Salem's Lot by #StephenKing #Horror #Fiction #Fantasy #Vampires #BookReview

Salem's Lot
by Stephen King

Publication: October 17, 1975 
451 Pages

Genre: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Vampires

4 🌠🌠🌠🌠

I continue on my quest of reading Stephen King’s books in chronological order. I thought I had read Salem’s Lot as a kid but after starting it I didn’t remember anything about it.

I don’t think I am giving anything away by sharing this is a book about vampires. And by vampires, I don’t mean the sexy sparkly ones from other books. The vampires in this book are freakin’ SCARY!!

I like to read in the evening sitting on my porch which I tried ONCE with this book...let’s just say I didn’t stay out there very long. Funny how your mind starts to play tricks on you when you read scary stories. Going inside gave me a protective feeling but I doubt my little door could stop a determined vampire lol. Anyway...to me this book was pretty scary.

King introduces many characters and at times I was saying, “Now which one was this?” But after reading a little more I would figure it out. I liked how the author would share the townspeople’s secrets (some big/some small). I really have no complaints about the book other than trying to keep up with all the characters but it still worked for me. I give Salem’s Lot 4 🌠🌠🌠🌠!!!

All The Stars And Teeth by Adalyn Grace #Fantasy #YoungAdult #YA #YoungAdultFantasy #BookReview #OwlCrate

All The Stars And Teeth
by Adalyn Grace

Publication: February 2020 by Imprint
373 Pages

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy

3.5 🌠🌠🌠
I received this book in my Owl Crate subscription a month or so ago. The artwork on the dust jacket is UNBELIEVABLE and I'm so thrilled to have an autographed copy of this debut. The author does a wonderful job of describing the kingdom of Viridia. The main character is Amora, the princess heir to the kingdom. Amora has lived a very sheltered and protected life on her island. The kingdom is divided into different islands and each island is inhabited by people who practice only one kind of magic. Learning more than one type of magic is forbidden. Amora ends up being thrown into an adventure like none other as she attempts to save the kingdom and become its eventual leader.

There is some romance mixed in which is something I usually don't read, but in this case there was more adventure than romance so it was fine. For being a debut author, Grace did a wonderful job making the reader feel like they were there with Amora...by describing what each of the islands looked like, to explaining the colorful clothing the islanders wore, to even the food which was different on each island. I was impressed and am giving it 3.5 🌠🌠🌠. I definitely want to read the next book coming out.

#BookReview #TheWinterSister by Megan Collins @ImMeganCollins @AtriaBooks #Debut #Suspense #Mystery #Fiction

Book Details
Title: The Winter Sister
Author: Megan Collins
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
Pages:326



#TheWinterSister #Debut #Suspense #Mystery #Fiction #BookReview 

My Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

Excerpt from GoodReads: 
In this spellbinding and suspenseful debut, a young woman haunted by the past returns home to care for her ailing mother and begins to dig deeper into her sister’s unsolved murder.

Sixteen years ago, Sylvie’s sister Persephone never came home. Out too late with the boyfriend she was forbidden to see, Persephone was missing for three days before her body was found—and years later, her murder remains unsolved.

In the present day, Sylvie returns home to care for her estranged mother, Annie, as she undergoes treatment for cancer. Prone to unexplained “Dark Days” even before Persephone’s death, Annie’s once-close bond with Sylvie dissolved in the weeks after their loss, making for an uncomfortable reunion all these years later. Worse, Persephone’s former boyfriend, Ben, is now a nurse at the cancer center where Annie is being treated. Sylvie’s always believed Ben was responsible for the murder—but she carries her own guilt about that night, guilt that traps her in the past while the world goes on around her.

As she navigates the complicated relationship with her mother, Sylvie begins to uncover the secrets that fill their house—and what really happened the night Persephone died. As it turns out, the truth will set you free, once you can bear to look at it.

The Winter Sister is a mesmerizing portrayal of the complex bond between sisters, between mothers and daughters alike, and forces us to ask ourselves—how well do we know the people we love most?

My Review:
This book has been in my TBR pile for a few months now and so glad I chose to finally read it. The Winter Sister is the haunting debut novel by  Megan Collins. It’s a story of two sisters, Persephone and Sylvie. Persephone was murdered when she was eighteen years old. After the murder, Sylvie’s mother shut down mentally and wasn’t able to care for her only remaining child. Persephone’s murder was never solved and her sister is now grown up.

Sylvie’s mother now has cancer and Sylvie comes back to town to care for her even though their relationship had fallen apart all those years ago. This is a book of secrets…everyone has them. Sylvie tries to unravel all the threads to this twisting and turning mystery. This is a book of relationships…relationships between teenage sisters, relationships between mother and daughter.

I really enjoyed this beautifully written debut novel. I was hooked from page one and my interest was held throughout. My favorite character was Sylvie. Her pain and guilt throughout the book was heart-wrenching. The author did a wonderful job portraying all that. The mother in the story was pitiful and I had mixed feelings about her. On one hand I felt sorry for her but at other times she made me angry for being so weak. The author did a fantastic job defining the complex family relationships. The characters were not only complex but also damaged by their traumatic experience. The tension and suspense builds up to the shocking conclusion.

Overall I was impressed with this dark, haunting debut. I would definitely read more by this author. Thanks so much to Megan Collins, Isabel DaSilva and Atria Books for sending me a copy to review. I’m giving this one 4 stars and I highly recommend it to all lovers of suspense.

About the Author:
Megan Collins holds an MFA in creative writing from Boston University. She has taught creative writing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Central Connecticut State University, and she is the managing editor of 3Elements Review. A Pushcart Prize and two-time Best of the Net nominee, her work has appeared in many print and online journals, including Off the Coast, Spillway, Tinderbox Poetry Journal, and Rattle. She lives in Connecticut.

#BookReview A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty @MinotaurBooks @CJ_Daugherty #books #bookblogger #bookish #ABeautifulCorpse #CrimeFiction

Book Details
Title: A Beautiful Corpse
Author: Christi Daugherty
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 12, 2019



#ABeautifulCorpse #Fiction #BookReview #CrimeFiction

My Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

Excerpt from GoodReads: 
From Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing, comes another pulse-pounding suspenseful thriller featuring crime reporter Harper McClain.

For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.

With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.

Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?

With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.

Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…

My Review
Another great Harper McClain mystery by Christi Daugherty. A Beautiful Corpse is the second book in the series. Although this could be read as a standalone there are many references to book one as well as an underlying mystery of who killed Harper's mother when she was just twelve years old so I would recommend also reading the first book The Echo Killing.

Harper McClain is a crime reporter for a newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. She is covering the murder of a young law student named Naomi Scott. There are three suspects that stand out but what the police believe and what Harper finds while investigating isn't matching up. Could it be because one of the suspects is the son of a prominent district attorney?

The pace of the mystery in this book seemed a little slower than the first book but overall this is another great read. I read so many police procedurals that reading one from the perspective of an investigative reporter is a welcomed change. I love Harper McClain...she is tough and gritty and a believable character. With this book there are also two mysteries in one. Each of the first two books continue to have the underlying mystery of who killed Harper's mom.

A Beautiful Corpse is another well-written book by this highly talented author. I would recommend this series to those who love crime fiction mysteries. I can't wait for the next book to come out. Thanks so much to the author and Minotaur Books for sending me a copy to review. I’m giving this one 4 stars.

About the Author
As a newspaper reporter, Christi Daugherty covered her first murder at the age of 22. There would be many more over the subsequent years when she worked as a journalist in cities including Savannah, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Now a novelist, she lives in the south of England. She is the author of The Echo Killing and A Beautiful Corpse.

#BookReview The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty @MinotaurBooks @CJ_Daugherty #books #bookblogger #bookish #TheEchoKilling #CrimeFiction

Book Details
Title: The Echo Killing
Author: Christi Daugherty
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 13, 2018



#TheEchoKilling #Debut #Fiction #BookReview #CrimeFiction

My Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

Excerpt from GoodReads: 
When a murder echoing a fifteen-year-old cold case rocks the Southern town of Savannah, crime reporter Harper McClain risks everything to find the identity of this calculated killer.

A city of antebellum architecture, picturesque parks, and cobblestone streets, Savannah moves at a graceful pace. But for Harper McClain, the timeless beauty and culture that distinguishes her home’s Southern heritage vanishes during the dark and dangerous nights. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Not even finding her mother brutally murdered in their home when she was twelve has made her love Savannah any less.

Her mother’s killer was never found, and that unsolved murder left Harper with an obsession that drove her to become one of the best crime reporters in the state of Georgia. She spends her nights with the police, searching for criminals. Her latest investigation takes her to the scene of a homicide where the details are hauntingly familiar: a young girl being led from the scene by a detective, a female victim naked and stabbed multiple times in the kitchen, and no traces of any evidence pointing towards a suspect.

Harper has seen all of this before in her own life. The similarities between the murder of Marie Whitney and her own mother’s death lead her to believe they’re both victims of the same killer. At last, she has the chance to find the murderer who’s eluded justice for fifteen years and make sure another little girl isn’t forever haunted by a senseless act of violence―even if it puts Harper in the killer’s cross-hairs…

My Review

Only one way to start this book review of The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty…WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I read a lot of crime fiction and the majority of those are told from the perspective of police investigators so it was nice that The Echo Killing was a little different. The story takes place in Savannah, Georgia and is told from the perspective of Harper McClain, a 27 year old crime reporter.

One day Harper is called out to the murder scene of victim Marie Whitney and Whitney’s daughter finds her body just like Harper found her mom 15 years ago. Harper’s mother’s murder was never solved and this new murder scene is so similar Harper thinks it may be the same killer.

“It’s like my mother’s death made this huge noise a long time ago. And this murder is the echo of it.”

I love Harper. She has been through so much in her life and for the most part she is keeping it together the best she can. But all the memories from her mother’s murder come flooding back when she sees similarities in the present murder of Marie Whitney.

Harper finds herself in a dangerous situation as she digs deeper into the two investigations. Her character is totally realistic and believable. She is pretty stubborn and not much for listening to people in authority.

Overall I thought this book was a well-written crime fiction debut. The author’s description of Savannah makes it feel like you are there. The plot was intriguing and steadily paced. The ending was unexpected and it leaves the reader with a little mystery to continue to ponder. I can’t wait to get started on the second Harper McClain book called A Beautiful Corpse. Thanks so much to the author and Minotaur Books for sending me a copy to review. I’m giving this one 5 stars and I highly recommend it to all lovers of crime fiction.

#BookReview Little Darlings by Melanie Golding #LittleDarlingsBook #BlogTour #Debut #Creepy #Suspense @CrookedLaneBooks @Joni2345zb @mk_golding

Thanks so much to author Melanie Golding and Sarah Poppe of Crooked Lane Books for inviting me to participate in the #LittleDarlingsBook Blog Tour. 

Book Details
Title: Little Darlings
Author: Melanie Golding
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: April 30, 2019
Pages:312
ISBN: 978-1-68331-997-9 (Hardcover)
#BlogTour #LittleDarlingsBook #Debut #Suspense #BookReview




Excerpt from GoodReads:
 “Mother knows best” takes on a sinister new meaning in this unsettling thriller perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things.

A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley―to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies.

Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Compulsive, creepy, and inspired by some our darkest fairy tales, Little Darlings will have you checking―and rechecking―your own little ones. Just to be sure. Just to be safe.
 

My Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

My Review

Little Darlings, is a debut novel by Melanie Golding. A well-written creepy read with a dark fairy tale aspect. What a great debut!! I love reading new authors and this one will definitely be added to my favorites list.  
The main characters are Lauren and Patrick Tranter, new parents of twin baby boys. Lauren is quickly feeling overwhelmed after the birth and gets little help from her husband. Patrick is a little jerk…once the babies are born his true selfish side comes out when he doesn’t want to help Lauren out.  
My favorite character would have to be Detective Sergeant Jo Harper. Jo has issues from her past that haunt her making Lauren’s case something that she couldn’t brush off. When no one else believes Lauren, Jo does. Jo is a “fly by the seat of your pants” kind of police officer. She isn’t a dirty cop but she doesn’t always follow all the correct procedures. She had a chance to try for an inspector job but she likes the hands-on part of investigating, she doesn’t want to be stuck in an office.  
Little Darlings is an atmospheric tale that kept me interested throughout. The build up to the ending was spot-on. I would recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers mixed with a little supernatural and dark fairy tale. Thanks so much to author, Melanie Golding and Crooked Lane Books for providing me a copy of this book and an opportunity to participate in the #LittleDarlingsBook Blog Tour.

About the Author: 

Melanie Golding grew up in a village in Leicestershire. She has been employed in many occupations including farm hand, factory worker, childminder and music teacher. Throughout all this, because and in spite of it, there was always the writing. In recent years she has won and been shortlisted in several local and national short story competitions. In 2016, she graduated from the MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, with distinction. Little Darlings is her first novel.

#BookReview Slay in Character by Lynn Cahoon #CozyMystery #CozyMysteryReviewCrew @Joni2345zb @LynnCahoon

Thanks so much to author Lynn Cahoon and The Cozy Mystery Review Crew for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

I loved the cover art for the book. This was my first read by Lynn Cahoon and this particular book is number four in the Cat Latimer Mystery series. I was able to read this as a stand alone but there were things from some of the characters past that were mentioned and were probably explained in previous books. It wasn't necessary to know the information but it did make me want to go back and read the series from the beginning.

The story begins with Cat Latimer holding a writers retreat in the Old West town of Outlaw, Colorado. The writers group takes part in different workshops and they get to do research around the town to possibly help them with future novels. A friend and roommate of one of the participants is found murdered in the Old West town but was she really the intended target?

The characters in the story were likeable. Cat and the participants of the retreat work at solving the mystery. The author does a wonderful job describing the setting. It makes me want to go for a visit. This cozy mystery had plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. I would recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers who enjoy a well-written story line with descriptive setting and a great who-dun-it. **** 4 stars ****

#BookReview The Tory and The Traitor by T.J. London #TJLondon #TheTory #TheTraitor #HistoricalFiction #HistFic #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour #HFVBTBlogTours #Giveaway @Joni2345zb @hfvbt @TJLondonAuthor

The Tory by T.J. London

Publication Date: April 11, 2018

Peperback & eBook; 517 Pages

Series: The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, Book #1

Genre: Historical Fiction

It is the winter of 1776, and Captain John Carlisle, one of His Majesty’s not-so-finest, has gone back to the scene of the crime to right a wrong so dark it left a permanent stain on what was once an illustrious career and left a man broken, defeated, in search of justice… In an effort to win back his commission, he must discover the true nature of the relationship between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. Undercover as a war profiteer, John travels to the treacherous Mohawk River Valley and infiltrates local society, making friends with those he’s come to betray. But a chance meeting with a beautiful half Oneida innkeeper, whose tragic history is integrally linked to his own, will provide him with the intelligence he needs to complete his mission—and devastate her people. Now, as the flames of war threaten to consume the Mohawk Valley, John has the chance to not only serve King and country, but to clear his name. When the truth he uncovers ties his own secrets to those in the highest positions of the British military and threatens the very life of the woman he’s come to love, he will be forced to make a choice…

"The pages fly as you immerse yourself in this fantastic adventure." - RT Book Reviews

Available on Amazon

The Traitor by T.J. London

Publication Date: October 26, 2018

eBook; 574 pages

Series: The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, Book #2

Genre: Historical Fiction

Spy. Liar. Scoundrel. Redcoat. Provocateur and spy for His Majesty, Captain John Carlisle returns to Fort Niagara with the secrets he stole in the arms of the beautiful Oneida innkeeper, Dellis McKesson. Determined to complete his mission and clear his name, he’ll see justice done—and damn the consequences. Now, he finds himself drawn into political intrigue as the British prepare to launch a three-pronged attack that will bring the Rebels and the Mohawk River Valley to its knees. A dangerous revelation finds Dellis as whispers of intrigue insinuate her beloved is not all that he seems. Unwilling to wait for her lover’s return, she sets out in search of the truth as the Onieda begin negotiations with the Rebels, breaking the neutrality agreement with the crown. A bold move that will stoke a fire between the brother tribes and lead to a bloody inter-confederacy war—one Dellis predicted, and one John incited. While war between the colonies and the King smolders, the punishing winter of 1777 allows the perfect opportunity for old enemies to settle scores, lying in wait, ready to exploit John’s one weakness—his heart. John is not an innocent man. The truth he’s long tried to hide from can no longer be ignored, the ghosts of the past seeking justice, and karma wanting payment for sins so dark they cannot be forgiven.

Available on Amazon

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to author T.J. London and blog tour host Amy Bruno of HF Virtual Book Tours for allowing me to take part in the blog tour and providing me copies of the books. The cover art for both of these books was amazing. I have been on a historical fiction kick for awhile now and these books did not disappoint. I haven't read many during the American Revolutionary time period so this was interesting to me.
The story begins with Lieutenant John Carlisle, a skilled map maker wishing to win back his commission by working undercover to find out the relationship between the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. John sets up his headquarters at the inn of a half-breed woman, Dellis McKesson, our heroine. Dellis' tragic past is linked to John's and he tries to trick the tribe into a peace treaty with Britain.
I loved both of these extremely well-written books. The research that went into them was evident. The two main characters were complex and realistic. The pacing was spot-on and held my interest throughout. Fans of historical fiction with a dash of romance are sure to enjoy this series. I can't wait for the story to continue in Spring 2019 with The Turncoat, book #3 in the Rebels and Redcoats Saga.

About the Author

T.J. London is a rebel, liberal, lover, fighter, diehard punk, and pharmacist-turned-author who loves history. As an author her goal is to fill in the gaps, writing stories about missing history, those little places that are so interesting yet sadly forgotten. Her favorite time periods to write in are first and foremost the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, the French and Indian War, the Russian Revolution and the Victorian Era. Her passions are traveling, writing, reading, barre, and sharing a glass of wine with her friends, while she collects experiences in this drama called life. She is a native of Metropolitan Detroit (but secretly dreams of being a Londoner) and resides there with her husband Fred and her beloved cat and writing partner Mickey.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 5 Interview at Passages to the Past Tuesday, November 6 Review at For the Sake of Good Taste (The Tory) Wednesday, November 7 Guest Post at Let Them Read Books Feature at Historical Fiction with Spirit Thursday, November 8 Review at Hoover Book Reviews Friday, November 9 Review at Pursuing Stacie (The Tory) Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog (The Tory) Tuesday, November 13 Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Tory) Review at For the Sake of Good Taste (The Traitor) Wednesday, November 14 Excerpt at Spellbound By History Thursday, November 15 Feature at Donna's Book Blog (The Traitor) Friday, November 16 Review at LadyJ's Bookish Nook (Both) Review at Pursuing Stacie (The Traitor) Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Traitor)

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 3 sets of both books in Paperback, 3 sets of both books in eBook, and a $50 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please see the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to readers in the US & Canada only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. TJ London

#BookReview for Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd #BlogTour @hfvbt @SandraByrd @Joni2345zb #LadyofaThousandTreasures #SandraByrd #HistFic #Christian #Victorian #HFVBTBlogTours

It was my pleasure to take part in another historical fiction blog tour hosted by Amy Bruno of HF Virtual Book Tours. Thanks so much to author Sandra Byrd for providing me a copy of the first book in this new series.

LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES BY SANDRA BYRD

Publication Date: October 9, 2018
 
Tyndale House Publishers
Hardcover, Paperback, & eBook; 480 Pages

Series: The Victorian Ladies Series, #1


Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

Description
Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

Purchase Links
Amazon  Barnes & Noble   IndieBound

Praise for Lady of a Thousand Treasures

“Sandra Byrd’s amazing cast of characters and Victorian settings pull the reader right into the story. I became happily lost in this compelling, lovely book.” -Karen Harper, NYT bestselling author of The Royal Nanny

“Lady of a Thousand Treasures delivers mystery, romance, and suspense in a well-researched Victorian setting.” -Julie Klassen, bestselling author

“I’m always swept away by a Sandra Byrd novel, and Lady of a Thousand Treasures will be long remembered as one of Sandra’s best.” -Jane Kirkpatrick, NYT bestselling author of All She Left Behind

“Sandra Byrd is the rare writer whose evocative, prose grabs hold and doesn’t let go. The Victorian Ladies Series is off to a stunning start!” -Laura Frantz, author of The Lacemaker

“With stunning characters and impeccable research, Sandra Byrd has woven together an exquisite treasure hunt with an ending that will leave you breathless.” -Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Catching the Wind

“Sandra Byrd’s writing is an absolute piece of art! If I had to sum up this story all in one word, it would be satisfying.” -Michelle Griep, award-winning author of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series

My Review
The first thing I noticed about this book was the beautiful cover art...love it!! This is my first read by this author and my first Gothic romance novel and I enjoyed it a lot. This is the first book in a new series called The Victorian Ladies and what a great start. 

The author was able to grab my attention and keep it throughout. This is another book where I was able to learn new things. The main character Miss Eleanor Sheffield a talented evaluator of antiquities, able to tell the difference between true artifacts and a fraud.

I highly recommend this to those who love historical fiction mixed with a touch of danger and mystery. I can't wait for the next in this series!

About the Author

Bestselling author Sandra Byrd has published more than fifty books over her editing and writing career. Her traditionally published books include titles by Tyndale House Publishers, Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, WaterBrook Press, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Bethany House. She’s also an independent author.

Sandra’s series of historically sound Gothic romances launched with the best-selling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor’s Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, published in 2017 and was named by the American Library Association’s Booklist as one of the Top Ten Inspirational Fiction books of the year.

Her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype. You can also connect with Sandra on Facebook   Twitter  Instagram Pinterest  Goodreads

#BookReview for And No Birds Shall Sing by E.A. Clark #BlogTour @EAClarkAuthor @Joni2345zb @rararesources #ParanormalThriller #Thriller #SupernaturalSuspense

Thanks to author E.A. Clark and Rachel's Random Resources for hosting the blog tour for And No Birds Shall Sing. 

And No Birds Shall Sing by E. A. Clark
 
Genre: Supernatural Suspense / Thriller

Publication Date: October 24, 2018

Publisher: Crooked Cat Books
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
 
Potential Trigger Warnings:The book contains topics such as miscarriage, attempted suicide, infant death and murder.

Purchase Links

UK https://amzn.to/2Mvmbey

US https://amzn.to/2noxGJO  

https://www.crookedcatbooks.com/product/and-no-birds-shall-sing/

 

Not all spirits rest in peace…

Following a personal tragedy, a recovering Grace Clements relocates with her husband and daughter to an old cottage in idyllic rural Oxfordshire. As the family integrate into the seemingly benign local community, they learn unsettling facts about the cottage’s dark past. Grace quickly becomes uncomfortably aware of a menacing presence within their new home.

Stumbling upon a neglected cemetery, Grace and her daughter discover the graves of the house’s previous inhabitants, including those of nine babies. Dismayed to find herself pregnant, Grace suspects she has awoken something truly evil in her new residence. She develops a creeping sense of unease as she unravels the disturbing truth about the history of the cottage and the fate of its occupants.

Who is the sinister boy watching Grace and her family? Are there malevolent forces at work? Or is the mentally fragile Grace heading for another breakdown?

A spellbinding paranormal thriller from the best-selling author of Lay Me To Rest. You may want to keep the lights on…

My Review: 
5 out of 5 stars

This is my first read by E.A. Clark and what a creepy one it was. I totally loved it and so glad I was able to take part in the blog tour during the Halloween season.

I really enjoyed the story. I really felt bad for Grace at the beginning of the book and as things begin to happen at the cottage they just bought the creepiness factor goes way up!! I loved the realistic dialog between characters. The book wasn't gory but did had lots of  creepiness and suspense. The author was able to hold my attention throughout the book. Thanks so much to author E.A. Clark and Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with an ebook. I highly recommend this one. 

Author Bio

Elizabeth Clark was born and raised in the Midlands, where she continues to live with her husband and son, plus an assortment of pets. Much of her formative existence was spent with her head in a book, and from an early age, she grew to relish the sheer escapism afforded by both reading and writing fiction. Putting things on hold for a time to raise her three children, she has resumed her fervent scribbling.

She has a love of antiquity and a penchant for visiting old graveyards, often speculating on the demise of those entombed beneath. Whilst she has written short stories and poetry for many years, a lifelong fascination with all things paranormal culminated in her first novel for adults, ‘Lay Me to Rest’, published in September 2017 by HQ Digital.

‘And No Birds Shall Sing’, to be published by Crooked Cat in October 2018, is her second foray into the realms of the supernatural.

Social Media Links

Twitter handle -  @EAClarkAuthor ;

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.clark.779857

Goodreads – E.A. Clark - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17100457.E_A_Clark

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/e-a-clark