Category: reviews

Hidden Chamber of Death

iRead Book Tours

Hidden Chamber of Death is a compelling tale of intrigue, murder, deception and suspense.

Hidden Chamber of Death Book Review

About Hidden Chamber of Death

Hidden Chamber of Death is a compelling tale of intrigue, murder, deception and suspense that leads retired Navy SEAL and part-time private investigator Craige Ingram in search of the connection between seemingly random murders and a banking conspiracy.

​Working with the local homicide investigator, who just happens to be a former Navy buddy, Craige Ingram’s attempts to protect a lonely widow and solve the case before another person dies are only thwarted by a psychotic killer whose motivation is based on pure depraved pleasure. In this first book of the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series, the instincts and skills Ingram and his buddy acquired as Navy SEALS are tested to their limits.

My Thoughts

While this novel started off slower than I expected (I found I kept putting it down), by half way through the novel I did not want to put it down! The novel starts off with what appears to be a simple murder and then evolves into this complicated layer of murder and deceit. In between this lies the budding relationship between Craige and widow.

The buildup of the murders and the conspiracy that is tied into it, was mind-blowing and at times definitely not what I was expecting! I was constantly thrown off guard by what I thought would happen next and what really did happen – which is great! I really love that element of surprise in a novel and this one was full of it. Some of the murders were quite gruesome and really showed the inner workings of our criminal’s mind (and trust me I never saw the identity of him coming!).

A stellar book that leaves you in suspense throughout and ready for more.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Internationally acclaimed author and public speaker, Hawk MacKinney began writing mysteries for his school newspapers. Following graduation, he served in the US Navy for over 20 years. While serving as a Navy Commander, he also had a career as a full-time faculty member at several major state medical facilities. He earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history. He has taught postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel.

In addition to professional articles and texts on fetal and adult anatomy, Hawk has authored several novels that have received national and international recognition.Moccasin Trace, a historical novel, was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. This was followed by the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. In a change of direction, October of 2012 saw the release of Hawk’s first science fiction novel, The Bleikovat Event, in The Cairns of Sainctuarie series. Volume II, The Missing Planets, was released in 2014 with Volume III in the works.

​Hawk’s latest project focuses on The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Hidden Chamber of Death is Book 1 in the series.

Interview with Hawk MacKinney

What genre do you write and why?

The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series

The Cairns of Sainctuarie Series – sci-fi

Historical romance

Why write in these three genres…because the tales being spun involve characters that readers identify with, be it sci-fi, mystery, thrillers. In many ways romance motivating it all. Genre doesn’t exist. It’s a literature gimmick; categories established in ancient Greek literature. romance, historical or contemporary is so ancient it’s modern; tied and tangled among all genres. It’s where my fantasies take the tales with their twists & turns, & stir sci-fi with astounding revelations tumbling at us daily. Ain’t it fun.

How long have you been writing?

Since those evenings my grandmother or mother sat on the porch swing or front stoops; spun tales of stars and wishes while we counted lightenin’ bugs and listened to great greasy steel & iron thunder of railroad freights and passenger trains whistlin’ through the valley.

What advice would you give budding writers?

Don’t give up. A fiction writer is a person who sits in a secluded room by themselves; wastes a lot of paper, and doesn’t know if outside is sunshine or moonlight. Tells nonfiction tales made to sound like fiction and changes the name of the guilty. Is that called payback or fun or what?

Your books are set in many places. Have you ever been there?

Set in South Carolina and Georgia, Colorado, other states of the lower 48, Scotland, England, Israel…vacationed/lived in almost all of them. The historical romance is primarily SC & GA; most of the settings still exist…thereabouts most know nothing of the secrets lurking so close.

Favorite dessert?

Second piece of Southron Fried Chicken, BUT a hot slice KaroNut pie (otherwise known as Pecan Pie) runs a mean mouth-waterin’ second.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Trailer

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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The Rest of My Life Book Review

Legit Lit Books

“You can’t run away from commitment forever …”

The Rest of my Life Book Review

About The Rest of My Life

Adam Hamilton-Shaw has more reason than most to avoid commitment. Living on a houseboat in the Severn Valley, his dream is to sail into the sunset – preferably with a woman waiting in every port. But lately, his life looks more like a road to destruction than an idyllic boat ride.

Would-be screenplay writer Sienna Meadows realizes that everything about Adam spells trouble but she can’t ignore the feeling that there is more to him than just his bad reputation. Nor can she ignore the intense physical attraction that exists between them.

And it just so happens that Adam sees Sienna as the kind of woman he could commit to. But can he change his damaging behaviour – or is the road to destruction a one-way street?

My Thoughts

The Rest of My Life is a well written story of commitment, fear and letting go of your past in order to embrace your future. Adam has had a hard life from his childhood into his adult years. It has shaped his behaviours, his actions and his goals. He sees no permanent future for himself instead he wants to just live life the way he is currently, with a different woman every night.

Sienna is his complete opposite but falls for him anyways. She can see he is troubled but she can also see past this. She sees the good in him, the efforts he takes and those small glimpses of the man that he could be. But like any smart person, she is worried about the hurt he can cause her.

This novel was romantic, full of surprise, funny and heart warming. You want Adam and Sienna to be happy, you want them to grow as individuals and it can be hard to watch (read!) them struggling on their chosen paths.

Rating: 4/5

Author bio:

Heartache, humour, love, loss & betrayal, Sheryl Browne brings you edgy, sexy, poignant fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and shortlisted for the Best Romantic e-book Love Stories Award 2015, Sheryl has seven books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies

Sheryl’s new contemporary romance novel was recommended to the publisher by the WH Smith Travel fiction buyer. THE REST OF MY LIFE comes to you from award-winning Choc Lit.

Author Links
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http://www.legitlitbooks.com/2015/12/new-tour-sign-up-rest-of-my-life-by.html

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Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space Giveaway

Shout! Kids Factory

The Transformers Rescue Bots are back and this time they are traveling through time and space in this whole new DVD from Shout Factory.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and SpaceAbout Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space

Griffin Rock’s Autobot first responders (Chase, Heatwave, Blades and Boulder) are back for five more action-packed adventures! Only this time, they’re proving that they’ll stop at nothing to protect their Earth friends, even if it means traveling through all of time and space!

The five episodes include:

  • It’s A Bot Time
  • Unfinished Business
  • Switcheroo
  • Time After Time
  • The Last of Morocco

The total run time of this DVD is one hour and fifty minutes and divided into episodes that you can watch one by one or all at the same time. The DVD has a suggested retail price of $14.93.

Our Thoughts

The Adventures in Time and Space DVD is the child and family friendly version of the very popular Transformers series that many of us enjoyed in our youth and can now have fun with our children watching the episodes. These episodes are less frightening, with warmer characters (rounded vehicles, friendlier faces) that all age groups can appreciate. The graphics are fantastic and the  plot lines were interesting and new to all of us. The episodes are hard to find on the television or we are missing the time that they are being played at, so this is perfect for our family. We can start it up or stop whenever we want to which is what our busy schedules need. The price point of this DVD makes it a perfect gift for the child in your life.

The Giveaway!

My American and Canadian residents, 18 years of age and older can enter via the Rafflecopter form below – good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Kissed by a Cowboy Book Review

Litfuse Book Tour

In Kissed by a Cowboy Cassidy was looking for a home and a place to belong and not for a cowboy to steal her heart!

Kissed by a Cowboy Book Review

About Kissed by a Cowboy

Having lived through her parents’ endless string of “matrimonial bliss gone wrong,” Cassidy Starr knows when the odds are not in her favor. Divorced and humiliated, her faith on rocky ground, Cassidy is through with love. She has been bucked off that horse far too many times. Instead, she returns to Wishing Springs, Texas, and the rundown farm she has inherited from her great aunt Roxie. She’ll reopen the strawberry farm and a bed & breakfast and follow in her aunt’s footsteps, remaining forever-independent, happy and single.

Rancher Jarrod Monahan’s hands are full running the ranch, looking after his ailing grandfather, and chasing down a group of rustlers on the loose. He’s pushed his longing for a family to the bottom of his list of priorities. Besides, he was in love once but ran scared and lost his one shot at happiness. But suddenly, the biggest regret of his life has moved in next door with a wounded heart, determined to become a spinster and that is a challenge that Jarrod just can’t pass up.

Jarrod sets his mind to breaking down the walls around Cassidy’s stubborn heart. How can he show her that this cowboy’s kiss lasts forever?

My Thoughts

A great Western romance read with some twists along the way. We have our main character Cassidy who has been through so much through her marriage. She is hurt, betrayed and unable to trust and ready to start another relationship. She has darkened her heart to a chance of romance. A strong part of me can’t blame her, I can’t even begin to imagine the emotions she is going through. She is struggling to come to closure and does not want this to interfere with her future but it is hard not to let it. Her pain keeps surfacing to the top throughout the novel.

On the flip side we have Jarrod, a man who has known her whole life but who has also been scarred by family and life. He has come to terms with his past and wants to move forward but he needs to help show Cassidy the way. He needs to help build her trust and acceptance, which is not easy!

A wonderful tale of trust, honesty, love and acceptance with a Western spin! You will fall in love with the warm and funny characters and the honest story.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse Blog Tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra’s goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Blue Ribbon Trail Ride Book Review

Litfuse Book Tour

Book Four in this series, Blue Ribbon Trail Ride, find them raising funds to help support her autistic brother.

Blue Ribbon Trail Ride Book Review

About Blue Ribbon Trail Ride

Thirteen-year old Kate and her friends came up with the perfect way to raise money for her autistic younger brother and others to attend summer camp, a horse scavenger hunt! As local businesses donate money and prizes, Kate keeps the entry fees in her mom’s antique jewelry box.

But when the box and the money disappear, Kate and her friends must unravel the clues, hold on to hope, and solve the mystery along the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride.

My Thoughts

An amazing series of novels for young adults. The novel is well written and thought out with characters that young adults (and even adults!) can relate to.

Kate is like many thirteen year old girls, who struggles with independence, her own wants and needs. She struggles at time with being patient especially with a younger brother who requires a high amount of care due to his autism. A lot of her parent’s time and money goes in to his care, and while she understands this as any  normal child would she also struggles with sometimes having her needs put second. I love that Miralee shows this vulnerability and how Kate works through it and shows her understanding and love for her brother.

She comes up with creative solutions to solve her problems and uses her religious teachings to help guide her. In this particular story – first raising money through a scavenger hunt and then solving the mystery of the stolen box and money. I love how her faith is lightly woven into the novel to help guide and how easily young adults can relate this to their own lives.

This novel (and the whole series) will be a great addition to the young adults in your life personal library. They are well written and funny while teaching valuable moral and faith-based lessons.

You can find more reviews on the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride on the Litfuse Blog tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Miralee Ferrell is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels. She and her husband live along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where she enjoys riding the wooded trails and spending time with her grown children. In addition to horses and dogs, Miralee once owned two cougars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book and the series in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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