Monday, November 7, 2022

Spotlight of The Color Storm by Damian Dibben


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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THE COLOR STORM
DAMIAN DIBBEN
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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF EMER FLOUNDERS OF HARPER COLLINS.
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Enter the world of Renaissance Venice, where the competition for fame and fortune can mean life or death…
 
In Damian Dibben’s intoxicating and poetic THE COLOR STORM, a struggling artist sets out to acquire a mysterious new pigment brought to Venice by a rich merchant, and secure his name in art’s history books.
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Hanover Square 
Available Now
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PRAISE FOR THE COLOR STORM:

"Ravishing, addictive, knife-sharp, ambitious, and singing with detail, The Color Storm had me in its grip from the first moment I began reading. Here is a compelling thriller that takes us to the heart of sixteenth century Venice where the world’s most famous painters compete to win the greatest commission of their lives, and to find a rumored new color that will make their names immortal, while the threat of the plague comes ever closer. There is so much to think about and relish. Not simply the story itself—with all its glorious twists and turns—but the search to express ourselves. A celebration of art and a hymn to color." —Rachel Joyce, New York Times bestselling author of Miss Benson’s Beetle

  

“The Color Storm takes readers on a thrilling, murderous journey through the serpentine waters of High Renaissance Venice as one of art history’s most gifted but often overlooked painters—Giorgione—searches for love, fame, and, most importantly, color. Written with language as vibrant as a Giorgione masterpiece, The Color Storm is for lovers of art, Italy, and page-turning plot.” —Stephanie Storey, author of Raphael, Painter in Rome

 

“As with all intoxicating quest stories vividly told, The Color Storm by Damian Dibben, transports us to a heady other world, where it’s possible to feel the sirocco winds whistling across Venice and bathe in the cerulean skies of the Italian Renaissance. With master artists, Giorgione, Bellini and Leonardo da Vinci along for the ride, the reader will want to walk and then run to join a fierce competition to create beauty anew and discover a color so rare and sublime it’s said to come from the stars.” –Lisa Rochon, author of Tuscan Daughter

 

“An intoxicating and illuminating tale, bathed in colour, passion and ambition...a must for lovers of Renaissance art and the wonders of sixteenth century Venice.”– S. W. Perry, bestselling author of The Jackdaw Mysteries

 

“A vivid imagining of the artistic world of Renaissance Venice. There is an incredible charm in its depiction of the great painters of the period with all their flesh-and-blood idiosyncrasies and flaws. The life of the studio and the supreme importance of colour in all the essentials of its make up is rendered absolutely convincingly. The work has all the more emotional power as it focusses on a lesser known artist as he negotiates the precarious life of his city alongside competitors, those whose names have resounded through history.”- S. G. Maclean, author of The Seeker

 

“A terrific book...Absorbing, exciting and, dare I say it, colorful. An original tale told beautifully.” ―A.D. Swanston, author of the Thomas Hill series

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ABOUT THE COLOR STORM: 

Artists flock here, not just for wealth and fame, but for revolutionary color. 

Yet artist Giorgione “Zorzo” Barbarelli’s career hangs in the balance. Competition is fierce, and his debts are piling up. 

When Zorzo hears a rumor of a mysterious new pigment, brought to Venice by the richest man in Europe, he sets out to acquire the color and secure his name in history.

Winning a commission to paint a portrait of the man’s wife, Sybille, Zorzo thinks he has found a way into the merchant’s favor. Instead he finds himself caught up in a conspiracy that stretches across Europe and a marriage coming apart inside one of the floating city’s most illustrious palazzi.

As the water levels rise and the plague creeps ever closer, an increasingly desperate Zorzo isn’t sure whom he can trust. Will Sybille prove to be the key to Zorzo’s success or the reason for his downfall?

Atmospheric and suspenseful and filled with the famous artists of the era, The Color Storm is an intoxicating story of art and ambition, love and obsession.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PHOTO CREDIT:  Leia Morrison

Damian Dibben is a bestselling British author of Tomorrow and the internationally acclaimed History Keepers series. 
 
His books have been translated into 27 languages, in over forty countries. 
 
Damian has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as Phantom Of The Opera and Puss In Boots. 
 
He lives on London's Southbank with his partner Ali.

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Saturday, November 5, 2022

Spotlight of What Would Johnny Dent Do? by Sam Ingraffia


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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WHAT WOULD JOHNNY DENT DO?
SAM INGRAFFIA
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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF JENNIFER MUSICO OF JENNIFERMUSICO.COM
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Agatha Christie meets Janet Evanovich, with a bit of Navajo magic thrown in. 
 
In the comedic mystery, What Would Johnny Dent Do?, author Sam Ingraffia brings readers an intriguing comedic mystery.
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November 1, 2022
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ABOUT WHAT WOULD JOHNNY DENT DO?:

Charlie McGinley writes detective novels. 

His latest book is being filmed as a movie on location in New Mexico. 

Everything is going great until Scott Lassiter, the star of the film, is kidnapped. 

Vanessa Tanner, the female lead in the movie, is married to Scott. 

She quickly becomes the primary suspect in the kidnapping.  

Charlie, who was once engaged to Vanessa, reluctantly agrees to help her. 

Then, people start dying. Can Charlie—and Ben, his long-dead Navajo spirit guide—find Scott, save the movie, and not get knocked off, while trying to convince Charlie’s new wife that he’s not having an affair with Vanessa?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sam Ingraffia’s forty year acting career includes over one-hundred film and television performances affording him the opportunity to work with such acclaimed directors as John Schlesinger, Ron Howard, Mike Newell, Oliver Stone, Delbert Mann, Robert Zemeckis and Danny DeVito. 

His film and television work has included starring roles in such classics as Wall Street, Used Cars, The Falcon and the Snowman (with Sean Penn), The Incredible Hulk, Hill Street Blues, Barney Miller, Murder She Wrote, Fame and Recurring roles on The Days of Our Lives and General Hospital and most recently the Emmy-winning HBO hit BARRY. 

His latest feature scripts, THE SECRET PRESIDENT, GHOST MACHINE and THE WORLD’S FASTEST WHITE MAN are currently in development. Ingraffia has also been a staff producer at Fox Television, Lynch Entertainment, A&E, the WB and the Disney Channel. 

His plays have been produced in New York, Los Angeles and in numerous regional theaters. 

After a very successful run in Los Angeles, his play Chateau Rene moved to New York City, where it won the prestigious Samuel French Off-Broadway Play Competition. 

Another play, Pasquini the Magnificent, also went on to win the Samuel French competition two years later. 

Samuel French subsequently published both plays.

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Website (acting): www.samingraffia.com
 
Website (writing):  www.samingraffiawrites.com
 

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Friday, November 4, 2022

Spotlight of The Placeholder by Lynda Wolters


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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THE PLACEHOLDER
LYNDA WOLTERS
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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF PENNY C. SANSEVIERI, CEO & ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR NYU - AUTHOR MARKETING EXPERTS, INC.
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Sexy… Romantic… Funny…  Tragic… 


Dating isn’t what it used to be. Forty year-old Serenade is searching for her Happy Ever After amidst red wine, unrequited love, a nosy boss, and a bleak future.


This is a highly relatable novel about a forty-something successful woman struggling to find companionship, be vulnerable and capable to talk about her physical and personal needs, and to recognize that true love can come in many forms. 

 

It is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Colleen Hoover, and Abbi Waxman, just to name a few.


Fresh out of boxed wine and romantic prospects, Serenade Kincaid, a middle-aged attorney in Boise, Idaho, enlists the assistance of Zac, a for-sex-only companion to ease her loneliness. 

 

It’s all fun and games until he gets married and she falls ill. 


With the stakes high, Sera’s friend/boss, Carolyn, takes things in her own hands only to find out not everything is as it seems.

 

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 Published:  November 1
Mascot Books
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PRAISE FOR THE PLACEHOLDER:
 

"Loved it. My eyes are swollen. So many details had me laughing. Well Done. It is excellent!” ~ Michelle P.

“Loved the book! I finished it in two days. I then gave it to my oldest daughter who now is reading it.” ~ Leanna Y.

“Love Love Love. Sad I wasn't a "Wax Sister." I'm crying, but I absolutely LOVED it. Amazingly written and hard to put down.” ~ Pam P.

“The story reminded me I am not my mistakes…my mistakes have helped shape me, but they do not define who I am as a person. It reminded me to cherish the people around me who love me. It reminded me to enjoy the here and now because tomorrow is not guaranteed. It reminded me to be my unique, genuine self and not be what I think others want me to be. I have a wax sister. I have a beloved, and I am his beloved. I have a tribe of amazing people. I am looking at life a little differently now after reading your book. Thank you for the gift of refocusing my life. Every day should be a celebration of life.” ~ Michelle B.

"I in-hailed the book. It’s definitely a racy roller coaster of a ride. Very absorbing! And it broke my heart a little bit. There were moments when I delighted and laughed at Sera’s dry, sarcastic humor, but I also really felt the brutal heaviness of the turn her life takes (her cancer diagnosis). I felt like I was on the ride with her. She copes with the treatments with such bravery and grit that it’s more inspiring than sad. A wake-up call to live like our days are short. She develops into a believable and loveable main character. A sexy, beautifully vulnerable mess. And I agree with Sera. Tell the people in your life that you love - that you love them. Do it today.” ~ Laura D.

"Just started and I can’t put it down! What a fun read!" ~Jessica S.

"I am LOVING it!" ~ Lacey H.

"If this is not the divine universe speaking volumes... It would only be today I reach such a powerful point in your novel. I cannot express yet how truly wonderful this book has been." ~ Tashya W.

"I’m soooo LOVING this book and trying to not read it all at one time!!!"  ~ Kim C.

"A lot of substance: exciting, scary, tear-jerker. Very meticulous and easy to follow. I like that everyone in the book has a name (not just a character trait); it feels very real. After reading to the end, I understand the title, The Placeholder. This is a book about the complete life of Serenade Kincaid, a very emotional book that you can't put down; you want to continue reading. The end was very unexpected and brought the whole story together. Love it. Love it." ~ Joanne W.
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ABOUT THE PLACEHOLDER:

 

Thelma and Louise meets Eat, Pray, Love meets Me Before You. 

The Placeholder is an unconventional, unforgettable, unputdownable story of loss and love.

Serenade Kincaid has lost everything: her stepchildren, her house, half her earnings, her luxury car, and her husband, all to a much younger–and more fertile–woman.

 

Sera is now drinking boxed wine from a plastic cup as she attempts to start over from a seedy motel, killing time scrolling dating apps in search of a semi-decent-not-mass-murderer-please-just-spend-time-with-me port in the storm.


As Sera discontentedly leapfrogs through men, her snarky, meddling boss and sometimes-best friend, Carolyn, encourages her to focus more on finding a friend with benefits, just until Prince Charming comes along, of course.


And Zac fits the bill. 

 

He’s a self-proclaimed “unsuitable boyfriend” who looks to have jumped straight from the pages of a romance novel. Zac also insists he too is only looking for some fun, which is perfect for Sera. 

 

Cue the booty calls. And wow, are they hitting the spot.

 

But when life takes a sharp left, all fun and games come to a screeching halt. 

 

Now, Sera, Zac, and Carolyn must race against time to disentangle their web of lies and deceit before it’s too late.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Lynda Wolters grew up as a farmer's daughter in a tiny north Idaho town of 400 people. She now resides in the booming metropolis of Boise, Idaho (population 462,000) with her husband and Peekapoo.


Lynda would rather be ballroom and west coast swing dancing, rafting, or horseback riding than working, but finds her job in the legal field quite rewarding (and it pays the bills). 


As a lover of people, fur babies, and underdogs, Lynda is an outspoken advocate for matters of the heart. She is passionate about volunteering and finding good in all things. As a thriver with an incurable cancer, she has learned the value of a day and the meaning of kindness. 


Visit Lynda at her website and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


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Thursday, November 3, 2022

Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire

A bookstore, a town called Last Word, Agatha Christie, and of course a murder greet us in this enjoyable book with quirky, fun characters.

The bookstore owned by sisters Meg and Ellie Christie - a coincidence or are they related to Agatha Christie - is set on top of a mountain with access only being by a gondola.  

They even have a cat named Agatha.

Bookstores are places of refuge and relaxation and in this case a book club and a seance were being conducted when a stranger popped in, left his things on a chair, and is then found dead in the gondola.

Who is this person? 
Does anyone in the town know him? 

How could he end up dead...actually murdered. 

Was he on his way back down the mountain or did someone put him there after they murdered him?

The number of suspects has to be limited, right? 

The conductor of the gondola knows every person that gets on or off or at least they should know.

DEAD AND GONDOLA is a delightful read with a fact I didn't know about Agatha Christie. 

Did you know she had written romance novels under the name Mary Westmacott?

Enjoy when you read this book.

How couldn’t you enjoy it? 

It is set in a bookstore, it’s all about books, and you get to solve a mystery and find a missing person.

It is out of my normal genre, but it was a fun change of pace.

My only complaint is that it was a bit long.  4/5  

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.


 


Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Spotlight of The Case of the Disappearing Beaune by J. Lawrence Matthews


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING BEAUNE
J. LAWRENCE MATTHEWS
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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF ELLEN WHITFIELD | PUBLICITY DIRECTOR | BOOKS FORWARD
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Christmas can bring to mind the sound of bells, the smell of pine, and softly lit warm feelings. 
 
But not for Sherlock Holmes, who is on the case once again. 

J. Lawrence Matthews again brings the enduring detective to life in his latest work, “The Case of the Disappearing Beaune.”

 

Readers have praised Matthews’ outstanding attention to historical detail, and Kirkus said of his previous book: “Holmes fans will enjoy this tale’s admirable verisimilitude and bracing storytelling.” 

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Published on September 3
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PRAISE FOR THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING BEAUNE:
 
"Holmes fans will enjoy this tale’s admirable verisimilitude and bracing storytelling."
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ABOUT THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING BEAUNE:
 
It is Christmas morning, 1901, and Sherlock Holmes discovers that the wine in a bottle of French Beaune (intended as a gift for Dr. Watson) has been switched with sand, and he suspects it means a threat to the newly crowned King of England. 
 
Or does it? 
 
Sherlock fans and mystery lovers alike will enjoy this short and sweet tale that features the recurring cast of “irregulars” and a lighthearted spin of a holiday prank.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. Lawrence Matthews has contributed fiction to the New York Times and NPR’s All Things Considered, and, as Jeff Matthews, is the author of three non-fiction books about Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.  
 
One Must Tell the Bees: Abraham Lincoln and the Final Education of Sherlock Holmes is his first novel, the result of twin passions for the original Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and American history as told on the battlefields of the Civil War. Matthews is now researching the sequel, which follows Sherlock Holmes a bit further afield—to Florence, Mecca and Tibet.

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Tuesday, November 1, 2022

The Prisoner by B. A. Paris


A prisoner…but where?

Is Amelie a prisoner in her own home, in the basement where she is held captive, in her mind, or all three places?

We meet Amelie when she arrives in London with no job and no money.

Then fortunately she meets Carolyn who hires her as a housekeeper and gets her a job with a foundation and meets Ned.

Was it really fortunate that she met Ned who is a manipulator?

THE PRISONER GOES back and forth from Amelie’s past and her life present day. 

She definitely gets her self in and hopefully out of situations.

To find out what situations she is in, you will want to read THE PRISONER.

It is a little slow at first, but you will need to continue reading because you HAVE to find out what really is going on and what happens.

When the tension increases and secrets and situations are revealed, you will not want to put the book down.

THE PRISONER wraps up with a satisfying conclusion.

Another good one for thriller fans and fans of Ms. Paris. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.