have disappeared, Richard III is declared king, andElysabeth’s sister Margaret Beaufort conspires with her son Henry Tudor toinvade England and claim the throne.
Desperate to protect her godson, Elysabeth battles the intrigue, betrayal, andpower of the last medieval court, defying her Yorkist husband and herLancastrian sister under her godmother’s sacred oath to keep Prince Edwardsafe. Bound by blood and rent by honour, Elysabeth is torn between King Richardand Margaret Beaufort, knowing that if her loyalty is questioned, she is inperil of losing everything—including her life.
Were the princes murdered by their uncle, Richard III? Did Margaret Beaufortmastermind their disappearance to usher in the Tudor dynasty? Or did the youngboys vanish for their own safety? Of anyone at the royal court, Elysabeth hasthe most to lose–and the most to gain–by keeping secret the fate of the Princesin the Tower.
Inspired by England’s most enduring historical mystery, Elizabeth St.Johnblends her family history with known facts and centuries of speculation tocreate an intriguing story about what happened to the Princes in the Tower.
Buy Links:
AudiobookBuy Link: https://geni.us/TGSAudible
Theebook is available to read on Kindle Unlimited.
UniversalBuy Link: https://geni.us/GodmothersSecret
Author Bio:
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimedhistorical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinarywomen whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings anintimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives andresidences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much ofher time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. Andencountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, andthe past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of LydiardPark, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautifulcenturies-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives,she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her nextnovel.
Elizabeth's books include her trilogy,The Lydiard Chronicles, set in 17th Century England during the Civil War, andher newest release, The Godmother's Secret, which explores the medieval mysteryof the missing Princes in the Tower of London.
Follow Elizabeth St.John on Social Media:
Website: http://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizStJohn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-st-john
AmazonAuthor Page: https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn
Goodreads:https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn
July 6, 2023
Liverpool by Ged Melia
Liverpool by Ged Melia
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical Fiction
Published: July 2023
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
Pages: 346
Available: Kindle, Paperback
Series: Yes
Romance:♥️ Nothing too graphic (have a dictionary handy)
Violence: 😨 Appropriate for the story, nothing too graphic
Book Cover: Don't like. I really don't think this cover does the book justice.
Thank you to the author Ged Melia for a complimentary copy of his book.
The short story: Heartrending story of an Irish family fleeing their country for the chance of a better life, but not finding it.
Liverpool is the story of an Irish family, Edward and Bridget O’Mhaille, and their children, especially their eldest son, Austin. But the story could be that of any Irish family who fled their homeland in the 1840s and 1850s, in an effort to make a better life for themselves and their children. Ruthless landlords have driven them into abject poverty and many are starving from the devastating potato blight. What awaits them in Liverpool is scarcely better.
Author Ged Melia based this story on that of his ancestors and as my own ancestors traveled a similar path, leaving Ireland for Manchester where they worked in the mills, I was intrigued to see how he crafted a narrative based on their lives. Melia has clearly done his research and I’m sure if you’re familiar with Liverpool you’ll get a real sense of the place as it was one hundred and fifty years ago. Political and social issues help flesh out the lives of the O’Mhaille clan.
While very interesting and well written, to me, the book reads as a running fictionalized biography of multiple generations of the O’Mhaille family rather than a story in the classic sense, including the typical elements of rising action, climax and resolution.
Liverpool is not an easy read. The subject matter is dark and the plight of these poor people is really heartbreaking. You keep hoping something good will happen. There are brief moments of happiness; a wedding, a christening, a holiday, but then it’s right back to the daily grind of living hand to mouth.
I found Liverpool to be well written but it’s told in 3rd person omniscient which is not a POV that I particularly enjoy. And while I can’t call it entertaining, it was highly informative and gave me a deeper understanding of the lives my ancestors, and what they endured at that time.
I highly recommend this book to history lovers looking to learn more about the Irish flight during the Potato Famine, life in England for the working class poor, and Irish history.
I rate this book: 4 ½ Stars (rounded up for Amazon.)
July 4, 2023
Dreams of Arcadia by Brian Porter
Contemporary FictionPublisher: Legacy Book PressDate of Publication: June 27, 2023Number of Pages: 222 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
Veterinarian Nate Holub takes a job in his father’s Texas hometown, wondering if a city boy has what it takes to be a country vet. As he struggles to adapt, Nate reconnects with his family and discovers that his father’s accidental death thirty years earlier was much more complicated than he realized.Nate delves into the past, afraid of what he might find. He encounters a resentful cousin, a wary town patriarch, a reclusive uncle, a beguiling hidden garden, and a mysterious illness. Nate is drawn to the Holub family farm, where he seeks refuge in nature and tries desperately to reach Viola, his inscrutable grandmother. The farm is a place that haunts his memory, a place where dark secrets dwell.
Dreams of Arcadia is a touching portrait of an American family. It explores the enduring ties that hold us together and bind us to the land.
Click to Purchase! Amazon│Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org │ Kobo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.jpg)
Thank you to LSBBT and Brian Porter for a review copy of this book.
The Short Story: Dreamy, Restless, Unsettled ~ I loved it.
Houston veterinarian Nate Holub finds himself untethered from the life he knew. Divorced from a woman he still loves, he fears he’s losing his relationship with his teenage daughters. An uncle dies and Nate attends the funeral, held in his father’s hometown in rural Texas. Out of the blue, the local vet offers Nate a job. Drawn to the place by his childhood memories and the mystery of his own father’s death, Nate agrees.
Nate struggles to adjust to the difficulties of rural vet work, the long hours, the loneliness, and the suspicions of his new customers and neighbors, he doubts his ability to fit in. Stll, he’s able to forge deeper relationships with some of his family including his aged grandmother, Viola, and he begins to investigate the circumstances of his father’s tragic death, uncovering shocking family secrets as he does.
I loved this book! From the descriptive prose of the Texas countryside, the tender but realistic handling of family relationships, the budding love story drawn in a slow-arcing dance between two people wary of getting hurt, it was a pleasure to read and savor. At the heart of the story is the mystery of Nate’s father’s death, the repercussions of which are still felt in the sleepy town of Hadlow, and the resolution will shock you. All in all, a super read.
I highly recommend this book to readers who love a great story, well written, well plotted and one that lingers in the memory well after the last page is turned.
Brian Porter lives in College Station, Texas, where he works as a veterinary pathologist. He previously worked in private veterinary practice and once taught high school chemistry. Dreams of Arcadia is his first novel.
◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ FACEBOOK ◆◆ AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆ BOOKBUB ◆
--------------------------------------GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!THREE WINNERS:Signed copy of Dreams of Arcadia(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 7/7/23)
a Rafflecopter giveawayCLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGEFOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, or visit the blogs directly:
06/27/23
Excerpt
06/27/23
BONUS Stop
06/28/23
Review
06/28/23
BONUS Stop
06/29/23
Notable Quotables
06/30/23
Review
07/01/23
Review
07/02/23
Author Interview
07/03/23
Review
07/04/23
Deleted Scene
07/05/23
Review
07/06/23
Review
blog tour servicesprovided by
June 25, 2023
Blog Hop: Whiskey On Our Shoes by Tonya Preece
WHISKEY ON OUR SHOESbyTonya PreeceContemporary Romance / New AdultPublisher: Champagne Book GroupPage Count: 238 pagesPublication Date: February 12, 2023
Scroll down for a giveaway!
Eva dodges the fans, media, and gossip that follow her supermodel mom and rock star family members by wearing disguises. After an aimless gap year, she struggles to figure out what she wants from life. She moves in with her famous guitar god brother in Austin while he recovers from a drunken stage stunt accident and tries to stay sober. When a hot Texas cowboy named Alex takes Eva by surprise, she risks her safety and security of anonymity by letting him into her unconventional life.Alex is captivated by Eva and promises to protect her privacy. Yet he has a secret of his own—the fling he had with an older woman is fraught with scandalous potential for him and now Eva. He broke free of that mistake months ago, or so he thought. As things heat up with Eva, his old flame returns and won’t leave him alone.
Just when Alex thinks he has the reins on the situation, his ex teams up with a gossip reporter hell-bent on invading Eva’s privacy. The resulting exposé, with a sly spin on a recent encounter with his ex, is Alex’s worst nightmare, and Eva’s unsure what to believe. Can she face the world with Alex at her side or will she return into hiding?
Purchase on Amazon: Paperback │ eBook
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Short Story: A Little Bit Country; A Little Bit Rock and Roll.
Thanks to author Tonya Preece and LSBBT for a complimentary copy of Whiskey On Our Shoes.
Eva is the daughter of supermodel/rock royalty parents, and her much older brother is a guitar god. But Eva has yet to figure out who she is. Alex is a college student from a sleepy rural town. When they meet, sparks fly, but both have secrets they are trying to keep. Can they trust each other or will their past tear them apart?
Whiskey On Our Shoes is a fun, YA read with pleny of glitz and glamour and down home country life. There’s a lot crammed into the story. Eva has a troubled relationship with her mother and her brother is a backsliding alcoholic who she is trying to keep sober. Alex, a college student, is stalked by an ex-girlfriend who threatens his future happiness. He also has his share of family drama. Throw in a gossip columnist who is determined to out Eva at any cost and you’ve got a great story.
Through their relationship, both Eva and Alex are exposed to familial relationships and lifestyles foreign to each. It was sweet to see them tackle the worst and find the best in each. The Texas setting was a blast and Austin is a great city for this story.
I recommend this YA romance to those who enjoy a good romance with a Texas twist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tonya Preece writes romance and contemporary young adult fiction and incorporates music into all her books in one way or another. She lives near Austin, TX where she’s a small business manager for a forensic engineering firm. She and her husband enjoy traveling, live music, wine, and spoiling their fur babies.Website ◆ Instagram ◆ AmazonGoodreads ◆ BookBub ◆ Twitter ◆ Facebook
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!THREE WINNERSGrand Prize: autographed paperback & $10 Amazon gift card; 2nd Prize: autographed paperback; 3rd Prize: eBook(US only; ends midnight, CST, 7/14/23)
a Rafflecopter giveawayCLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR PARTICIPATING BLOGS, ADDED AS THEY POP UP.
blog services provided by
Fried Chicken Castaneda by Suzanne Stauffer
Thank you to the author, Suzanne Stauffer, for a review copy of Fried Chicken Castaneda.
Fried Chicken Castaneda by Suzanne Stauffer
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Adventure/Mystery
Published: March 2023
Pages: 274
Available: Paperback/ebook
Series: Yes, #1
Romance:💖 sweet
Violence:😱 nothing too graphic
The short story: Fun, flirty historical adventure with a cozy mystery
Set in the 1920s, this historical adventure/mystery is set in the exotic locale of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Unflappable Prudence Bates, a college-educated librarian from Cleveland, Ohio, longs for something more than just marriage, kids, and domestic bliss. She wants adventure. Taking a chance, she leaves behind her widowed mother and wannabe lover, Wally, for the chance to work as a tour guide for the Fred Harvey Detours company.
Written with a snappy pace, this fun story follows the ensuing adventures of the plucky Prudence, a highly likable young lady. The author's writing is highly descriptive as she immerses the reader in late 1920s fashions, social normal and lifestyles. Friendly and engaging, Prudence is a well-drawn character who quickly gets the reader on her side as her inquisitive nature finds her involved in a criminal investigation. The author's command of place and time drew me into the story and I loved that Prudence saw and rejected the bigotry of time and treated everyone she met as a person worthy of her time and attention. Although it’s clear who the ‘bad guys’ are, I enjoyed the mystery and it’s resolution. The author uses a love at first sight trope which normally I find off-putting but she managed to convince me that Prudence and her guy were the real deal.
I highly recommend this historical fiction/ adventure mystery to reader who enjoy a well told tale.
I rate this book 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Buy the book on Amazon
June 3, 2023
Watermelon Tattoo by Tony Burnett
WATERMELON TATTOObyTony BurnettPsychological Thriller / SuspensePublisher: Watertower PressDate of Publication: February 14, 2023Number of Pages: 300 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
Naïve but charismatic farm girl, Jacquelyn Benderman, has her life perfectly planned until her town blames her for the accidental death of the local high school's star running back. Feeling like a pariah, she flees to Austin, Texas where her luck seems to change. Her rapid rise to stardom as a blues diva is derailed when an anonymous stalker begins systematically murdering her associates, leaving the police to suspect her.As Y2K approaches, she wrestles with the guilt of falling for her roommate, a Romanian folk singer who survives as a call-girl, while the show band she sings with rehearses for a national tour.
Can she protect her new lover from danger? Will the world end at midnight? Is there no hiding place when everyone knows who you are?
PRAISE FOR WATERMELON TATTOO:
“Burnett has created an unconventional and magnetic character who makes a memorable first impression.” --Kirkus Reviews
“Bodies, wrecked and loved, Wiccan handfasting, sex work, guns, watermelons, and music—lots of music—light up this thrilling nail-biter.” --Lesley Bannatyne, author of Unaccustomed
CLICK TO PURCHASE FROM: Amazon │ B&N │ Bookshop │ WatertowerPress
Award-winning poet and songwriter Tony Burnett is the Executive Director of Kallisto Gaia Press. He served as President of the Writers’ League of Texas from 2013 to 2017. His poetry, short fiction, and environmentally focused nonfiction appear in over 70 publications. His previous books include the story collection, Southern Gentlemen and a full-length poetry collection, The Reckless Hope of Scoundrels. He resides in rural central Texas with his trophy wife and several rescue dogs who pay him no mind unless hungry. His hobbies include poking wasp nests with short sticks and wandering aimlessly about. He hopes you enjoy meeting his imaginary friends.◆ FACEBOOK ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ ◆ TWITTER ◆ AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!THREE WINNERS:Signed copy of Watermelon Tattoo (US only; ends midnight, CDT, 6/9/23)
a Rafflecopter giveawayCLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGEFOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,or visit the blogs directly:
05/30/23
Review
05/30/23
Spotlight
05/31/23
Review
05/31/23
Spotlight
06/01/23
Review
06/02/23
The Real World According to Sam
Review
06/03/23
Review
06/04/23
Spotlight
06/05/23
Review
06/06/23
Spotlight
06/07/23
Review
06/08/23
Review
06/08/23
Review
blog tour services provided by
May 28, 2023
#Book Tour: Cold Blows the Wind by Catherine Meyrick
Welcome Readers,
Today,The Book’s Delight is happy to host a blog tour for our friend CatherineMeyrick and her wonderful book, COLD BLOWS THE WIND. We read it, reviewed itand loved it! I hope you’ll check it out.
The Details
BookTitle: Cold Blows the Wind
Author:Catherine Meyrick
PublicationDate: 28 April 2022
Publisher:Courante Publishing
PageLength: 425
Genre:Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Australian Fiction
The Blurb:
HobartTown 1878 – a vibrant town drawing people from every corner of the earth where,with confidence and a flair for storytelling, a person can be whoever he or shewants. Almost.
EllenThompson is young, vivacious and unmarried, with a six-month-old baby. Despiteher fierce attachment to her family, boisterous and unashamed of their convictorigins, Ellen dreams of marriage and disappearing into the ranks of therespectable. Then she meets Harry Woods.
Harry,newly arrived in Hobart Town from Western Australia, has come to help his agingfather, ‘the Old Man of the Mountain’ who for more than twenty years has guidedclimbers on Mount Wellington. Harry sees in Ellen a chance to remake his life.
But,in Hobart Town, the past is never far away, never truly forgotten. When thepast collides with Ellen’s dreams, she is forced to confront everything in lifea woman fears most.
Based on a period in the lives of theauthor’s great-great-grandparents, Sarah Ellen Thompson and Henry WatkinsWoods, Cold Blows theWind is not a romance but itis a story of love – a mother’s love for her children, a woman’s love for herfamily and, those most troublesome loves of all, for the men in her life. It isa story of the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Buy the book:
UniversalLink: https://books2read.com/ColdBlowstheWind
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09XN5WDXB
AmazonUS: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XN5WDXB
AmazonCA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09XN5WDXB
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09XN5WDXB
Barnesand Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cold-blows-the-wind-catherine-meyrick/1141388977
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780648250852
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/cold-blows-the-wind
Apple:https://books.apple.com/au/book/cold-...
Meet the Author:
.jpg)
CatherineMeyrick is an Australian writer of romantic historical fiction. She lives inMelbourne but grew up in Ballarat, a large regional city steeped in history.Until recently she worked as a customer service librarian at her local library.She has a Master of Arts in history and is also an obsessive genealogist.
Whenshe is not writing, reading and researching, Catherine enjoys gardening, thecinema and music of all sorts from early music and classical to folk andcountry & western. And, not least, taking photos of the family cat to poston Instagram.
Follow Catherine on Social Media:
Website:https://catherinemeyrick.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/cameyrick1
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/CatherineMeyrickAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinemeyrickhistorical/
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com.au/catherinemeyrick15/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/catherine-meyrick
AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07B8VXWYQ
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17798235.Catherine_Meyrick
May 14, 2023
Death in Sensible Circumstances by Riana Everly
Welcometo a stop on the Coffee Pot Book Tour for Riana Everly’s Death in SensibleCircumstances, a historical mystery with a Jane Austin twist.
The Details:
BookTitle: Death in Sensible Circumstances: A Sense and Sensibility Mystery
Series:Miss Mary Investigates (#4 in the series)
Author:Riana Everly
PublicationDate: March 1, 2023
Publisher:Bay Crest Press
PageLength: 310
Genre:Historical Mystery
The Blurb:
A Jane Austen-inspired mystery, set in the world of Prideand Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, being the fourth novel inthe Miss Mary Investigates series.
When Mary Bennet befriends Elinor Dashwood, sheexpects to become part of the young lady’s circle and be introduced to herfriends and relations. She does not expect that one of this circle should die,far too young, and in most unfortunate circumstances. Worse, Elinor is secretlyin love with one of the suspects, Edward Ferrars, and he is inconvenientlyengaged to somebody else. When an investigator is called in to assist, Mary ismore surprised still.
Alexander Lyons expects to find death and deceit in hisline of work, but he does not expect to come face to face with Mary, who hasn’treplied to his letters of late. What is she doing in London? And how is sheinvolved with this sorry business of murder? Still, despite the tension betweenthe two, they make a good team as they seek to unravel the mystery surroundingthem.
From the elegant drawing rooms of Mayfair to thereeking slums of St. Giles, the two must use every bit of wit and logic theypossess to uncover a killer, all the while, trying to puzzle out the workingsof their own hearts.
Join Mary Bennet, Lizzy’s often overlooked sister fromPride and Prejudice, and her intriguing and handsome friend AlexanderLyons, as they are pulled into the world of Jane Austen’s Sense andSensibility in this, their latest adventure.
Death inSensible Circumstances: A Sense and Sensibility Mystery
(Miss Mary Investigates, book 4)
Riana Everly
Excerpt
Infront of Mary, on this small table not too near the window, was the selectionof novels she had been hoping to find. A smile worked its way across her faceas she took in the glorious sight.
Therewas Mrs. Roche’s book. She picked up a copy and turned to the first page. Wasit horrible, like Clermont? Or worse,like The Mysteries of Udolfo? She hadnever dared to read something as scandalous as Udolfo, but she had heard so much about it… Still, she could notstop herself from reading the first page or two, or perhaps five, oblivious tothe rest of the world.
Perhapsshe would do better with Mrs. Brunton’s Discipline.She replaced the copy of The Monastery ofSt. Columb and reached for Disciplineinstead, her eyes full of the stacks about her. But rather than her handalighting upon the cool hard cover of a book, she touched soft flesh instead.She pulled her hand back as if burned, only to see another young woman doexactly the same thing.
“Pleaseforgive me,” Mary blurted out, as the other woman exclaimed, “Oh, I am sosorry!”
Thenboth of them smiled and both began to laugh, which brought the shopkeeperaround to ask them to please be a little quieter.
“Haveyou read Mrs. Brunton’s book?” Mary asked the other lady, her voice now low.
“No,although I do wish to. But I must hide it from my sister. She thinks me far tooserious to read novels! I saw you looking at The Monastery. Do you like the Gothick stories?”
Maryfelt herself blush and hoped the red did not go badly with her mustard yellowpelisse. “Oh no! That is, I ought not… I dare not. I am far too sober-mindedfor that! Although I must confess, I would like to see what it is about…”
Theother lady began to laugh again and then quickly quietened down to a delicatetitter. “We are much alike then. Which shall you buy?”
Marypinched her lips together and frowned. “I cannot say! I would like to readboth, but really must not spend that amount of money.”
“AndI likewise.” Her companion shook her head and sighed.
“Ah,wait! I have a grand idea.” Mary beamed. She felt a great connection with thisunknown lady, who seemed so similar to her and who had such excellent taste inbooks. “Perhaps I can buy the one and you the other, and when we have read themthrough, we might meet and lend each other our books so we can read both.”
“Howvery clever! Here, may I introduce myself? It is not quite the thing, and yetthere is no one else to do the honours, and we are hardly at a ball or anat-home. It must be excusable. My name is Elinor Dashwood, and I am staying intown with my cousin for some months.”
“Apleasure to meet you, Miss Dashwood. I am Mary Bennet and I am staying with myaunt and uncle. What fun this is!”
Buy Links:
Thistitle is currently available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
UniversalBuy Link: https://mybook.to/deathinsc
AmazonUK: www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Sensible-Circumstances-Sensibility-Investigates-ebook/dp/B0BTTLNJV5
AmazonUS: www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTTLNJV5
AmazonCA: www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BTTLNJV5
Amazon AU: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BTTLNJV5
Author Bio :
RianaEverly is an award-winning author of romance, both contemporary and historical,and historical mysteries.
Bornin South Africa, she moved to Canada as a child, bringing with her two parents,two younger sisters, and too many books. Yes, they were mysteries. From thoseearly days of The Secret Seven and The Famous Five, she graduatedto Nancy Drew, and then to the Grande Dames of classical Englishwhodunnits, including Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. Others followed, andmany sleepless nights ensued.
Whennot matching wits with Miss Marple and Adam Dalgliesh, Riana keeps busyresearching those little, but so-important, details for her next fabulousnovel.
Trainedas a classical musician, Riana has degrees in Music History and MedievalStudies, and enjoys photography, hiking, travelling, learning obscurelanguages, and experimenting with new recipes. If they include chocolate, allthe better.
Follow Riana on Social Media:
Website:www.rianaeverly.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/RianaEverly
Instagram:www.instagram.com/rianaeverly
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/riana-everly
AmazonAuthor Page: www.amazon.com/Riana-Everly/e/B076C6HY27
