ebooks – Page 15 – Rosepoint Publishing

Lilac Ink: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

The prolific pen of Ms Grainger has churned out another start to a can’t-miss new series with unique empathetic characters in an atmospheric village of the turbulent Irish coastline.

Book Blurb:

As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1937, two young souls separated by an ocean are about to discover a connection that defies logic and time.

Grace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of societal expectations he can’t quite understand.

When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.

From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, ‘Lilac Ink’ weaves a tapestry of love, destiny, and self-realization against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible connection but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.

This mesmerizing journey through time and place will leave you questioning the very nature of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two hearts, inexplicably linked, find a way to beat as one?

My Review:

Oh my goodness, I love the descriptions of the quaint villages of Ireland, the people who live there, and the immersive stories that Ms Grainger generates!

The new series finds Grace Fitzgerald under the tyrannical thumb of her older sister, Agnes. She has been there since her return from the hospital following a four-year battle with polio. She has been left with a gimpy, painful right leg and is at the mercy of her sister, the headmistress of the school where she works as an assistant teacher.

In frustration and despair one evening, Grace throws caution to the wind off Dingle Peninsula and discovers someone across the Atlantic shares much the same frustration with his own family, though his circumstances are pretty much 180 degrees from hers.

Agnes is a scheming, nasty, spiteful woman bitter with the way her life turned after the loss of both parents and her sudden, unhappy role as Grace’s caregiver. It’s not that Grace isn’t grateful for the roof over her head, but…

Aside from Agnes and Canon Rafferty, who provide strong dastardly antagonistic roles, there are a number of wonderful support characters all given just enough development to engage. (When the time comes, they rally around Grace—I loved it.)

As with all of the author’s books, there is Irish and British history woven into the narrative, and as this book is set just pre-WWII, the tension of the country and its inhabitants. The storyline is a marvelous mix of storytelling, history, suspense, and that Irish sense of humor.

At this point, I’m sufficiently invested to anxiously await the next installment in her promising new series. Character-driven, I’ve got to see where they go and already placing bets, no money involved, as this author is always full of surprises.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest opinions. If you aren’t already a Grainger fan, now is a good time to check out her books.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Irish Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Friendship Fiction
ASIN: B0CYY51D7H
Print Length: 296 pages
Publication Date: July 23, 2024 Happy Release Day!
Source: Author
Title Links: Lilac Ink [Amazon-US]
Amazon-UK

The Author: JEAN GRAINGER USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

SELECTED BY BOOKBUB READERS IN TOP 19 OF HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS

WINNER OF THE 2016 AUTHOR’S CIRCLE HISTORICAL NOVEL OF EXCELLENCE

Hello and thanks for taking time out to check out my page. If you’re wondering what you’re getting with my books, then think of the late great Maeve Binchy but sometimes with an historical twist. I was born in Cork, Ireland in 1971 and I come from a large family of storytellers, so much so that we had to have ‘The Talking Spoon’, only the person holding the spoon could talk!

I have worked as a history lecturer at University, a teacher of English, History and Drama in secondary school, a playwright, and a tour guide of my beloved Ireland. I am married to the lovely Diarmuid and we have four children. We live in a 200 year old stone cottage in Mid-Cork with my family and the world’s smallest dogs, called Scrappy and Scoobi..

My experiences leading groups, mainly from the United States, led me to write my first novel, ‘The Tour’. My observances of the often funny, sometimes sad but always interesting events on tours fascinated me. People really did confide the most extraordinary things, the safety of strangers I suppose. It’s a fictional story set on a tour bus but many of the characters are based on people I met over the years. Little was I to know that it would end up as a six-book series…

[truncated]

Many of the people who have reviewed my books have said that you get to know the characters and really become attached to them. That’s wonderful for me to hear because that’s how I feel about them too. I grew up on Maeve Binchy and Deirdre Purcell and I aspired to being like them. If you buy one of my books, I’m very grateful and I really hope you enjoy it. If you do, or even if you don’t, please take the time to post a review. Writing is a source of constant contentment to me and I am so fortunate to have the time and the inclination to do it, but to read a review written by a reader really does make my day.

#TuesdayBookBlog

Two Books You Missed and One You Should #BookReview #SundayVibes

Graphic - Two books you missed and one you should

I just finished up an audiobook that I still can’t believe I stuck with. And now, preparing for a review I see it has an astounding #12 on Amazon Charts. Obviously, I’m the wrong generation for this one, but it got me thinking of two books I’ve read and listened to this year that still reverberate that didn’t make the same distinction. Why?*

First, back in February, I read The Great Gimmelmans by Lee Matthew Goldberg.

The Great Gimmelmans by Lee Mathew Goldberg It left me speechless. The fast-paced narrative follows the thoughts of middle child Aaron Gimmelman. Their family has had catastrophic reversals of fortune with the loss of his father’s job. Aaron manages to become the voice of reason for the family despite his parents going off the deep end. I kept rooting for a miracle and waiting for the author to pull a rabbit out of the hat. It’s a strongly mixed emotional message, dark, suspenseful, and full of twists, surprises.

Then there is Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane. Seriously, this is a shocker. It’s enraging, gripping, and unfortunately so real it breaks your heart. In 70s Boston, a single mother is struggling. She’s a scrapper, strong, but there comes a time she’ll break. The novel is dark, extremely atmospheric of the time and locality. The author nails the main character. If you missed it—don’t.

Now, I finished Funny Story. And there is nothing funny about it. I’ll give you a taste of the Book Blurb:

Daphne is “Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

“Scruffy and chaotic…Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne.”

My Thoughts

Yes, of course, the two are thrown together as roommates and I’ll bet you can guess what’s going to happen immediately. They decide they must provide a “fake” new love relationship to mess with their ex-es.

Daphne is damaged, of course, having lived a horrible childhood. Poor baby. She really loves her mother. She doesn’t her absentee father. She has issues. So many issues.

Miles is damaged, having lived a horrible childhood. He hates his mother. He has issues. So many issues.

When Daphne and Miles get together for other than “fake”, they usually end with an argument, most times initiated by Miles. And then begins the introspection. Boy, do we get the introspection! (Well…they argue a lot.) Or maybe it just seemed half the book was introspection by one or the other but I’d stopped caring a long time ago when I realized Daphne, smart as she is, was bound and determined to make the same mistakes over and over and …

They weren’t relatable (at least for me) and Miles didn’t come close to being a romantic interest, declaring more than once he still loved Petra. Duh. She still didn’t get it?

Rosepoint Rating: Two point Five Stars Two point Five of Five Stars

Book Details

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Author: Emily Henry
Narrator: Julia Whelan
ASIN: B0CCPPQ38D
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Source: Library
Title Links: Funny Story [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

About the Author: Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Happy Place, Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read. She studied creative writing at Hope College, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.

If you are a big Henry fan, you may enjoy it as the others—she is new to me. Or, perhaps you just love romance books with familiar graphic descriptions.

I received a copy of this audiobook from my local library that in no way influenced my reviews. These opinions are my own.

Audiobook Review

*Now I see that Small Mercies was selected by Amazon as Best Books of 2023

12 Coffins by Lewis Pennington #BookReview #Crime & MysteryScienceFiction

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Brothers Cody and Drew Edwards and their gang of mischievous friends are looking for excitement in their sleepy little southern town through games of make-believe and even fake seances. It is only when they venture into a supposedly haunted coffin factory that they get more than they had hoped for. When they discover that lying in the coffins grants them paranormal abilities, they begin a mysterious journey involving murder, deceit, and greed along with the power to prevent one of the nation’s most devastating events. Determined to use their power for good, they realize that every action they take is accompanied by harrowing consequences. In this crucible of danger and discovery, family bonds and friendships are tested, and true strength of character is revealed. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but neither could their determination.

My Review:

Hoo boy! I opened a whole new genre for myself this time, not just a YA but a Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy. That’s a mouthful, huh? but this book, as weird as the plot is, plays with your mind, conjures visions, and reminds you even if not male, what it was like to be a youngster with boundless imagination.

I loved the boys, particularly the older boy, Drew. He was the perfect big brother to Cody but it was Cody’s POV that powered the storyline. Opening with the solemn funeral procession for Kennedy, Cody sets the stage for the modest beginnings of their youth with their grandmother while their widowed mother studied to become an anesthetist. A lovely property with neighbor kids about their age formed a powerful bond back when the kids played outside together until called for supper.

It was a sad time for the nation and made a profound impact on the kids. So it’s perfectly plausible that the kids might incorporate the newly discovered “Fletcher and Son Coffin Company during the time the schools were closed in their daring plans. And, learning something about Drew, might also be possible, given his bravado, that Drew might challenge himself (with his neighbor gang as witnesses) to enter the building…late at night.

Not just Drew, there are more support characters you come to love, Mr. Merriweather for one (though the Capuchin monkey not so much). There are bad guys who are sincerely bad.

I can’t say too much more about the well-plotted and paced tale, just to say that it’s full of suspense, fun, and mystery. Sweet the clever and calm way he deals with his young and sincere brother with the brash idea.

The CE read The Memory Stones, the author’s time travel fiction back in June of 2021 and said, “The characters are engaging, endearing, and feel real” and I totally concur. A totally different kind of read for me, but a sweet one. You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy this one, just let your inner child or imagination connect.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These opinions are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Crime & Mystery Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy eBooks, Paranormal Suspense
Publisher: Silver Lining Publishing
ASIN: B0CYXSKD6F
Print Length: 322 pages
Publication Date: June 13, 2024
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Lewis Pennington graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina with a degree in Graphic Design and Marketing. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City where he began his career with the now-defunct Science Fiction Magazine Omni Magazine. After decades of navigating through the corporate marketing maze, he is now focusing on his next chapter in life–providing readers with inspirational fiction. Lewis and his family live in Asheville, North Carolina. [Goodreads]

Website

https://lewispennington.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/chrispennington

Have a great day!

City Gone Askew by Matt Cost #BookReview #InternationalMystery&Crime

A Brooklyn 8 Ballo Mystery Book 2

Blurb:

Award-winning author Matt Cost brings us back to Brooklyn in the Roaring ’20s and Hungarian private eye, 8 Ballo, who is hired by Theda Lazar Vogel to prove that her husband was murdered. His colorful cast of friends returns, as well as legendary figures such as Dorothy Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Bugsy Siegel, and Lucky Luciano.

8 discovers that a priceless Aquila—an ancient eagle Roman standard carried into battle 2,000 years ago—was stolen from Karl Vogel when he was killed. This provides ties to a secret German organization known as the Batavi. But Vogel was also involved in the eugenics movement centered in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, as well as being involved with the Ku Klux Klan.

As 8 peels back layers of the underbelly of 1920s Brooklyn, the more complicated and dangerous it becomes for him and those who are important to him. What is happening at Cold Spring Harbor with Herman Wall and the eugenics movement? Who are the mysterious Germans threatening 8? And what is the identity of the charismatic Grand Cyclops? 8 must race against time to uncover the truth and put a stop to the most chilling triumvirate ever conceived.

His Review:

The Aquila carried into battle by the Romans is a gold and silver eagle about 1 foot tall. A barbaric Germanic tribe led by a former Roman officer took it when they defeated the Romans. Theda Vogel’s husband Karl got it during the occupation of Germany after the Second World War. Theda knows it is priceless and wants it back. 8 Ballo also needs to identify her husband’s killers.

Youn City Gone Askew by Matt Cost g ladies are apparently becoming part of a eugenics movement that became common in many large cities in the United States during this time. 8 Ballo is enraged by this thoughtless crime.

Matt Cost has explored these problems with rare insight. 8 works to help the well-healed maintain a distance from crime and corruption. At the same time, he also has some major allies in Bugsy Siegel and other major crime heads. The country is being controlled by White Supremacists and crooked public officials.

This book is very enlightening and will expand public understanding of those turbulent times. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

I read Book 1 of this series back in April last year and greatly enjoyed. The series tackles a tough historical period for the country as well as the world. Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: International Mystery & Crime, Historical Mysteries, Private Investigator Mysteries
Publisher: Encircle Publications
ISBN-10: ‎ 1645995445
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1645995449
ASIN: B0D3SXMD59
Print Length: 304 pages pages
Publication Date: July 31, 2024
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Over the years, [Matthew Langdon] Cost has owned a video store, a mystery bookstore, and a gym. He has also taught history and coached just about every sport imaginable.

During those years, since age eight actually, the true passion has been writing. I Am Cuba: Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution (Encircle Publications, March, 2020) was his first traditionally published novel.

Mainely Power is the first of the Mainely Mystery trilogy featuring private detective Goff Langdon. This will be followed by Mainely Fear (coming in December, 2020), and Mainely Money (to be released in May, 2021).

Cost now lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Harper. There are four grown children: Brittany, Pearson, Miranda, and Ryan. A chocolate Lab and a basset hound round out the mix. He now spends his days at the computer, writing.

Enjoy Your Sunday

Knee High by the Fourth of July by Jess Lourey #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Murder by Month Mystery Book 3

Book Blurb:

Independence Day comes with fireworks, a budding romance, and hometown murder in this sharp and witty mystery by Edgar Award–nominated author Jess Lourey.

When Fourth of July weekend coincides with Wenonga Days—the annual celebration of a locally famous Ojibwe leader—the town of Battle Lake double-dips on the tourist trade. This year the hullabaloo hasn’t even started and there’s already a story for reporter Mira James.

The Chief Wenonga statue has disappeared, leaving behind drops of human blood and a big question for Mira: How and why would anyone steal a twenty-three-foot monument? Things go from curious to worse when a local man is kidnapped. And from worse to downright gruesome when a corpse is found in the lakeside cabin of a horticultural hottie Mira’s been crushing on from afar.

Mira has no choice but to trail a statue thief, find a missing person, and clear an earthy dreamboat’s name from a murder charge. Not to mention risk her own life to unmask a cold-blooded killer.

My Review:

Yes, it’s Book 3 of the series, and no, I haven’t read the first or second, but see there are quite a number of them, changing slightly from Mystery (number) to Romcom Mystery (number). This one caught my eye because of the saying; it’s one very familiar in our area as well and the timing was perfect—I read it over the July 4^th long weekend.

“Farm mythology declared that if the corn was knee high by the Fourth of July, it’d be a bumper crop.”

Mira as a reporter for a weekly newspaper in the tiny town of Battle Lake is rather a scatterbrain and I don’t remember exactly how she got the position as she is also supposed to be the local librarian. In a town that size, I suspect they don’t necessarily have to be there all the time as Mira seems free to go about her investigation with little problem.

The focus this installment is the theft of the Chief Wenonga statue, some 23’ of him, leaving behind a base with obvious blood drops. I like the atmospheric location of the little town in Minnesota, apparently an actual lake town, and wonder how they feel about the way they are portrayed in the series.

I thought it was an interesting storyline, although I wondered about the July weather sounding more like Florida than Minnesota, and the quirky characters made for some snappy, snarky dialogue. It wasn’t so much the mystery as the writing style, phrases, colloquial words I hadn’t seen or heard in a long, long time that gave me a chuckle and kept me turning pages.

On the whole, a rather simplistic cozy with a side focus on gardening and animals (dog and cat) rather than food and recipes and very light on the romcom side of cozy. Thank you!

I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and found it to be a fast, easy read. Yes, it bends toward silly but I see these are rereleases of books published much earlier with the month theme. Okay, then I’ll have to check out August Moon—whenever it’s released—and give this one 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Heist Thrillers, Mystery Romance, Women Sleuths
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ASIN: B0CQMJM931
Print Length: 220 pages
Publication Date: June 25, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Jess Lourey writes about secrets.

She’s the Amazon Charts bestselling, Edgar-nominated, ITW Thriller, Anthony, and Minnesota Book Award-winning author of young adult, magical realism, crime fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. She’s a retired professor of writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, and a TEDx presenter (check out her TEDx Talk to discover the surprising inspiration behind MAY DAY, her first published novel).

She lives in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man are those goobers a lot of work). Drop by jessicalourey.com to find out more.

#TuesdayBookBlog

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog Keera Duggan Book 2

Keera Duggan Book 2

Book Blurb:

A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her. Keera Duggan returns in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court—she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.

Five years earlier, Keera’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company’s chief scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she was: a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.

As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears that this time she’s telling nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

My Review:

The second in the series, the first Her Deadly Game read by the CE in October 2022, was my turn and I had no problem reading it as a standalone.

Keera’s father taught her to play chess and play very well. She uses many of those techniques as she takes on Jenna Bernstein, an old childhood friend turned nemesis. Jenna will never tell the truth when a lie will do and at this age doesn’t seem to be able to distinguish between the two. She declares her innocence, however, when her business partner is found murdered. And what do you know? She clearly has motive, means, and apparently opportunity. Or was the latter just more manipulation to play the all too obvious?

“…any kind of SODDI defense–some other dude did it.”

As always with Dugoni’s complex plots, it won’t be easy to get to the bottom of the disturbing premise. Jenna is a deeply unlikable character. Keera comes off as smart, quick-witted, and street-smart savvy. She was taught by the best, her dad, the “Irish Brawler.” I appreciated her character as she turned a jaundiced eye on Jenna, who clearly appeared to be a sociopath. There is the promise of what might be a romantic thread with open-minded Detective Rossi, who appears may be strong support in coming series episodes.

Of course, it is a legal thriller and as always I love those courtroom scenes, the jousting, the timing, and the use of the nuances of the law—so like chess moves—with an eye on plays well down the line.

As the book weaves the way through the mysteries, twists, and revelations, the storyline moves smoothly into the conclusion. Any reader who enjoys legal thrillers will certainly appreciate the Dugoni writing style. It’s gripping, entertaining, and well paced.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Legal Thrillers, Murder, Murder Thrillers
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 166250022X
ASIN: B0CRWV4125
Print Length: 365 pages
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, the Keera Duggan legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including The 7th Canon, Damage Control, the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell – Suspense Magazine’s Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award and the critically acclaimed, The World Played Chess; historical novels based on true events: A Killing on the Hill about Seattle during the great depression and Hold Strong, a WWII novel; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and multiple awards for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.

Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than thirty countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Visit his website and follow him on Amazon, Goodreads, twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok and other social media sites.

#TuesdayBookBlog

Breach by Holly S Roberts #BlogTour #PsychologicalThriller #Giveaway

Breach: A Terrifying Summer Adventure
by Holly S. Roberts

I AM DELIGHTED TODAY TO PROVIDE A REVIEW FOR YOU AT MY BLOG STOP FOR Breach by Holly S Roberts ON THE GREAT ESCAPES VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR.

Scroll down to enter your chance to win the Giveaway!

Book Details

Breach: A Terrifying Summer Adventure
Psychological Thriller
Setting – Off the coast of California
Publisher ‏ : ‎Independently Published (March 22, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8320606989
Digital: Wicked Story Telling (June 20, 2024)
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQYXJ3T1

Book Blurb

Craving the vastness of the open sea, Kate and her family set out on a journey of forgiveness and healing aboard Ryan’s Gift, their newly remodeled yacht. After a tragic accident, it’s imperative that Kate returns to the ocean, the place she once called home, in an attempt to restore her spirit.

In the middle of their idyllic voyage, the nightmare begins. With no power or communication, a monster lurks below the surface and the family must find a way to defeat the darkness before it destroys them.

Experience this gripping story of a family’s fight for survival and a terrifying reckoning from the deep.

Excerpt

“Eighteen months had passed since the accident that left Kate with an incomplete spinal cord injury, taking away the use of her legs. The rehabilitation center staff had believed her fortunate for retaining some sensation below the waist, but Kate had never felt unluckier” .

“Kate examined the water looking for a dorsal fin. Slight waves from the Sea Doo rocked the yacht. She wheeled herself frantically toward the stern, her pulse hammering as the real threat lurked unseen below”.

“Kate’s voice was a whisper, her hands tense on the wheels of her chair. ‘Ryan, hold on,’ she breathed as the shark’s massive silhouette darted beneath the yacht toward her daughter”.

“With every ounce of her being, Kate focused on the rolling waves. ‘This ends today,’ she declared, determination lining her features as she prepared to defend her family from a terrifying nightmare”.

My Review

I can’t imagine being in Kate’s shoes (or slippers) being confined to a wheelchair but excited to be leaving on a family vacation with hubby and their five-year-old daughter, Ryan. Even on a yacht, sometimes the pitching and yawing can throw off an able-bodied person. Still, it’s a maiden voyage for their new recently refitted yacht heading north well off the California coast.

Kate is trying to decide whether or not to try to continue the marriage with a hubby who admitted straying. The accident that took the use of her legs happened then and the vacation is a stab at mending the fissure.

The yacht, however, begins to exhibit problems almost from the beginning and events begin to cascade into disaster. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t do this” the novel would be an excellent example of yes you can, you must, and you will!

I absolutely cannot believe the test of endurance, strength, and fortitude it took to survive this heart-pounding situation. The little girl is amazing, smart, and in no small part a reason they both survive.

In the meantime, the tension builds until it becomes explosive. I loved the writing style, the inexorable rise in terror as the monster of the deep seemed to anticipate their every move.

It’s an exciting and spell-binding beach read as long as you aren’t at the beach or dorsal fins don’t bother you. Recommended!

Giveaway

The author is running a giveaway for a shark plushie! Enter here for your chance to win!

About the Author

Holly S Roberts is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and romance. Her Detective Eve Bennet crime series is a #1 Amazon bestseller. She’s a retired homicide detective who worked high-profile cases in Arizona. Holly lives high in the mountains with her husband and two spoiled dogs.

Author Links

Website: http://wickedstorytelling.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollysrobertsauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollysrobertsauthor/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hollysrobertsbooks?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPzvSdXdeVFQhlGmbqYBJ3w

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6522660.Holly_S_Roberts

Purchase Links

Amazon/Kindle Unlimited

BREACH TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 20 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 21 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

June 21 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

June 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 23 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

June 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

June 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

June 25 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

June 25 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

June 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

June 26 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

June 26 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to read this cozy mystery.

Prevailing Wind by Thomas Dolby #BookReview #SeaStories

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

On the eve of WW1, amidst the turbulence of the Ludlow Massacre and the Triangle Shirt Factory fire, the young Haskell brothers Davey (16) and Jacob (21) dream of escaping the poverty of their lobsterman life in Deer Isle, Maine. Their sailing talents catch the eye of the powerful New York Yacht Club, with a chance for glory in the prestigious America’s Cup race series.

The brothers’ bond is tested as they both fall for Edith, a captivating Irish maid. Family loyalty is at stake, and now, the pursuit of sporting fame threatens to drive them apart. Complicating matters further, someone must stay behind to care for their ailing parents.

When a near-fatal accident leaves one brother hospitalized and consumed by the need for revenge, a compassionate Latina nurse helps him heal, showing him a path beyond bitterness.

Meanwhile, the millionaire yachtsmen harbor dark secrets. A glamorous concubine is hidden away on a luxury yacht, leading to blackmail and scandal.

As the bachelor heir to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune grapples with his future, preferring the freedom of the sea over his family’s wealth, the Haskell brothers must navigate their own choices between love, family, and ambition.

Can they overcome the trials that threaten to tear them apart, or will the winds of change leave them stranded in the past?

His Review:

Brothers by their very nature and birth are competitors. Jacob and Davey are two such individuals who fit perfectly into that mold. Jake is the older more worldly brother who has all of the girls fawning over him; Davey is the little brother lagging behind his big brother in everything. Angst and jealousy are an integral part of their relationship.

The Americas’ Cup is a coveted race of sailboats with crafts from all over the world. The British are a proud maritime nation with a heritage of being the fastest and best sailors. The Americans continually knock them off their pedestal. This story is about the America’s cup contested in 1913. Some of the contestants and boats are owned by the Lipton, Rockefeller-Vanderbilt, and Astor families.

The best sailors come from some of the small fishing villages north towards Penobscot Bay and Maine. These sailors start young and spend 14-plus hours per day tending lobster nets and other fishing equipment in the cold northern seas off the coast of New England. Jacob and David are two of these young sailors. Like most brothers, there is always stiff competition between them. Jake the older brother appears more handsome and able to engage any young lady he wants.

The extremely wealthy racing boat owners hire them to man their boats in the race to ensure that their vessels finish first. A million dollars is the sum offered to the winner of the race, a very large sum of money prior to the Great Depression.

This story is based upon a true race and the venue is around Penobscot Bay in the northern waters of America. The competition is fierce and ruthless. Who will take home the coveted million dollars and the title of best boat and crew in the world?

I found the action fast-moving and the topic very informative. The story includes a wealth of information regarding sailing vessels and their riggings. Anyone who has ever dreamt of sailing the seas or crewing an ocean-going vessel will enjoy this book. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own opinions

Book Details:

Genre: Sea Stories, Historical Thrillers
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN-10: ‎ 1665758317
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1665758314
Print Length: 318 pages
Publication Date: April 22, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Thomas Morgan Robertson, known by his stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur, and teacher, renowned for his innovative contributions to music and technology. Born on October 14, 1958, in London, Dolby rose to prominence in the 1980s with his hit singles “She Blinded Me with Science” and “Hyperactive!”. His distinctive blend of electronic music and inventive compositions made him a key figure in the new wave movement, though his work spans a wide array of musical styles beyond the high-energy pop sound.

In the 1990s, Dolby founded Beatnik, a Silicon Valley software company that developed polyphonic ringtone software, including the iconic Nokia tune. His groundbreaking work in technology extended to serving as Music Director for TED Conferences and leading the Music for New Media program at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute since 2014.

Dolby’s talents have earned him numerous accolades, including a “Lifetime Achievement in Internet Music” award from Yahoo! Internet Life in 1998, The Moog Innovation Award in 2012, and the Roland Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. A versatile artist, Dolby has collaborated with legends such as David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, and Foreigner, and has contributed to numerous film scores and video games.

An author as well, Dolby’s memoir “The Speed of Sound” chronicles his adventures in the music industry and beyond, offering readers a glimpse into his multifaceted career. With his novel “Prevailing Wind” set to release in June 2024, Dolby continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, inspiring audiences worldwide with his endless passion for music and technology.

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