September Wrap Up

All these books were read in September and will be reviewed on my blog in October.

I hope you had a good September with books, and I hope you have a great October.

How was your September in books?

 

Giveaways coming up for October and November

Giveaways coming up for October and November.


You can go to the GIVEAWAYS TAB now or wait for the post on the dates below.


WHAT SIMON DIDN’T SAY - 10/3 - 10/10

BEDSIDE MANNERS - 10/14 - 10/21

SEVEN DAYS OF US - 10/18 - 11/25

CHRISTMAS AT LIBERTY’S - 11/14 - 11/21

Featuring Books by Ronald H. Balson

Featuring books by Ronald H. Balson.
 
I have read all of Mr. Balson’s books except SAVING SOPHIE.
 
Most are WWII, and all are reviewed on my blog.
 
THE GIRL FROM BERLIN will be reviewed October 8.
 
All have great story lines and detail. 

Have you read any books by Mr. Balson?

Giveaway and Spotlight of The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher

Photo Source
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All information in this post is courtesy of Danielle Keir of Berkley|Penguin Random House.

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Celebrating Kerri Maher's 
Debut Novel:

THE KENNEDY DEBUTANTE

with a SPOTLIGHT and GIVEAWAY

September 25, 2018
  
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The Kennedy family—dubbed America’s “royal family”—have been a long-cherished pop-culture obsession for as long as most of us can remember. 

When we think of the Kennedys we think of politics and power, the infamous “Kennedy curse,” and a family that exemplifies the American Dream.

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Advanced Praise: 

“American royalty takes British aristocracy by storm in The Kennedy Debutante, starring JFK’s vivacious sister Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy who arrives in London on the brink of war…Kerri Maher’s debut stars a debutante to root for in this moving coming-of-age tale.”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network 

“An outstanding deep dive into a fascinating person and time. For fans of The Crown, the riveting story of a headstrong American girl captivated by a dashing British aristocrat. I’m blown away.”—Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Masterpiece 

“Maher beautifully mixes the red-blooded American iconography of the Kennedys with the delicious and Downton Abbey­-esque grandeur of Britain’s upper crusts…her story will make your heart lurch in the best possible ways.”—Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Empress

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About The Book:

London, 1938. The effervescent "It girl" of London society since her father was named the ambassador, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy moves in rarified circles, rubbing satin-covered elbows with some of the 20th century's most powerful figures. Eager to escape the watchful eye of her strict mother, Rose, the antics of her older brothers, Jack and Joe, and the erratic behavior of her sister Rosemary, Kick is ready to strike out on her own and is soon swept off her feet by Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire.
 
But their love is forbidden, as Kick's devout Catholic family and Billy's staunchly Protestant one would never approve their match. When war breaks like a tidal wave across her world, Billy is ripped from her arms as the Kennedys are forced to return to the States. Kick gets work as a journalist and joins the Red Cross to get back to England, where she will have to decide where her true loyalties lie—with family or with love.

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About the Author:

"Photo Credit:  Peter Su"

Kerri Maher is also the author of This Is Not A Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World under the name Kerri Majors. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and founded YARN, an award-winning literary journal of short-form YA writing. 

For many years a professor of writing, she now writes full time and lives with her daughter in Massachusetts where apple picking and long walks in the woods are especially fine.

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Danielle Keir of Berkley|Penguin Random House for this giveaway:

USA ONLY

September 25 - October 2

ENTER HERE

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Join in the fun EVERY TUESDAY

Join in EVERY TUESDAY at 2:30 on Book Studio 16’s Facebook Page.

Mary Ann Petyak, The Book Queen, was talking about the Olive Editions of classics last Tuesday, and I wanted to share the ones I won during The Harper Collins Winter 2017 Blogger Preview Event.

Watch last week’s presentation with Mary Ann for details about the Olive Editions.  

There are GORGEOUS covers on mine and on the ones featured last week.

Go HERE if you missed it.

THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ LIVE PRESENTATION ON FACEBOOK

If you missed this live presentation, you may want to view it.

Go here.

Happy Fall

What a lovely place to sit and read.

What book would you be reading here?

I would read a book by Kate Morton or Louise Penny. 

Review, Spotlight, and Giveaway of THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE by

Photo Source
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All information in this post other than my review is courtesy of Danielle Keir of Berkley|Penguin Random House.

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Celebrating Juliet Blackwell's book:

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE

with a REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

An artist lost to history, a family abandoned to its secrets, and the woman whose search for meaning unearths it all in a sweeping and immersive women’s fiction tale.

Told from the varying perspectives of Cady Drake (present day), wood carver Maëlle Tanguy (1900), and château owner Fabrice Clement (1945), Blackwell brings us another captivating tale painted with sophistication and authenticity. 

Perfect for fans of World War II era France, THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE is an emotionally evocative story that seamlessly weaves together themes of family, identity, self-discovery, and love.

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Advanced Praise: 

“Narrating from several perspectives, Blackwell weaves together a tale of love lost, repressed passion, and finding a sense of belonging that should utterly charm and delight readers new to her and current fans alike.”—Booklist 

“Plan your trip to Provence now. In this meticulously researched novel, Juliet Blackwell deftly navigates three time periods, taking us from contemporary California to both The Belle Époque and Nazi-occupied France as she spins a story as charming as an antique carousel.”—Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise

“An untrusting American orphan meets a dysfunctional French family—and each turns out to possess wisdom that helps the other to heal from old, old wounds. With crystalline imagery, vivid characters and lively prose, Juliet Blackwell redefines what family means, in a way that will touch readers long after they've read the last page.”—Stephen P. Kiernan, author of The Baker’s Secret

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About The Book:

An artist lost to history, a family abandoned to its secrets, and the woman whose search for meaning unearths it all in a sweeping and expressive story from the New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Paris.

Long, lonely years have passed for the crumbling Château Clement, nestled well beyond the rolling lavender fields and popular tourist attractions of Provence. Once a bustling and dignified ancestral estate, now all that remains is the château's gruff, elderly owner and the softly whispered secrets of generations buried and forgotten.
 
But time has a way of exposing history's dark stains, and when American photographer Cady Drake finds herself drawn to the château and its antique carousel, she longs to explore the relic's shadowy origins beyond the small scope of her freelance assignment. As Cady digs deeper into the past, unearthing century-old photographs of the Clement carousel and its creators, she might be the one person who can bring the past to light and reunite a family torn apart.

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About the Author:

Juliet Blackwell is the pseudonym for the New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Paris and The Paris Key. In addition to writing the beloved Witchcraft Mystery series and the Haunted Home Renovation series, she also co-authored the Agatha Award nominated Art Lover's Mystery series with her sister.

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MY REVIEW:

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Who wouldn’t want to go to Paris and photograph carousels? 

Cady was excited to head to Paris when she received the assignment especially since her interest in carousels had begun when she was a child and found Gus. 

Gus was a carved carousel rabbit with a secret Cady found hidden inside Gus when he accidentally broke open.  The hidden secret had a story of its own, and turned into a mystery that haunted Cady to solve.

Cady was used to mysteries and secrets since her childhood was spent in the foster system.  She was moved from one foster home to another with no parents to be found.  When she met Maxine and found Gus, though, they seemed to give her some stability and interest in antiques.

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PARIS follows Cady back and forth from her childhood to present day with the history behind the carousel rabbit marvelously added in as well.

I enjoyed the history of European carousels and learning about a famous carousel maker Monsieur Gustave Bayol and his company in Angers, France.

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PARIS allows the reader to get a free trip to Paris and to experience the beautiful landscape and people of Southern France both present-day and past.

This book will appeal to those who enjoy France, antiques, warm-hearted characters, the Provencal countryside, chateaus, and European history during WWII.

A charming, heart-warming read.    

The characters were lovely, and the story line was creative, uplifting, and positive. 

France, carousels, lovable characters, and a marvelous story line.  

LOVED the book...ENJOY if you read it...I know you will.  5/5 

This book was given to me free as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. .  All opinions are my own.

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Danielle Keir of Berkley|Penguin Random House for this giveaway: 

Contest has ended.  

Our winner is Carla from Alabama.

Congrats, Carla!!

Thanks to all who entered.

USA ONLY

September 18 - 25

ENTER HERE

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EVERY TUESDAY at 2:30

Join in the discussion with the amazing Mary Ann Petyak EVERY Tuesday at 2:30 on Facebook's Book Studio 16.

This is from today's presentation - September 18.

All previous presentations can be viewed on the page.

Hope to see you there.

BOOKS YOU LOVED

Why not join in the fun or take a look at this post from Carole's Chatter that lists books the participants LOVED!!

Go here to see the list.

Happy Looking and Happy Adding To Your TBR. 😀

Lies by T. M. Logan

Can lies be deadly?  Can lies ruin your life? Can lies be undone?

I think we know the answer to those questions, and Joe definitely knew the answer to two of these questions.  His life was turned upside down because of lies his wife was telling him and lies that someone else was spreading about him.

Finding out your wife has been cheating on you for the past five months and then having to deal with what someone was doing to your life via social media is what Joe was dealing with.

How could this be happening and how could one person be orchestrating it alone. Someone had to be helping each other to bring Joe down.

LIES doesn't immediately pull you in, but once it does you won't be able to put the book down. The tension mounts with the turn of each page.

And…the ending...WOW!!

This is a must-read end-of-summer treat.

LIES will also have you considering canceling all of your social media accounts.  4/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. .  All opinions are my own.

Giveaway and Spotlight of Victory for The Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell

Photo Source

Blog Tour Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House UK and Arrow Publishing

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All information in this post is courtesy of Rachel Kennedy of Penguin Random House UK/Arrow Publishing.

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Celebrating The Release Of:

VICTORY FOR THE SHIPYARD GIRLS

by Nancy Revell

Penguin.co.uk
September 6, 2018

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Praise for THE SHIPYARD GIRLS series: 

‘A brilliant read’ Take a Break   

‘This author is one to watch!’  Sun

‘Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!’ Northern Echo 

‘Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages’ Woman

 
The war rages on, but their friendship is stronger than ever.

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Why Readers LOVE Nancy Revell: 

A cracking saga set in the North East of England during World War 2. I LOVED it and became totally immersed and involved in the story. Can't wait to read the next book in the series’

***** 

‘It’s a gut-wrenching and heart-warming tale of Sunderland women that’s true to life. Absolutely cannot wait for the next installment’

***** 

‘What a brilliant read – the story is so good it keeps you wanting more . . . I fell in love with the girls; their stories, laughter, tears and so much more’ 

***** 

‘Omg I really couldn't put this story down. I have loved getting to know the Elliott family and the girls that work in the ship yard. I can't wait to read the next chapter in their lives’

***** 

‘How wonderful to read about everyday women, young, middle aged, married or single all coming to work in a man's world. The pride and courage they all showed in taking over from the men who had gone to war. A debt of gratitude is very much owed’

***** 

‘Marvellous read, couldn't put down. Exciting, heart rendering, hope it will not be long before another one. Nancy Revell is an excellent author’ 

***** 

‘This is a book that lets the reader know the way our ancestors behaved during the two world wars. With strength, honour and downright bravery. We shall never see the like again. I for one salute them all and give thanks to the author Nancy Revell, for letting us as readers know mostly as it was’ 

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About The Book:

The fifth book in the compelling saga series The Shipyard Girls by Sunday Times bestselling author Nancy Revell, The Shipyard Girls series follows an eclectic group of women who go to work in the Sunderland shipyards during the Second World War and their daily trials with love, loss and living through war.

Inspired by her own close family links to the Sunderland shipyards and her campaign to get the brave women who worked there during WWII recognized for their service.

Sunderland, 1942

With the war showing no sign of abating, Helen is thriving in her role as shipyard manager. But at home the return of her father brings a shocking discovery that tears her family apart.

Gloria is shouldering the burden of a terrible secret. If the truth comes out there could be dire consequences, and it will take all her resolve to resist the pressure around her.

Meanwhile Rosie is throwing herself into her work, taking on as many shifts as she can. Anything to keep her mind off the fact that she hasn’t heard from her sweetheart in month...

With life in the shipyards tougher than ever, will the strength of their friendship see them through to victory?

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About the Author:

Nancy Revell is the pen name of writer and journalist Amanda Revell Walton, who has worked for the national press for the past 25 years, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. 

She has also worked for just about every woman’s magazine, writing amazing and inspirational true life stories.

The Forgotten Women who helped win World War Two.

While land girls, the WVS and the many women who worked in the factories are often applauded, the part women played in the country’s shipbuilding industry during the Second World War is too often forgotten. 

Nancy is passionate about throwing a spotlight on these forgotten heroines – women who have never been commended for the hard, gruelling and dangerous work they did to help Britain win the war.

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Rachel Kennedy of Penguin Random House UK/Arrow Publishing for this giveaway.

Contest has ended.

Our winner is:  Pam

Congrats, and thanks to all who entered.

USA and UK ONLY

Print Copy

September 9 - September 16

Enter here

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND HASHTAGS:

Arrow Twitter: @arrowpublishing

Nancy Revell Twitter: @arevellwalton 

#TheShipyardGirls 

Link to Amazon - https://amzn.to/2PoTuB0  

Link to Watestones- https://bit.ly/2wskDfw 

Criminal Element Newsletter

If you don’t get the CRIMINAL ELEMENT NEWSLETTER, you can click on the link below and will be taken to their page.

It has the BEST BOOKS OF AUGUST 2018 featured at the link here.

Have you read any on the list?

Inlaws and Outlaws by Kate Fulford

 

Relationships - we all have them. Some just happen to be better than others, and some just happen to be worse than others.

Eve’s relationship with her boyfriend’s mother was a bit on the odd side but definitely warranted.  Gideon’s mother, Marjorie, seemed to dislike Eve but wanted to know about her.  Marjorie was a bit difficult to like but so was Eve.

Both of them seemed to be self-centered and BOTH were devoted to Gideon. They were quite the dueling characters and were characters to be concerned about.

Gideon also seemed to be someone who needed to be watched since his mother could do no wrong in his eyes.

INLAWS AND OUTLAWS actually had me laughing out loud at some of the things the characters said and did. 

This book seemed to be a study in the personalities of the characters with most of the personalities being odd.

It was interesting how the family members warned Eve about Gideon’s mother and especially interesting about the comment about Eve needing to watch her back.  As the book continued, the warning seemed to be something that needed to be heeded.

INLAWS AND OUTLAWS is an enjoyable book I would recommend if you like to look into the lives of characters and try to figure out what is actually going on and what the author is really trying to say about each character and his/her life. 

Along with everything else, mystery and attempted murder were also added to the mix.

The characters are indeed entertaining and really don’t seem to be who they make themselves out to be.

If you are looking for a different, but good read INLAWS AND OUTLAWS would be a good choice. 

ENJOY if you read the book. 4/5

This book was given to me by the author.  All opinions are my own.

The Summer Sail by Wendy Francis

Three college friends getting together for their yearly catch-up decided on a cruise paid for by Abby and her husband.

Abby had a loving husband, twin boys, and a secret.

Lee was a single mother with a college-aged daughter who had problems of her own.

Caroline was single and hoping her boyfriend of three years would propose to her on the cruise.

All the characters worked well with each other.  Ms. Francis made each character come alive with most being likable.

The story line was pleasant and made you want to go on a cruise to Bermuda as well as think about all your blessings.

If you need a pick me up and an idea for getting back together with friends from your younger years, THE SUMMER SAIL will make you want to give your best girlfriends a call and suggest meeting. 

THE SUMMER SAIL was a lovely change of pace for me.  This book is about love, friendship, caring, and learning to live life to the fullest. 

There were some nice quotes to think about as well. 

ENJOY when you read THE SUMMER SAIL.  4/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the author.  All opinions are my own.