First Chapter Review: Murder in Devil's Cove by Melisa Bourbon

 

I won a copy of this Outer Banks murder mystery from a Goodreads giveaway.

BLURB: After twenty years, Pippin Lane Hawthorne and her twin brother, Grey, return to their birth place—the Outer Banks island of Devil’s Cove. But what was supposed to be a chance at a new life turns sinister when their father’s old fishing boat reveals a dark secret.

Now Pippin must embrace her fate as a bibliomancer and learn how to ‘read’ the books she’s always shied away from. Only then will she be able to discover the truth about what really happened to her parents and continue their efforts to break the curse that has haunted the Lane family for two thousand years.

COVER:  What an awesome cover! It speaks to the genre, plot, and setting. I like the font color for the title and author name. 

FIRST CHAPTER: Twins Pippin and Grey return to their family's Outer Banks home after two decades away. Hesitant at first, Grey agrees with his sister that they can restore their childhood home. 

KEEP READING: Let me just say: if I didn't have review book commitments, I would stop everything I am reading to continue with this book. The author knows her setting and easily blends it into the storyline as the reader dives into a riveting prologue followed by a fabulous opening chapter. It is in that prologue readers learn of the Lane curse and get insight into Pippin and Grey's mother. The first chapter opens twenty years later, with Pippin and Grey back at their childhood home. The author brings forth all the emotions a return to your childhood home would conjure up. This looks like it will be an amazing story.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B088J48JY8
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake House Press (September 22, 2020)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 22, 2020
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2378 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages

This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbott

I'm reviewing the first chapter of Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbot, which is the first book of her Cozy Corgi Mysteries.

BLURB:  Estes Park, Colorado: picturesque mountains, charming shops, delightful bakeries, a cozy bookstore… and murder.

Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, move to Estes Park to hit the Reset button on life. Fred is about to open her dream bookshop, and the only challenges she anticipates are adjusting to small-town life, tourists, and living close to her loveable mother, Phyllis, and hippy stepfather, Barry.

When Fred steps into her soon-to-be-bookshop for the first time, she expects dust bunnies and spiders… not the dead body in the upstairs kitchen. The local police have an easy suspect—Barry.

Determined to prove quirky Barry innocent of murder, Fred puts on her detective hat, and with Watson by her side, she explores her new town and gets acquainted with her fellow shopkeepers. Could one of her friendly neighbors be the real culprit? And what would be the motive for killing the owner of the Sinful Bites candy store? The secrets Fred discover put her at odds with the local police sergeant and threaten her cozy future in Estes.

With snow falling outside, all Fred wants to do is curl up by the fire with a good book and Watson snuggled at her feet. But before she can begin her new life and put her plans for her bookshop into action, Fred and Watson have a mystery to solve…

COVER: Is there anything cuter than a dog on a cover? Well, maybe a kitten, but certainly a cute dog is just as adorable. The candy-striped wallpaper and sweet treats let you know this will be a fun cozy.

FIRST CHAPTER: Fred arrives in Estes Park with Watson to make a fresh start and winds up meeting the neighbors on either side of her new bookshop.

KEEP READING: How could I not? Fred is funny and Watson adorable. The reader is drawn into how Fred feels starting over and her apprehension over the whole thing. Then she meets the owners of the two stores on the other side of what will be her bookstore and it turns weird. Definitely need to keep reading to see what happens next.

Series: Cozy Corgi Mysteries (Book 1)
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Independently published (December 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1973449293
ISBN-13: 978-1973449294

The author provided me with a free digital copy of the book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: The Freedom Club by Cindy Vine

Today I am reviewing the first chapter of The Freedom Club by Cindy Vine as part of her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book.

BLURB: 
“We could be anybody and everybody. A group of high school stereotypes with one thing in common. Every one of us has a story.”

Every high school has the bullies, the freaks, and the weird kids that make you feel uneasy. Rourke High has more than their fair share. A few months before the end of their senior year, a group of seemingly mismatched kids get together to form The Freedom Club, hoping that they can support the victims of bullying, before they graduate. As they uncover secrets and lies they plot revenge - and discover love, friendship and truths about themselves, building up to a shocking climax that will leave you reeling.
Do you ever really know the person next to you?

COVER: Scary, but appropriate. This is what high schoolers deal with every day. The dark cover could symbolize the dark subject or the dark nature of journeying through the halls feeling alone and disliked for one reason or another.

FIRST CHAPTER: Maddie recalls a fifth grade school project, how it changed her way of thinking, and how important it has become to her as a senior in high school.

KEEP READING: Definitely! I already went ahead and read the next chapter. First of all, I have two high school students at home. One of them has dealt with ridiculous forms of bullying over the last few years, which prompted my interest in the book. There is also my own personal history of being teased profusely in school to draw me in. The author brings you right into those high school days when we all just wanted to fit in. It looks like there will be multiple points of view in this novel, so I'm hoping each of the main character's personality and voice shines through. I'm eager to read more.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

First Chapter Review: Requiem for a Rescue Dog Queen by M. K. Scott

I received the first chapter of Requiem for a Rescue Dog Queen by M. K. Scott for review.

BLURB:  Pre-school teacher turned private eye Nala Bonne, and her opinionated dog, Max, have a nose for evil doings in Circle City. They’ve recently gone to the dogs, make that rescue dogs. Not everyone in Indianapolis has a soft spot for a homeless pup. Someone has it out for the dogs and the people who love them. A midnight call jolts Nala and Max into action as they rush to the aid of a local rescue dog queen, but it may already be too late.

COVER: Love the colors on this one. The series logo is cute. Definitely a cover that catches the eye.

FIRST CHAPTER: A late night phone call from Nala's friend has her racing off with her talking canine companion, Max, to an out-of-the-way dog shelter that is being targeted.

KEEP READING: Sure. I love dogs and I love mysteries, so what's not to like about this novel? I have to admit a talking dog takes a bit of getting used to for me. Not that it hasn't been done before, but it's just weird. Great banter between Nala and her canine companion. The first chapter builds the tension for what might lie ahead. Looks like it is going to be a fun read.

File Size: 779 KB
Print Length: 240 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1944712259
Publisher: Sleeping Dragon Press (November 24, 2017)
Publication Date: November 24, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B075WD3FF9


I received a copy of the first chapter from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: Saigon Dark by Elka Ray

BLURB: Good and bad. Life and death. Some choices aren't black and white.

A grief-stricken young mother makes a rash decision, then spends the next decade living a lie. She's rebuilt her life and is starting to feel safe when she gets a note: 'I know what you did'.

Can she save her daughter from her dark secret?

COVER: Excellent. The colors and the tipped over tricycle speak to something dark and ominous.

FIRST CHAPTER: The reader meets Lily, a single mother who is living in Ho Chi Minh City.

KEEP READING: While it didn't capture me at first, by the end I definitely wanted to know more about Lily and her daughter, Evie. Why did she follow Vinh there? Why does she hesitate to return to the States? How much does her friend Yna really know? Ray paints a dark picture, but from the book blurb it sounds like Lily's life is only going to get worse. I'm definitely intrigued.



File Size: 730 KB
Print Length: 234 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Crime Wave Press (November 15, 2016)
Publication Date: November 15, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01M4PZWBX

I received the first chapter of this book from the publisher, Crime Wave Press. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Elka Ray is a UK/Canadian author and illustrator based in Hoi An, Vietnam. The author of one novel, Hanoi Jane, Elka also writes and draws an expanding series of children’s books about Southeast Asia, including Vietnam A to Z, 123 Vietnam! and The Warrior Queens.

For adults, Elka focuses on crime fiction and mysteries. Her short stories have appeared in Monsoon's Crime Scene Asia: Asia's Best Crime Fiction 2014 (Hong Kong); New Asian Fiction (India) 2013 and Lontar: The Journal of Southeast Asian Speculative Fiction (Singapore) 2014. Her travel writing has run in a wide range of publications, including Fodor's, Forbes, Executive Traveller and Persimmon Asian Arts. Elka holds a Canadian degree in Journalism and Asian Studies and a Canadian diploma in Creative Writing. She has a sporty husband and two kids, works as a magazine editor, and has an author’s site at http://elkaray.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/elka.ray

New Trailer on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGO3pb4qh3E

First Chapter Review: Pennies for Charon by Benedict J. Jones

BLURB:  Welcome to London - where the ferryman always has to be paid and the price is two shiny pennies over your cold dead eyes.

When the son of the city’s leading barrister asks ex-con turned private eye Charlie “Bars” Constantinou to look for a missing call-girl, Charlie thinks he might finally have found a way to do some good. But Charlie soon finds himself embroiled with a serial killer who believes that the soul of the city demands human sacrifices if it is to reward its inhabitants with spoils and riches. There’s not been a murderer so calculating, bizarre and elusive on the loose in the British capital since Jack the Ripper.

Three time loser Charlie Bars, unlikely hero of Skewered and other London Cruelties, Ben Jones’s first Crime Wave Press release, is the only man to put the city right and make sure the ferryman gets his due.

COVER: Nice. Love the font and the image. Perfect for the genre.

FIRST CHAPTER: After a tense meeting with Mazza and Cordwain, Charlie heads to the bar for a smoke and drink or two.

KEEP READING:  My interest is definitely piqued. Since I am a character-driven reader, it's challenging when I don't immediately connect with the main character. While I don't dislike Charlie, I can't say I really like him either. I'll need a couple more chapters to decide if this is for me. The information the reader learns in this opening chapter certainly makes me want to figure out the larger story.

I received the first chapter of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: Ghost Hampton by Ken McGorry

Ghost Hampton is a paranormal thriller by Ken McGorry. The author is touring with Pump Up Your Book this month.

BLURB:  Lyle Hall is a new man since his car accident and spinal injury. The notoriously insensitive Bridgehampton lawyer is now afflicted with an odd sensitivity to other people's pain. Especially that of a mysterious young girl he encounters outside a long-abandoned Victorian house late one October night. “Jewel” looks about 12. But Lyle knows she’s been dead a hundred years. Jewel wants his help, but it’s unclear how. As if in return, she shows him an appalling vision—his own daughter's tombstone. If it’s to be believed, Georgie’s last day is four days away. Despite Lyle’s strained relations with his police detective daughter, he’s shocked out of complacent convalescence and back into action in the real world.

But the world now seems surreal to the formerly Scrooge-like real estate lawyer. Lyle’s motion in court enjoining the Town of Southampton from demolishing the old house goes viral because he leaked that it might be haunted. This unleashes a horde of ghost-loving demonstrators and triggers a national media frenzy. Through it all strides Lyle’s new nemesis in high heels: a beautiful, scheming TV reporter known as Silk.

Georgie Hall’s own troubles mount as a campaign of stationhouse pranks takes a disturbing sexual turn. Her very first case is underway and her main suspect is a wannabe drug lord. Meanwhile, Lyle must choose: Repair his relationship with Georgie or succumb to the devious Silk and her exclusive media contract. He tells himself seeing Georgie’s epitaph was just a hallucination. But a few miles away the would-be drug lord is loading his assault rifle. Berto needs to prove himself.

COVER: This seems like such a calm and pretty cover for, what I expect to be, an action-packed novel. The first chapter certainly makes it sound more edgy than this peaceful beach scene. Don't get me wrong, I really like the cover; but I am thinking it would be better suited for a family drama or a romance novel. That said, it might be right for the setting. It just doesn't speak to the genre for me.

FIRST CHAPTER: The reader meets 55-year-old Lyle, whose life was forever changed by the car accident that left him paralyzed. The tense relationship between Lyle and his daughter, Georgie, is also explored.

KEEP READING: Definitely. McGorry knows all about the hook. That first sentence pulled me in hook, line, and sinker. As a character-driven reader, I like that the focus is on getting to know Lyle and his circumstances a bit. It also has a powerful ending that makes you want to continue. I want to know more!


Series: Ghost Hampton
Paperback: 466 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (March 26, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1530577233
ISBN-13: 978-1530577231

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Ken McGorry has been writing since third grade. (He learned in first grade, but waited two years.) He started a school newspaper with friends in seventh grade, but he’s better known for his 23 years as an editor of Post Magazine, a monthly covering television and film production. This century, he took up novel-writing and Ghost Hampton and Smashed are examples. More are in the works, like the promised Ghost Hampton sequel, but he’s kinda slow.

Ken lives on Long Island with his wife and they have two strapping sons. There are dogs. Ken is also a chef (grilled cheese, and only for his sons) and he enjoys boating (if it’s someone else’s boat). He has a band, The Achievements, that plays his songs (try https://soundcloud.com/ken-mcgorry). Back at Manhattan College (English major!), he was a founding member of the venerable Meade Bros. Band. Ken really was an employee of Dan’s Papers in the Hamptons one college summer, and really did mow Dan’s lawn.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

First Chapter Review: Dark Money by Larry D. Thompson

I am participating in the book tour for Dark Money by Larry D. Thompson.

BLURB: DARK MONEY is a thriller, a mystery and an expose’ of the corruption of money in politics.

Jackson Bryant, the millionaire plaintiff lawyer who turned to pro bono work in Dead Peasants, is caught up in the collision of money and politics when he receives a call from his old army buddy, Walt Frazier. Walt needs his assistance in evaluating security for Texas Governor Rob Lardner at a Halloween costume fundraiser thrown by one of the nation’s richest Republican billionaires at his mansion in Fort Worth.

Miriam Van Zandt is the best marksman among the Alamo Defenders, an anti-government militia group in West Texas. She attends the fundraiser dressed as a cat burglar---wounds the governor and murders the host’s brother, another Republican billionaire. She is shot in the leg but manages to escape.

Jack is appointed special prosecutor and must call on the Texas DPS SWAT team to track Van Zandt and attack the Alamo Defenders’ compound in a lonely part of West Texas. Van Zandt’s father, founder of the Defenders, is killed in the attack and Miriam is left in a coma. The authorities declare victory and close the case---but Jack knows better. The person behind the Halloween massacre has yet to be caught. When Walt and the protective detail are sued by the fund raiser host and the widow of the dead man, Jack follows the dark money of political contributions from the Cayman Islands to Washington to Eastern Europe, New York and New Orleans to track the real killer and absolve his friend and the Protective Detail of responsibility for the massacre.

COVER: Love it. Took me a few moments to realize that was a blood-splattered face mask, but the color scheme is great and I like the fonts used.

FIRST CHAPTER: Jack Bryant arrives at the Hale estate where a Halloween costume fundraiser for Texas Governor Rob Lardner is scheduled to take place. Once cleared by security, he meets up with his old army buddy, Walt Frazier, who is in charge of making sure everyone stays safe and sound.

KEEP READING: Yes. The short prologue provides a bit of back story for how Walt and Jack met so that the reader dives into the first chapter with some idea of the men's personalities. I feel it wise the author opted to have action in the prologue because the first chapter is low-key in that respect. By the end, however, you are quite certain things aren't going to go as planned.

What I feel the author did very well from the start is define who the major players are and draw the reader into their world. I look forward to reading more of this one.

File Size: 1088 KB
Print Length: 430 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Story Merchant Books; 2 A Jackson Bryant Legal Thriller edition (December 29, 2015)
Publication Date: December 29, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B019YQ63Q0


Purchase here!

I received a free digital version of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: The Bali Mystery by Linda Weaver Clarke

Linda Weaver Clarke is celebrating the release of the first book in her Amelia Moore Detective Series. This is a cozy mystery.

BLURB:  Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of Rick Bonito, her business is flourishing.

When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia and Rick to find her missing brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia. They are mystified why her brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and ran off to this mysterious and exotic island without telling a soul.

COVER: Like the covers for her other books, you can see great care went into creating this one. The setting and main characters are captured here in an eye-pleasing color scheme. I like the subtle texture to the background.

FIRST CHAPTER: Amelia has accepted a new case that involves finding Mrs. Brody's missing brother, William. It soon becomes apparent that someone would rather she not investigate William's disappearance. That's when Amelia calls in Rick to give her a hand.

KEEP READING: This looks like it will be another great book by Clarke. Though a short chapter, the reader gets a chance to meet the two main characters, and the author works quickly to set up the conflict. Told alternately from Amelia's and Rick's points of view, both characters' personalities shine through. Rick is a bit unorthodox in his approach, whereas Amelia is a no-nonsense kind of gal. It looks like Clarke might be weaving a romantic element into the plot between the two main characters. Right now it's more like Moonlighting, where the two detectives are determined to be just friends while considering the winning attributes of each other secretly. I'm curious to see where these characters go from here.

Series: Amelia Moore Detective Series
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 29, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1497327156
ISBN-13: 978-1497327153

Purchase at:

Amazon paperback

Amazon Kindle

Barnes and Noble paperback

Barnes and Noble Nook

Smashwords

iTunes

Through April 28th, you have a chance to win a free copy of The Bali Mystery by visiting Linda's blog at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com/2014/04/interview-with-mystery-and-sweet.html

I read the first chapter of this novel from the author's website. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: Murder in the Library (Book 3 Dekker Cozy Mystery Series) by Steve Demaree

I downloaded this cozy mystery back in February when it was free. The cover drew me in, but what I really liked is that this mystery is set in a library.

BLURB: A man is found murdered in the locked library in his home. Surveillance cameras show that no one other than the deceased entered the library. The deceased left a clue for the police, only they cannot figure out what the clue means.

COVER: Like I already mentioned, the cover is what drew my attention to the book. It's nicely done with the library bookshelves in the background and the blood dripping through the word "Murder."

FIRST CHAPTER: The reader is introduced to Lieutenant Cy Dekker, Sergeant Lou Murdock, and their mentor Colonel James Buckham Hardesty. Dekker and Murdock are semi-retired cops who work homicide investigations. When Cy receives an odd phone call from the Colonel, he decides it's time he and Lou pay their mentor a visit...but not before stopping for lunch at the Blue Moon.

KEEP READING: This opening chapter does nothing more than set the stage for what is to come. A distressed call from a friend, which one can assume leads to murder somewhere down the line. There is no real hook except the anticipation of a murder. It's a good deal of backstory; which is unfortunate, because it doesn't encourage the reader to move forward unless you just have to know who has been murdered.

I enjoyed the first person narration. Cy has his own style that clearly comes through. I'm not sure it's enough to make me want to go on. I'll probably stick with it for another chapter to see if the pace picks up.


File Size: 557 KB
Print Length: 246 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00CMV4N7Q

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: Lady Blues: forget-me-not by Aaron Paul Lazar

Lady Blues: forget-me-not is the latest Gus LeGarde mystery from Aaron Paul Lazar.

BLURB: Past and present collide when an Alzheimer’s patient’s fragile memory holds the key to solving mysteries dating back to World War II—including a long lost secret love affair.

Music professor Gus LeGarde is just doing a favor for a friend when he agrees to play piano for church services at a local nursing home. He doesn’t expect to be drawn into a new friendship with an elderly Alzheimer’s patient dubbed “the music man” or to stumble across a decades-old mystery locked inside the man’s mind.

Octogenarian Kip Sterling doesn’t know his own name—but he speaks Gus’s language, spouting jazz terms like “cadence” and “interlude” and “riff.” He’s also obsessed with “his Bella,” but nobody knows who she is.

When Kip is given a new drug called Memorphyl, he starts to remember bits and pieces of his life. Gus learns Bella was Kip’s first and only love, but their relationship was shrouded in scandal. Intrigued, Gus agrees to help search for her. Could she still be alive?

Horrified when the miracle drug suddenly stops working and patients begin to backslide, Gus panics. Can he help Kip find his beloved Bella before all the memories disappear?

COVER: What a neat cover. As you probably remember, I like people on covers, so I'm drawn to this feather-clad jazz singer. The airplane in the top corner speaks to the plot of an unsolved mystery. I also like the blue color and font used for the title.

FIRST CHAPTER: Siegfried and Gus are walking along a New York street when Siegfried's sixth sense kicks into high gear. He takes off at a fast clip with Gus following confusedly behind. They come to a building, the top apartment of which has black smoke streaming from it.

KEEP READING: Absolutely. Like everything else I've read by Lazar, this story captures you quickly and fully. A leisurely walk turns into a race to save lives. Within a few short pages, Lazar's masterful storytelling draws you in to the point you must discover what happens to the people you've only just met. I look forward to reading the rest of this latest Gus LeGarde mystery.

File Size: 443 KB
Print Length: 261 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Aaron Paul Lazar; 1 edition (March 3, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00IS6EXG0

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: Good, Clean Murder by Traci Tyne Hilton

I downloaded a copy of Good, Clean Murder, a cozy Christian mystery, by Traci Tyne Hilton for free in January.

BLURB: Hardworking and hungry Bible school student Jane Adler cleans houses to make ends meet. But finding the money to pay for the last semester of school is the least of her problems when she uncovers a body in her boss's bed.

COVER: Adorable. Though maybe the young lady shouldn't be smiling behind the sheet (I think that's what that is), I love the look and colors of this cover.

FIRST CHAPTER: Jane appears at the Crawford family home to start her Monday morning cleaning schedule. Things don't seem right, however: the newspaper is still in the box, no coffee has been made, there's no to-do list pinned to the bulletin board, and most importantly, no money envelope on payday.

Temporarily distracted by a phone call from her roommate, Sam, Jane makes her way upstairs to strip the bed, where she discovers the body of Bob Crawford.

KEEP READING: Sure thing. Not only do I like that the main character is a Bible college student who cleans houses to help pay for school, Jane is likable. She's happy and hard-working. She seems to have her head screwed on straight. Her roommate, Sam, is another story. She nagged me right from the beginning. The reader doesn't know why she has an attitude problem, but she does. Perhaps it will become clear as the story progresses. Hilton also brings in a contemporary issue when a newspaper article Jane reads about her boss, a burger chain owner, mentions the obesity epidemic in America. Nice touch. Not sure if this has anything to do with the plot, yet, but we'll see.

This has all the makings for a great cozy. I definitely want to see what led to Bob's death and how Jane helps solve the mystery.

File Size: 799 KB
Print Length: 382 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Proverbs 31 House LLC; 1 edition (January 9, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00BK9NG2O

I downloaded a free Kindle version of this book. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

I purchased the third book in Karen White's Tradd Street series over a year ago with some gift cards I received. The first two books in this series captivated me, so I was eager to read this one; but I was so far behind in reviews when the book came out, I declined taking it on when the publicist offered it to me for review. This is one of the books I want to read soon, especially since the fourth book in the series, Return to Tradd Street, came recently.

BLURB:  Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton is still restoring her Charleston house and doesn't expect to have a new houseguest, a teen girl named Nola. But the girl didn't come alone, and the spirits that accompanied Nola don't seem willing to leave...

COVER: Like all of the books in this series, a house graced with Southern charm and elegance is featured on the cover. And if you know anything about this series, that charm and elegance belies the evil spirits hidden inside. This cover is a bit darker than the others, so it adds to the ominous feel.

FIRST CHAPTER: Melanie is awoken early one morning to find writer Jack Trenholm on the doorstep of her Tradd Street home--the one still being restored and costing her tons of money. He has not come alone, however. His estranged daughter, Nola, is with him. Still working through the challenges of becoming an instant father, he begs Melanie to allow Nola to stay with her over the summer.

KEEP READING: Yes, yes, yes! Why haven't I made room to read this book before now? All the things I love about this series are present from the very first words of The Strangers on Montagu Street. Immediately hooked, the mystery, conflict, and hint of the spirits that will arrive later are all here. White has the uncanny ability to draw you in immediately and not let you go. I'm sure this will be the case again if the story continues along the same vein.

If you love paranormal stories and are captivated by Southern living, you won't want to miss this one.


Series: Tradd Street (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451235266
ISBN-13: 978-0451235268


I purchased this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom

I received a digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

BLURB:  Love Miss Marple? Adore Holmes and Watson? Professor Morley's guide to Norfolk is a story of bygone England: quaint villages, eccentric locals—and murder …

It is 1937, and disillusioned Spanish Civil War veteran Stephen Sefton is broke. So when he sees a mysterious advertisement for a job where "intelligence is essential," he eagerly applies.

Thus begins Sefton's association with Professor Swanton Morley, an omnivorous intellect. Morley's latest project is a history of traditional England, with a guide to every county.

They start in Norfolk, but when the vicar of Blakeney is found hanging from his church's bell rope, Morley and Sefton find themselves drawn into a rather more fiendish plot. Did the reverend really take his own life, or is there something darker afoot?

A must-read for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Charles Todd, this novel includes plenty of murder, mystery, and mayhem to confound.

COVER: The cover attracted me to the book in the first place. Then when I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read it. The color scheme of this cover, the quaint setting, and the flash of a red car all make this a winning cover in my book.

FIRST CHAPTER: The reader meets narrator, Stephen Sefton, who sets the stage for the story he is about to tell and what brought him to meet Professor Swanton Morley.

KEEP READING: While I don't mind a steady paced mystery or a slowly developing one, the  first chapter of The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom is all backstory, setting the stage so the reader gets to know Sefton better. It's not my favorite way to start a book. One can't deny Sefton is an interesting narrator; and perhaps as the story moves along and Sefton and Professor Morley are deep into the mystery, all the backstory will turn out necessary. Right now, however, I'm considering how far away I am from getting into the thick of things.

I've continued with The Norfolk Mystery out of curiosity. Right now I'm close to the end of Chapter Four. Each chapter has revealed just a tiny bit more of the prequel to the mystery: Sefton's interview with Morley, which leads to their working together, the popularity of Morley who is also known as The People's Professor, and Sefton's journey to meet up with Morley in Holt to start his new job. Just like I found in A Place to Die by Dorothy James, the author spends a good deal of time shaping his characters and allowing the readers to get to know them well. That's a plus for character-driven readers such as myself. I'm just hoping the death of the vicar comes along soon so that the mystery gets the attention for a while. I think once that happens, I'll be turning the pages quickly.

Book Details:
Genre: Mystery/Detective
Published by: Witness Impulse
Publication Date: 11/12/2013
Number of Pages: 212
ISBN: 9780062320803

Purchase from Amazon of Barnes and Noble.

I received a digital version of this novel from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: Dead Man's Time by Peter James

Though books of this nature tend to be favorites of mine, I simply couldn't work this one into my review schedule; so I agreed to a first chapter review of Dead Man's Time, which is the latest book in the series. I received the first two chapters from the author's publicist because they are each only one page.

BLURB:  In Dead Man's Time, the latest from international bestselling author Peter James, Roy Grace finds himself up against that most dangerous of all adversaries—a man with fury in his heart who has nothing to lose.

New York, 1922. Five-year-old Gavin Daly and his seven-year-old sister, Aileen, are boarding the SS Mauretania to Dublin—and safety. Their mother has been shot and their Irish mobster father abducted. Suddenly, a messenger hands Gavin a piece of paper on which are written four names and eleven numbers, a cryptic message that will haunt him all his life, and his father's pocket watch. As the ship sails, Gavin watches Manhattan fade into the dusk and makes a promise, that one day he will return and find his father.

Brighton, 2012. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace investigates a savage burglary in Brighton, in which an old lady is murdered and £10m of antiques have been taken, including a rare vintage watch. To Grace’s surprise, the antiques are unimportant to her family—it is the watch they want back. As his investigation probes deeper, he realizes he has kicked over a hornets nest of new and ancient hatreds. At its heart is one man, Gavin Daly, the dead woman’s ninety-five-year-old brother. He has a score to settle and a promise to keep—both of which lead to a murderous trail linking the antiques world of Brighton, the crime fraternity of Spain’s Marbella, and New York.

Roy Grace, in a race against the clock to stop another killing, has met his most dangerous adversary yet.

COVER: I've posted both. The first one is from the paperback version. The other is from the hardcover and Kindle versions. While the first one seems to capture the British coast, the other appears to focus on the watch and the race against time. While I like both covers, I much prefer the color scheme and overall look of the latter.

FIRST CHAPTER: Our story opens in Brooklyn in 1922. A young boy awaits his father's arrival at bedtime. They share the same routine they do every night, not knowing how things are about to change.

SECOND CHAPTER: Four drunk men with murder on their minds make their way down the cobblestone street.

KEEP READING: Yes, especially because I want to see how quickly the modern-day story is introduced. The first two chapters unfold the story taking place in New York in 1922, so I haven't met the main character yet. That can be risky when trying to connect a reader to the MC, but it's not unusual in mystery and crime fiction for the crime to come first and then the detective makes his way on the scene later.

I liked the tenderness of the first chapter's interaction between the boy and his father. It helps you to feel sorry for what you know is coming based upon the blurb. The only thing I didn't care for is the people aren't given names. The third person narrator calls them "the boy" and "the boy's father." Other than the pet names of "little guy" and "big guy" that they have for each other, they aren't identified. That's off-putting to me. Perhaps it's intentional, to make it seem like this could be a tender moment between any boy and his father; but I didn't care for it.

This looks like it will be a nail-biter.

Series: Detective Superintendent Roy Grace (Book 9)
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (October 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250030188
ISBN-13: 978-1250030184

I received the first two chapters of this novel from the author's publicist. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: The Seacrest by Aaron Paul Lazar

When I heard Aaron Paul Lazar was releasing a romantic suspense novel, I signed up for his book tour right away. I've enjoyed his mysteries, so I knew I wanted to keep up to date on the new books this author has available.

BLURB:  They say it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Finn McGraw disagrees.

He was just seventeen when he had a torrid summer affair with the girl who stole his heart—and then inexplicably turned on him, just before being sent to boarding school. Finn may have moved on with his life, but he’s never forgotten her.

Now, ten years later, he’s got more than his lost love to worry about. A horrific accident turns his life upside down, resurrecting the ghosts of his long-dead family at the same time it takes the lives of the few people he has left.

Finn always believed his estranged brother was responsible for the fire that killed their family—but an unexpected inheritance with a mystery attached throws everything he knows into doubt.

And on top of that, the beguiling daughter of his wealthy employer has secrets of her own. But the closer he gets, the harder she pushes him away.

The Seacrest is a story of intrigue and betrayal, of secrets and second chances—and above all, of a love that never dies.

COVER: Horses and Cape Cod. Does it get any better? The golden colors on this cover make it eye-catching, as does the darker golden color of the script font. All covers should be this nice.

FIRST CHAPTER: The story opens in present day when Finn McGraw receives news that throws his life into chaos.

KEEP READING: Oh, my gosh, yes. From the minute Finn steps on the scene, which is the first sentence, I knew I would keep going. Lazar paints that awful moment when Finn watches the police cruiser drive up The Seacrest's driveway until it stops ten feet in front of him. And then the delivery of the horrible news comes, followed by Finn's dazed reaction to it all. I was there, holding my breath, as I felt and lived it all with Finn; knowing I need to learn the rest of his story.

File Size: 439 KB
Print Length: 286 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00G1TDBRI

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, writing books, and a new love story, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming releases THE SEACREST (2013), SANCTUARY (2014), and VIRTUOSO (2014).

ONLINE LINKS:

·         Website    http://www.lazarbooks.com

·         Blog1       http://www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

·         Blog2     http://www.murderby4.blogspot.com

·         Facebook1     https://www.facebook.com/AaronPaulLazarTwitter  (personal page)

·         Facebook2   https://www.facebook.com/aplazar2  (author page)

·         Goodreads    http://bit.ly/17dYYY8

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/106903480874581085678/posts

Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/aaronplazar1

BUY NOW LINK:

·         Amazon http://amzn.to/16pjh4i

·         Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369357

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: A Man of Indeterminate Value by Ron Felber

A Man of Indeterminate Value is a thriller by Ron Felber. This book is now available for order. The first chapter was submitted by his publicist. Felber's book, Il Dottore is the basis for the FOX TV series The Mob Doctor.

BLURB:  In a world plagued by corrupt corporations and sinister forces that prowl the global landscape, John "Jack" Madson seeks salvation from deep within the man he is today and the man he aspires to be.

In the tradition of Raymond Chandler, John Grisham, and Michael Connelly, this crime fiction series launches with three noir thrillers bristling with authenticity, insight, and social commentary. From the boardrooms of Wall Street, to the steamy backstreets of Bangkok, to the secret Triads of Shanghai, award-winning author Ron Felber, originator of the FOX television series The Mob Doctor, takes his reader into the violent, surreal, and sex-crazed underbelly of 21st century America, the "empire in decline."

Witty, riveting, and diabolically clever, the heart-pounding pace, exotic locales, and unforgettable characters make the "Jack Madson" series a welcomed innovation within the genre of crime fiction.

A Man of Indeterminate Value (Book 1), introduces ex-cop Jack Madson as a disgraced Wall Street take-over artist and target of a failed suicide scam that leaves him the "most wanted" man in the Garden State of NJ. Madson is on a personal mission to take on corporate forces hell-bent on his destruction as they seek to IPO game-changing bio-medical technology to the Street worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

COVER: Dark, mysterious, edgy--everything a book in this genre should be. I like the contrast of the bold red text against the black cover. The hardened face of the man speaks to what the main character is up against and what he personally has at stake. Fabulous cover!

FIRST CHAPTER:  A cab parks opposite the Benedictine Brothers monastery in Newark’s Central Ward. Slipping the driver two large bills, Jack Madson says, "You never saw me." A wounded Jack climbs the steps of the monastery and rings the bell. When the door opens, he is face to face with Father Jeremiah, his former teacher.

KEEP READING: One difference between a good writer and a great writer is how much they can say in the span of a few words. Though I've read nothing else by Felber, I already see a masterful storyteller. In under 400 words, the author provides action, suspense, mystery, and a bit of backstory for his main character, Jack Madson. His tight writing is edgy and crisp. The few details speak volumes about who Jack is and why he's arrived at the monastery. A Man of Indeterminate Value looks like it will be a fabulous read. I'm immediately adding it to my wish list.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Barricade Books (June 16, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1569804907
ISBN-13: 978-1569804902

I received this first chapter from Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

First Chapter Review: The Grace Painter by Mark Romang

This is a Christian mystery/suspense thriller.

BLURB: Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one reflecting back at you from inside a mirror. Matthew London can attest to this difficult truth. Ever since the former NYPD hostage negotiator changed his identity and fled New York City for the backwaters of Louisiana, regret has ruled his life.

For eight years London has lived like a hermit in a declining plantation house. Only his talent for painting Renaissance-style murals and paintings keeps the inner-demons from totally destroying him. Each day the disgraced hostage negotiator longs for a chance at redemption, never expecting it to actually happen. But then a down-on-her-luck FBI agent shows up on his doorstep one evening. It turns out Jean-Paul and Sebastian Boudreaux, two local brothers famous for lawlessness have inadvertently kidnapped a little girl.

London is quickly thrust into the starring role of a daring rescue attempt. But before he can rescue the child from the dangerous Boudreaux brothers, he first must find a way to forgive himself for a past misstep, a blunder that forever altered his once promising life. But in the Atchafalaya Basin swampland, nothing is promised. Grace cannot be purchased or earned. It can only be given.

COVER: Love it. The background captures the setting and the foreground the protagonist and his talent. The dark color speaks to the suspense/thriller genre. Nice job.

FIRST CHAPTER:  Eight years after Matthew London has fled New York City with a new identity, Sebastian Boudreaux is released from a penitentiary in Louisiana. Having spent two decades behind bars, he's ready to find the ransom money his father had hidden prior to being arrested and sentenced to die.

KEEP READING: For now. I'm definitely intrigued by the concept unveiled in the prologue and first chapter. The prologue sets the stage for Matt London walking away from his job as a hostage negotiator with the NYPD. The first chapter takes place eight years later, with Sebastian's release and introduces his younger brother, Jean-Paul.

The cliffhanger ending of the first chapter encourages readers to continue, but I felt the style was much more telling than showing. There are no real setting details in the first chapter. Instead, the time is spent developing some backstory for Sebastian as the reader is brought through his present day release from prison. The reader gets a basic idea of who Sebastian is, what his relationship with his brother and father might be like, and that though he promised the warden he won't be coming back, that might prove harder said than done. This isn't a bad thing. I like getting a glimpse into who Sebastian is. It's just I wanted to be able to see what Sebastian sees. This guy has just been released from prison after two decades and he doesn't even notice anything happening outside his window or the rain sprinkling down on his head. Perhaps this is intentional, as the prologue has greater details.

I'm willing to stick it out for a few more chapters to see how the author begins connecting the pieces.

Price/Format: $0.99 ebook
Pages: 303
Publisher: self-published
Release: November 26, 2012

Kindle buy link ($0.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADWZ4M4?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($0.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-grace-painter-mark-romang/1113848026?ean=2940015785463

Smashwords ($0.99):
http://www.smashwords.com/b/259249

I was born in 1967. Avid reader, suspense novelist, faithful husband, baffled father, factory worker, reformed head-banger, failed musician, contact sports lover, MMA enthusiast, distressed KC sports fan, Lord of the Rings geek, workout fiend, dog owner, nature lover, proud American, disgruntled voter, pistachio addict, caffeine-riddled, screw-up saved by grace, sojourner. This is me in a nutshell.

Mark Romang's Web Site:
http://www.markromangbooks.com/

Mark Romang's Facebook:
http://facebook.com/mark.romang.18

Mark Romang's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6606226.Mark_Romang

The Grace Painter's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16210809-the-grace-painter

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

The Grace Painter's blog tour site:
http://thegracepainter.blogspot.com/

I received a coupon code for Smashwords from the author to download a free copy. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.