July 25, 2023 · 12:01 am

Teen Tuesday: One of Us Is Back by Karen McManus

Teenage or adult readers who like Young Adult novels might enjoy this week’s spotlight:

Title: One of Us Is Back by Karen McManus
One of Us is Lying Book Three
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery
Length: 362 pages

Summary:

The global phenomenon returns with the third book in the One of Us Is Lying series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus. When someone from the Bayview Four’s past resurfaces, history begins to repeat itself—and the consequences are deadly.

The third time’s a charm.

It’s been almost two years since Simon died in detention, and the aftermath has been hard to shake. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation outwitted a vengeful copycat. Now the entire Bayview Crew is back home for the summer, and everyone is trying to move on.

Only, this is Bayview, and life is never that simple.

At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the Bayview Crew disappears, it’s clear this “game” is serious—and whoever’s in charge isn’t sharing the rules. Or maybe there aren’t any.

Bronwyn. Cooper. Addy. Nate. Maeve. Phoebe. Knox. Luis. Kris. Everyone’s a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things could start getting deadly.

The thing is, Simon was right about secrets—they all come out eventually. And Bayview has a lot it’s still hiding.

Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N

Comments Off on Teen Tuesday: One of Us Is Back by Karen McManus

Filed under Teen Tuesday

July 24, 2023 · 12:02 am

Mystery Monday Review: Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano

Title: Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary, Supernatural, Suspense, Mystery
Length: 447 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

On a creepy island where everyone has a strange obsession with the year 1994, a newcomer arrives, hoping to learn the truth about her son’s death—but finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into the bizarrely insular community and their complicated rules…

Clifford Island. When Willow Stone finds these words written on the floor of her deceased son’s bedroom, she’s perplexed. She’s never heard of it before, but soon learns it’s a tiny island off Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula, 200 miles from Willow’s home. Why would her son write this on his floor? Determined to find answers, Willow sets out for the island.

After a few days on Clifford, Willow realizes: This place is not normal. Everyone seems to be stuck in a particular day in 1994: They wear outdated clothing, avoid modern technology, and, perhaps most mystifyingly, watch the OJ Simpson car chase every evening. When she asks questions, people are evasive, but she learns one thing: Close your curtains at night.

High schooler Lily Becker has lived on Clifford her entire life, and she is sick of the island’s twisted mythology and adhering to the rules. She’s been to the mainland, and everyone is normal there, so why is Clifford so weird? Lily is determined to prove that the islanders’ beliefs are a sham. But are they?

Five weeks after Willow arrives on the island, she disappears. Willow’s brother, Harper, comes to Clifford searching for his sister, and when he learns the truth—that this island is far more sinister than anyone could have imagined—he is determined to blow the whole thing open.

Review:

Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano is a suspenseful debut.

Harper’s search for his missing sister Willow on isolated Clifford Island drives this fast-paced mystery. Clifford Island’s small population is not exactly helpful as Harper tries to not only find Willow but understand what drew her there in the first place. The cast of eclectic islanders do not want visitors and they do not have an online footprint. The storyline is cleverly written with the chapters alternating between text messages, interviews, Willow’s letters, and various characters’ perspectives.

A deliciously eerie mystery with supernatural elements and a chilling conclusion.

Comments Off on Mystery Monday Review: Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano

Filed under Dead Eleven, Dutton, Jimmy Juliano, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Supernatural Elements, Suspense

· 12:01 am

Book Talk: What have you been reading lately?

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I had a lot going on last week so I feel lucky to have read three books!

Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano: 4.5 stars. Excellent debut! Read my thoughts HERE.

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing: 3.5 stars. I soooo wanted to love this mystery since I’m a HUGE fan of Samantha Downing. While the mystery is fast-paced, none (and I mean NONE) of the characters are likable. While the storyline is interesting, I found parts of it to be repetitive. And I won’t even get into how big of a let down the conclusion is. I bumped up my rating a 1/2 star because the writing is so engaging.

I Did It For You by Amy Engel: 4.5 stars. Loved it. My review posts tomorrow (7/25).

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Comments Off on Book Talk: What have you been reading lately?

Filed under Book Talk

July 23, 2023 · 12:01 am

The Week Ahead July 24-28

Here’s a look at what’s happening this week at Book Talk & More with Kathy:

Monday’s Book Talk: What have you been reading lately?

Spotlights

Mystery Monday Review: Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
7/25 review: I Did It for You by Amy Engel
Teen Tuesday
Thrifty Thursday
Friday Feature Review: The Second Chance Store by Lauren Bravo

Winning Wednesday (7/26) eBooks up for grabs:

Flirting with Fire by Jane Porter
The Rough Rider by Maisey Yates
In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae

Click here for more info on entering the eBook contests.

This week’s Saturday Series Spotlight is Sara Richardson’s Star Valley and contest for one of the books in the series (winner’s choice).

Have a great week!!

***All the eBooks in this week’s Winning Wednesday & Saturday Series Spotlight giveaways have been purchased by Book Talk & More with Kathy.***

Comments Off on The Week Ahead July 24-28

Filed under The Week Ahead

July 22, 2023 · 12:01 am

Saturday Series Spotlight & Giveaway: Jess Everlee’s Lucky Lovers of London

Here are the eBooks in this week’s Saturday Series Spotlight contest:

Title: The Gentleman’s Book of Vices by Jess Everlee
Lucky Lovers of London Book One
Publisher: Carina Adores
Genre: Historical, Gay, Romance
Length: 300 pages

Summary:

Is their real-life love story doomed to be a tragedy, or can they rewrite the ending?

London, 1883

Finely dressed and finely drunk, Charlie Price is a man dedicated to his vices. Chief among them is his explicit novel collection, though his impending marriage to a woman he can’t love will force his carefully curated collection into hiding.

Before it does, Charlie is determined to have one last hurrah: meeting his favorite author in person.

Miles Montague is more gifted as a smut writer than a shopkeep and uses his royalties to keep his flagging bookstore afloat. So when a cheerful dandy appears out of the mist with Miles’s highly secret pen name on his pretty lips, Miles assumes the worst. But Charlie Price is no blackmailer; he’s Miles’s biggest fan.

A scribbled signature on a worn book page sets off an affair as scorching as anything Miles has ever written. But Miles is clinging to a troubled past, while Charlie’s future has spun entirely out of his control…

Carina Adores is home to romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

Lucky Lovers of London

Book 1: The Gentleman’s Book of Vices

Title: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee
Lucky Lovers of London Book Two
Publisher: Carina Adores
Genre: Historical, Gay, Romance
Length: 324 pages

Summary:

Jess Everlee follows up her sparkling debut The Gentleman’s Book of Vices with this charming queer historical romp, in which two lifelong best friends find romance as they join forces to save the one place where they can truly be themselves.

London, 1885

David Forester and Noah Clarke have been best friends since boarding school. All grown up now, clever, eccentric Noah is Savile Row’s most promising young tailor, while former socialite David runs an underground queer club, The Curious Fox.

Nothing makes David happier than to keep the incense lit, the pianist playing and all his people comfortable, happy and safe until they stumble out into the dawn. But when the unscrupulous baron who owns the Fox moves to close it, David’s world comes crashing down.

Noah’s never feared a little high-stakes gambling, but as he risks his own career in hopes of helping David, he realizes two things:

One: David has not been honest about how he ended up at The Curious Fox in the first place.

Two: Noah’s feelings for David have become far more than friendly.

What future lies beyond those first furtive kisses? Noah and David can hardly wait to find out…if they can untangle David from his web of deception without losing everything Noah has worked for.

Lucky Lovers of London

Book 1: The Gentleman’s Book of Vices
Book 2: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues

Giveaway

I am giving away one eBook from the Lucky Lovers of London series-WINNER’S CHOICE. Here’s how to enter the Saturday Series Spotlight contest:

You must do the Following:

1. Sign up for e-mail updates (below). One email daily with the day’s posts.

Enter your Email:


Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

AND:

2. Be or become a fan of Book Talk & More with Kathy Facebook page

AND:

Make sure you have filled out the contest entry form:

3. To be eligible to enter contests on Book Talk & More with Kathy you MUST fill out the contest entry form (found HERE). This form only needs to be filled out ONCE. Your privacy is important to me, and I will not share your information.

And don't forget to:

4. Fill out the form below by 4 PM Mountain Time Monday afternoon.

* I am the only person who will have access to info that is submitted to me UNLESS a publisher or author has donated an eBook for the giveaway. For a prize donated by an author or publisher, I will forward your e-mail and format selection to the person responsible for distributing the eBook. Please refer to the privacy page HERE if you have questions about how your information is used. In the event the contest form is not working, please leave your book selection in the comments below.*

It’s that easy! The winner will be selected using random.org. I will e-mail one lucky winner the eBook of their choice in their preferred format. The winner will be posted HERE on Tuesday.

***The eBooks in this giveaway have been purchased by Book Talk & More with Kathy.***

Comments Off on Saturday Series Spotlight & Giveaway: Jess Everlee’s Lucky Lovers of London

Filed under Contest, Saturday Series Spotlight

July 21, 2023 · 12:01 am

Friday Feature: Meet Me at the Wedding by Georgia Toffolo

Do you love a good romance? Then you might like today’s Friday Feature!

Title: Meet Me at the Wedding by Georgia Toffolo
Meet Me Series Four
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Comedy
Length: 305 pages

Summary:

Reuniting her “awesome foursome” of friends from Meet Me in London, bestselling celebrity author Georgia Toffolo’s charming enemies-to-lovers rom-com is an undeniably tart and sweet treat.

Lily Atwell loves living in Hawke’s Cove on the picturesque Devon coast, and planning her best friend’s wedding at the Hawkesbury estate is the icing on the cake. But when the estate’s owner dies, and his son cancels all bookings, Lily must face Henry Hawkesbury—the guy she hasn’t seen since that one fateful night ten years ago that changed her life for the worse. That changed her life forever.

Henry wants nothing more than to return to Hawke’s Cove, sell his estranged late father’s estate, and put all the history and bad memories to rest. He certainly does not want to host a wedding, or face Lily, who gets on with everyone—except him.

But when Henry needs Lily’s help to sell the property, she will provide it only on the condition that the wedding can go ahead as planned. Working together under less-than-amicable conditions means both must face their past and, in doing so, embrace their future. But can two people afraid of love acknowledge what they have always wanted?

Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N

Comments Off on Friday Feature: Meet Me at the Wedding by Georgia Toffolo

Filed under Friday Feature