Archive for January 30, 2014

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A TALE OF TWO BIDDIES by Kylie Logan

TALE OD 2 BIDDIES

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A Tale of Two Biddies (League of Literary Ladies)

2nd in Series Cozy Mystery

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Berkley (February 4, 2014)

ISBN-13: 978-0425257760  E-BOOK ASIN: B00DYX9KJ2

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My Review

I felt echoes of Murder She Wrote when I started reading this book. I used to watch the show faithfully and I love it that our sleuths are aged like fine wine, sporting gray hairs and a few well earned wrinkles.

Bea and the women of The League of Literary Ladies helped to solve a murder on Put-in-Bay some months ago and were hoping to just talk books and enjoy the celebration of Bastille Day.

But more is cooking than just some rockin and rollin and a Dicken’s Impersonator contest.

One of the locals is murdered and it’s time for these ladies to stick their noses in other people’s business and get it solved before more end up dead.

You expect and get a lot of colorful characters on the island. They move at their own pace and have their own way of doing things.

I live in a small town filled with artists and authors and we get a lot of tourists to our lovely community. It felt familiar on Put-in-Bay.

Having this story take place on an island is a great idea. It makes for a lot of fun reading how these ladies know about the skeletons in some closets. There are no secrets in closed communities and a surprising number of good suspects.

Necessary ingredients for a good cozy mystery are, for me:

A fun title. Check

Colorful cover art that hints at the story inside. Check

Quirky characters. Check

Plenty of suspects and false leads. Check

And funny, determined amateur sleuths that don’t take themselves too seriously. Check

This book has all of these ingredients and a bonus. It’s book two in a series and I didn’t have to have read the first book to enjoy meeting these characters.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

When it comes to solving mysteries, these ladies are in a league of their own…

Summer can be the best of times or the worst of times for the resort town of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie. For Bea Cartwright, business is booming as guests storm her B and B for the Bastille Day celebration. In honor of the holiday, the League of Literary Ladies is reading the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It would be hard to make a more apropos selection—especially when they have their very own Defarge sisters, elderly twins Margaret and Alice, who run the local knitting shop.

On Bastille Day, the head-banging rock band Guillotine shows their chops for the tourists—but the celebration is soon cut short. With something needling the Defarge dowagers and secrets that lead to murder, solving this mystery will be a far, far better thing than the Literary Ladies have done before. They’ll just have to make sure to keep their heads while they try to stop a killer’s reign of terror…

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Casey for MarconAbout Kylie Logan

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars.  When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond,” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America.  She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (“Mayhem at the Orient Express”) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries.  She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there!  She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story.  And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili.  Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Webpage: www.kylielogan.com  Also, www.caseydaniels.com

Purchase Links: AMAZON          Book World               B&N

Tour Participants

January 25 – Beth’s Book Reviews – Review – Giveaway

January 26 –Books-n-Kisses  – Review –  Giveaway

January 27- rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review – Guest Post – Giveaway

January 28 – My Recent Favorite books – Review – Giveaway

January 29 – Socrates’ Book Review Blog – Review- Guest Post – Giveaway

January 30 – fuonlyknew – Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review

January 31 – books are life – vita libri – Review – Giveaway

February 1 – Community Bookstop – Review – Giveaway

February 2 – Reviews By Karen – Review – Guest Post – Giveaway

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Title: Never Let You Go, Prophecy of Tyalbrook Series, Book Two
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Author: Michele G Miller
Publisher: Enchanted Ink Press (Self Published)
Release Date: January 30, 2014
Available on: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
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Blurb:
Two souls desperate to discover the truth about the past and determined to save their future…
SKYEThe usual warmth I felt deep in my soul when Xander was near me was beginning to dull. Yet I still remembered the warning: “Be careful, my Princess…you will lose all you love before you can win what you want.”
XANDERI could feel it; she hadn’t been here. Two days of hell, riding as fast as we could and only taking small breaks, and yet she had outrun us. How?.
A PRINCESS set on regaining her Kingdom and protecting those she loves…A GUARDIAN who will stop at nothing to find the woman who stole his heart…An EVIL FORCE who will destroy everything they know in order to have power over all…
The journey continues in Never Let You Go, book two in The Prophecy of Tyalbrook Series.
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NEVER LET YOU GO full cover
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Excerpt

Nickoli’s arms were laden with weapons when he came back into view. He stepped in, uninvited, and opened his arms; allowing each deadly piece to drop to the ground with an ear-splitting clang. I jumped back as the items ricocheted across the floor, and a club rolled to a stop by my feet.
Nickoli bent over and picked up a sword. He approached me, a menacing look on his face, and a flash of terror tore through me. The temptation to scream was strong, however I knew it wouldn’t do me any good. If his intention was to kill me, the deed would be long done before my cries for help would be answered. If they were ever answered. I kept my focus on the sharp tip of the sword as he advanced on me.
“If you choose not to trust me, you will have to protect yourself.”
He raised the sword, gripped the hilt in his fist, and hurled it into the floor at my feet. The tip embedded into the wood with a thud. I yelped in surprise and jumped back. With an angry glare, he turned to storm out of the room; leaving the pile of weapons scattered about the floor.
“I don’t know how to fight with a sword,” I called out, my voice void of the angry bluster it carried earlier.
He didn’t stop, but instead replied over his shoulder as his long strides carried him out the door. “Then Princess, you best learn how.”
The slam of his door signaled the end to our conversation.

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Never Let You Fall

Book One

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Only $0.99 available on
Amazon (E-book & paperback)

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About Author Michele G. Miller:

Michele G.  Miller

Michele is the author of the Coming of Age Fantasy Series The Prophecy of Tyalbrook – Never Let You Fall, book one (May 2013) and Never Let You Go, book two (Jan 2014) as well as the New Adult Romantic Suspense, Last Call (Oct 2013). She is currently working on the third book in The Prophecy of Tyalbrook Series, a Last Call novel and a YA Realistic Fiction that has her super excited!
Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern
hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of a enigma.  She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow. However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children’s laughter!
Her family, an amazing husband and three awesome kids, have planted their roots in the middle of Michele’s two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Email: authormichelegmiller@gmail.com

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never let you go this is us

This just in from Edward Lorn!

Here it is in all it’s glory!

CRUELTY EPI3

CRUELTY is a serial novel in ten parts.

Episode Three.

The corpse in the cooler of Bob’s Bait and Fuel might not be the innocent victim everyone first assumed.

William Longmire is released from police custody only to find out his buddy Kirk is in the hospital.

Innis Blake is stuck between two worlds. Will she find her way out before Cruelty has his way?

Regret is born.

Author’s note: CRAWL and CRUELTY: Episode Three will be released in February, one week apart. CRUELTY: Episode Four will be out sometime in March. Thank you for your patience.

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Can’t wait to tell you about Crawl and to get my hands on Episode Three.

I’m reposting my reviews for the first two episodes of Cruelty to tell you what you’re in for!

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Cruelty: Episode 1

Cruelty (Episode #1)

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My Review

William  wishes she’d point the gun another way. The strung out hooker wouldn’t get any money out of him if he was dead. The way she keeps screaming at him, it’s a wonder he can’t hear her, even though he’s deaf.

Too bad his car broke down. Now here they are. Walking down the road in the dead of night. Even if someone did come along, it’s doubtful they’d stop and offer them a ride. Especially with her waving that gun around.

Jennifer finally realizes she’s been screaming at a deaf guy and she bends over laughing. Then, she’s not. She’s gone.

Now, imagine yourself driving down the road. You’re distracted, it’s dark outside, and you glance away from the road for just a second.

Wham, you’ve hit something. Do you get out and walk over to see what it is? No way. It’s dark out there. But what if it’s a person. They could be still alive, even though it’s not likely. You plowed into it without touching your brakes.So, you open the door and go see. Oh jesus, it’s a woman, or what’s left of one.

Here’s where the story goes to the dark side. If you haven’t read any of Edward Lorn’s stories, I’ll warn you, they are gritty and in your face. Every character flaw is brought forth, bared to you in dramatic fashion. You don’t have to like them, but you will suffer with them.

The author is really good at getting you focused, really into a scene, and then. like a punch to the gut, he stops you in your tracks.

There it is. The what the…? moment when you wonder what you’ve got yourself into. Keep on reading. The real horror is waiting just around the corner.

A word about Cruelty. Yes it’s a 10 part serial novel, with a new episode releasing each month. Think about it like this. Do you have a series you love? Do you wait anxiously for the next book even though it could be months or even over a year before it’s released? With Cruelty, you know you’ll be getting a new episode in a month. Not such a long wait. Sure the ending leaves you hanging by your finger tips, but it’s well worth it. A few broken nails and bloody fingers is nothing.

5 Stars

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Cruelty: Episode Two

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My Review

So here is Episode Two.

I thought I was prepared, but right from the get go. the author made me cringe. His description of Turtle, the druggie in withdrawal, made my face screw up in disgust. You know it’s good writing when you react physically to a scene.

But let’s push on.

William is still alive and kicking. I’d say that’s a miracle since the 600 lb doll thing likes to play with people. Like when a kid pulls the legs off a daddy-long-legs spider, it bends and twists and rends the bodies. It likes it best when they’re still alive. When it can hear them scream.

As he did in the first episode, Edward Lorn wields a bloody pen. By the time I got to the end, I was thinking, no more. Once the doll thing arrives on the scene again, the rest of the story is a runaway train. And the ending is so sudden I almost got whiplash.

For me, it’s a good thing  I have a couple of weeks until the next episode releases. Just how much can I take. This brief pause will give me time to recuperate. Then I’ll be saying, “Feed me Seymour.”

5 Stars

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About  Edward Lorn and where to stalk him.
Image of Edward Lorn

Edward Lorn is an American horror author presently residing in the southeast United States. He enjoys storytelling, reading, and writing biographies in the third person. Once upon a time, during a session of show and tell, a seven-year-old Edward Lorn shared with his class that his baby brother had died over the weekend. His classmates, the teacher included, wept while he recounted the painful tragedy of having lost a sibling. Edward went home that day and found an irate mother waiting for him. Edward’s teacher had called to express her condolences. This was unfortunate, as Edward had never had a baby brother. With advice given to her by a frustrated teacher, Edward’s mother made him start writing all of his lies down. The rest, as they say, is history. Edward Lorn and his wife are raising two children, along with a handful of outside cats and a beagle named Dot. He remains a liar to this day. The only difference is, now he’s a useful one.

For more about Edward Lorn and his books:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

Edward’s page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/edward-lorn/

Edward’s blog: http://edwardlorn.wordpress.com/

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More books I’ve read by Edward Lorn

Life After Dane 1400x2100

Go HERE for my review.

And more books.

  !NAME 2240 For Amazon and Smashwords

Go HERE for my reviews.

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